what does your day look like?

looking for some new ideas for things to keep my LO's active and busy. they love going outside but it's been so cold out!!!!
besides coloring and just sitting and playing in the playroom, is there any other things you ladies could suggest?

 

We play physical games like red light green light, dance, I sit up items for them to jump over or jump from. I build forts out of sheets. I put them in the tub with plastic dishes and let them have an extra long bathtime. Put them in the bathtub (no water) with washable finger paints. When they are done you can shower everything and everyone off. I have them help me make breakfast, lunch and dinner. I put them to work dusting tables, sweeping the floor and even vacuuming. They "help" me put away laundry. I turn all the lights off and let them play with flashlights. I will read going on a bear hunt and then we pretend to go on a bear hunt etc. I let them practice with safety scissors on junk mail. We spend a lot of time reading books and working puzzles.

I also take them out even when it is below freezing to activities. You might look into community activities. Library, open gyms at your community center, parents as teachers playgroup, local gymnastic clubs often have open play times.

 

My boys love to dance, so we often put on some silly music and dance, or I sing silly songs. They also are starting to enjoy hide and seek. We also brought in their little tikes slide, which helps get out the extra energy. Currently, they are having fun playing with a huge box DH found somewhere! It's definitely hard keeping them entertained when the weather is cold and it gets dark so early.

 

thanks for the ideas so far!!

 

Wow, great ideas! I love the finger paint idea...we have finger paints but I have never been brave enough to use them!

We're in the same boat here as it's been freezing out!!! We still have to go out twice a day to get DS to and from his bus stop and that is enough outside time for me!!! Like the PP said I still go out but find indoor activities...we spend a lot of time at our library and go to playgroups, play dates, etc. I will even go to the mall and just let them walk around as it's a change of scenery and they are expelling energy.

 

It is also very cold where we live so going outside is not an option. During the week we do things like coloring, painting, play doh, reading to the girls, various craft projects (some I've gotten from magazines like Family Fun, some from online and some craft sets from the craft store like Michaels). They really enjoy the crafting time. They also like to watch movies. Sometimes we will go out and visit people, my dad is retired so we will go over there for awhile and sometimes have dinner there. On the weekends when my husband is home we try to get the girls out to do something fun at least once a week. We take them out to dinner, to the movies, to McDonalds to play at the playland, swimming at the local pool and today we are taking them bowling for the first time. If you can afford it, it is definitely a nice treat for the kids to get out.

 

I don't do anything special with them to be honest... We didn't as kids, and I don't believe that parents have to entertain their kids all the time... plus free play is great for imagination and creativity (my kids definitely don't lack any, lol). It's just my unpopular opinion that kids don't know how to entertain themselves nowadays with all the activities their parents make them do.

They do watch tv too though, but they've been sick so I let it slide.

 

I try to do one or two activities a week. Some people like to make it out that I do about seven a day-that is far from the truth!

Some ideas, and I maybe repeating. And what I've done, is asked the kids things they would like to do, wrote them all down on a piece of paper and place them in a jar. And each night, one child picks something out and we do it the following day(on a good day).

-shaving cream(they love this!)
-rice/beans/seeds, etc. Add measuring cups, spoons, cups, etc
-coloring: add paper to the floor(I was a former teacher so I have a big roll of butcher paper I can roll out as they can color on the floor)
-fingerpaints
-painting at the easel
-painting with feet(like I said, I was a former teacher-in preschool lol)
-cutting with scissors and scrap paper, etc
-reading books
-musical instruments
-dancing
-something crafty to go with holiday/season/weather. We made cotton ball snowmen recently
-go to the library
-cooking/baking together: my kids love to do this!
-dress up
-puzzles
-train table(it's in the basement)
-stamps
-playdoh
-make your own playdoh
-goop/oobliq: cornstarch and water!
-slime: glue, borax, and water-so cool!
-dry erase boards/markers

That's all I can think of for now, but should help a bit. And most importantly-have fun!