Looks like we are all inside for a while...

At this point, the boredom has set in. There is no wonder the electronic devices have taken over parenting most of the day, right?

Hold your panic and save your wine. I created an awesome list of activities for you to choose from to kill time for the next few weeks. There are several categories that are broken down into weekly themes. They should keep your kids interested, promote educational conversation, involve the whole family, and keep everyone happy throughout the social distancing period.

Without further ado, here are a few weekly themes, including several book ideas you can check out at your library (if they are open), hands-on activities, and toy ideas to invest in (thanks Amazon!) to extend the play.

Transportation

Activities:

Paper Airplanes

Balloon Rockets: A personal favorite.

Car Jump

Train Tracks: Set up a town and all your train tracks!

Egg Carton Bus

Books:

• Busy Boats
• I Love Trucks
• I Love Trains

Conversations:

Ask your toddler how people get from place to place and talk about the options: car, bus, train, bike, plane, etc. Talk about engines, power, speed, or lack of these for each mode of transportation. Use colors and sizes with younger kids to play matching race car games or category games.

Toys to Invest in:

Trains and tracks, Matchbox cars, ride-on toy for inside, toy planes (we love the vehicles you can take apart and rebuild!)

Hibernation

Activities:

Build forts!

Shoebox Cave:

Watch a documentary

There are hundreds to choose from!

Make a cave from play dough: Use your imagination with this one.

Read Books, watch movies, and nap!

Play the Hibernation Game: The first person to move is out!

Books:

• Bear Snores On
• Hibernation Station
• Time to Sleep
• Not a Buzz to be Found
• Animals in Winter

Conversations:

Learn about why some creatures hibernate and why some do not.

Toys to Invest in:

Play Dough and toy animals

Zoo

Lion:

Binoculars:

Giraffe:

Zebra Puppet

Books:

• Color Zoo
• Dear Zoo
• From Head to Toe
• My Heart Is Like a Zoo
• Two at the Zoo

Conversations:

Animals, animal sounds.

Toys to Invest In:

Zoo Animals (Little People Zoo is great!)

Oceans

Activities:

Rainbow Fish

Octopus:

Crab:

Ocean View:

Books:

• Rainbow Fish
• Pout Pout Fish
• Little Fish
• Busy Beach
• Seaside Poems
• That’s Not My Mermaid

Conversations:

The number of oceans, the animals, and plants that live in the ocean, salt water versus fresh water (and drinking water).

Toys to Invest In:

Kenetic Sand

Maps

Activities:

Color a map!

Draw a Map: Draw a layout of the house with a compass.

Map Flip Book:

Compass:

Treasure Map

Books:

• Me on the Map
• Where Do I Live?
• Follow That Map
• There’s a Map on My Lap

Conversations:

Directions, adventures

Toys to Invest in:

Compass, binoculars, pirate costumes, maps

Rainbows

Activities:

Half-Circles:

Ribbon Dancers:

Rainbow Mobile:

Rainbow Necklace:

Construction Rainbows:

Color Mixing:

Books:

• Mix It Up
• What Makes a Rainbow?
• A Rainbow of My Own

Conversations:

Colors, Mixing Colors, Creating Rainbows

Toys to Invest In:

Wooden Rainbow Stackers