HIKES.
Hikes. Often we really want to do them as a family, but initially not everyone is on board. So, we set a purpose. When my oldest was 2 or 3 years old, he loved maps. I made him a “map book." I literally bought blank board books on Amazon and pasted in old maps and random maps from places we had been. I told him to pack his back pack, binoculars and map book and he would lead the way on our hikes. Stopping every so often, he would take out his map book and navigate us in the correct direction!
Now that we have four kiddos, everyone is in charge of a task. Someone carries the binoculars, someone pockets the magnifying glass, someone holds the bug container and of course someone navigates with a “map." It helps them get out and get some fresh air and nature play, and helps us parents get some exercise!
Often times we find that the kids are a bit resistant walking out the door, but once we are out of the house and have a purpose, they’re completely on board!
Link to blank board books: https://amzn.to/3ydSp7E
Link to binoculars we love: https://amzn.to/3Jkqn0H
Link to bug catcher: https://amzn.to/3ZKm0Bj
Link to magnifying glass: https://amzn.to/3SVVPWf
𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 ТԻḘᾸṦṲԻḘ 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐬
We have found with our kids, that hiking and walking goes a lot more smoothly when we set a purpose. They become so interested in "the mission", that they forget about their tired feet, chilly hands, hungry bellies, or any other complaint that may hinder a nice hike. I started creating "Treasure Bags" that are easy to hold, open and close and will not rip! We use them
over and over and the kids LOVE filling them with whatever we can find! Sometimes we set a goal of finding all green items, or assign a number (I.e. let's find 4 yellow things). We have even tried to collect items that start with different letters of the alphabet! You can turn a "Treasure Bag" hike into anything!
All you need is a gallon plastic bag that zips or closes at the top, a piece of duct tape, a hole punch and some twine or string! Looking at the front of the bag, put a piece of duct tape around the top left corner to wrap from front to back. Then write your kiddo's name on the tape. Punch a hole into the duct tape square and tie twine through the hole to make an easy handle to carry your bag with! Super quick, super cheap, super doable! You can even have your child decorate their "Treasure Bag"!
OWN SPACE SANDBOXES
Okay...outdoor activities for toddlers and baby siblings...
First, let me say that this is a hard season! Lots of challenges, but if you can pick activities in small increments (think long enough to unload your dishwaser or pull a few weeds from your garden), it will be successful!
Our go-to's for this season were and are--- individual sandboxes.
The sand is specifically for toddlers although if you have a baby who is able to sit upright and you don't mind a bit of sand on the hands/mouth, this works well also! You can fill the "sandbox" with anything you like... some alternatives for babies-- oatmeal, rice, flour, chia seeds, etc.
So... the individual sandbox. Let me tell you... this is SO much easier/functional than an actual sandbox. Buy yourself a flat storage container (think under the bed storage) with a secure lid. Definitely one for each kiddo. Load up some play sand (or alternative) and toys in each of them. Voila! They have their own personal sandbox! This not only gives each kiddo their own "space", but it minimizes sand in shoes, body, etc. Who has time for managing that when you have multiple little people running around?! Place it in the grass or dirt and you have no clean up!
Sandbox Link:
BALANCE BEAM BLOCKS
Balance beams are a great way to build coordination, work foot muscles and core strength. The thing is, balance beams take up space. They are heavy and bulky! If your little person is, in fact, little… then cardboard blocks and Velcro may be the way to go!
Super easy hack. Buy pre-cut pieces or a roll of Velcro. Peel and stick on the ends of a few cardboard blocks. If you don’t have cardboard blocks… get some! They are awesome! You can still build all the things even with Velcro on the ends. Enjoy!
Velcro: https://amzn.to/3yy6Q6u
Blocks: https://amzn.to/3YNPopy
WOODEN RAINBOW
What, may you ask, is so important and fun about a wooden rainbow? Well, my friends, let me tell you… wooden rainbow play is endless! Over the past 5 years, this rainbow has been a house, a garage, a tunnel, a bowl, a cage for zoo animals, a frying pan, a phone. The list is endless. Also, so helpful for making balancing towers and incorporating into any sensory play. It’s a must for any aged kiddo!
Link to rainbow: https://amzn.to/3mNx2HV
BOX PLAY!
Boxes. I don't know about you, but Amazon, Sam's Club, and diapers are our life right now and have been for a long time and will be for the foreseeable future! We have so many boxes! They add clutter... take up space... can be living room obstacles... but we definitely love them and welcome them and the creativity they invite.
What can you do with a box?! I’m sure you have used boxes to make your own creations, and I’d love to hear some of those ideas in the comments below! We have made them into anything from pretend air conditioner units to space shuttles! One of the best things that we have used to decorate our cardboard boxes with are paint sticks! They are so easy and smooth to draw with and dry extremely quickly.
Some of our box creations have lasted only a few days and some have lasted weeks at a time! I hope you can use a box in a fun way to add some entertainment in your kiddos’ busy days!
Links to paint sticks:
CARDS, TEES & LIDS
Gather your incomplete old decks of cards, applesauce squeeze pack lids or pompoms, golf tees and a container with a lid!
This activity seems super silly and easy and it is. You can fancy up a container with washi tape or keep as is. Make a slit in the lid or bottom (if it’s an oatmeal cardboard bottom) and leave out cards for kiddos to put in the slot. This works well with babies just learning to sit and passing objects from one hand to the other.
You can also poke a little hole and have them poke golf tees through the hole to work those little hand muscles (note: not for babies! Intended for kiddos who are a bit older and not mouthing objects, due to choking hazard)!
Lastly, you can make a quarter-sized hole for them to push applesauce lids through, or pompoms! Again watch, because these can be a choking hazard for some.
Over the years, these simple containers have been a mailbox, wishing well, cash register, garbage can, and even on occasion a “work project” where they would hammer the golf tees through with their pretend hammers!
CHANGING TABLE TRICK
The absolute worst is when the baby fights laying or sitting still for a diaper or clothes change. Sometimes funny faces, song-singing and talking to baby isn’t enough to keep your little alligator from wrestling you! In an impromptu alligator-wrestling moment with one of my sons, I ripped off a few stickers from a sheet we got from the pediatrician and stuck them on the wall. My son immediately gravitated toward them and we talked about what each sticker was or I asked him to point to a specific one. It absolutely held his attention for the perfect amount of time. So… I immediately added decals to our shopping list! The best part about this is the chance to switch out the pictures as often as needed or even theme them around seasons! Happy changing!
Wall Decals:
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FAMILY READING TIME
It’s your turn to make reading magical! A few years ago, we started a family tradition called “Family Reading Time“. It sounds so simple, and it actually really is. It just takes a little bit of prep and some creativity and intention. I picked out a book bin for each of my kids (even the baby at the time). I intentionally placed books that would be of high interest to them within the book bins. Sometimes the books are from our bookshelf, sometimes I make a surprise library visit, and sometimes they are holiday related or seasonal! I try to rotate them out once a week. The kids are only allowed to use these books during our family reading time each night! Sometimes, I throw in some special things— a stuffed animal reading buddy, a plastic figurine to read to, or sometimes I set up the living room like a camp fire circle and everyone has their cozy nook. During this time, we play soft music and no one talks. Daddy reads, mommy reads, kiddos read. Uninterrupted 5-10min (sometimes longer, but rarely). At this stage, reading for kiddos may look like browsing through books, looking at pictures —and that is okay. This is an awesome time for kids to learn that everyone needs a healthy, solid 5 or 10 minutes to quiet down and focus on literacy!
Book Bins: https://amzn.to/3LJ1TPu
MESSY PLAY SPACE
We all know they love to get dirty and messy. This includes digging, scooping, building, burying, and, of course, demolishing! Our old backyard was small. We found that the kiddos were wrecking all parts of the backyard. I felt bad redirecting them every time we went outside— it got old quickly! So… we decided to just give them their own space so that they could be messy, dirty, and do whatever they wanted to with it! It started out as a small pit of dirt, which extended into a mud kitchen, and a bench made out of tree stumps. The corner of the yard became our haven! It gave them a space where they could be kids, and we as parents, didn’t need to clean up the entire yard each day! Win, win all around!