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4 Rainy-day Activities to Try with Toddler and Baby (Bonus: They’re Screen-free!)
Rainy days: they’re nobody’s favourite. But with a toddler and baby in tow, they can be especially challenging. While you’re tending to your baby, who’s making sure that your 2-year-old isn’t doing their best Picasso impression all over your living room wall? We’re coming to the rescue, like always, with tricks and tips to keep kids happy and parents sane when the weather turns.
Create an imagination station with art supplies
Speaking of Picasso, your toddler probably isn’t ready for their debut exhibition just yet. But you can get them excited about expressing themselves artistically! Simply grab a stack of scratch paper, some washable paints, large crayons or colourful markers and sit your toddler down on some old newspapers or a plastic tarp. Not only will this spare your house from spontaneous self-portraits of your mini-me; it also stimulates their fine motor skills. And babies can also get in on the fun. Safe, edible (because let’s be honest, those fingers are going straight into their mouth) finger paints are a great idea.
Everybody loves puppets!
While we’re sure your toddler is 100% well-behaved and quiet anytime you read them a story (wink wink), it’s likely that your baby needs a little more visual stimulation to stay interested. That’s where puppets come in! You can make up amusing characters and stories to delight your toddler, while your baby takes in the movement, colours and sounds. You don’t need to break the bank, either. Sock puppets are cost-effective and easy to make, for example.
The (not-so-silent) disco
Toddlers love to dance—this is a fact. “Siri, play ‘Playlist That Makes my Kid Shake Her Little Tushie’” and before you know it, she’s forgotten all about the rain outside. Make sure you show off your moves as well, because the baby will also find that entertaining. Use some simple movements like clapping to stimulate baby’s activity (and encourage rhythm!). If you sense your toddler is more interested in music outside of just the basic beat, feel free to talk about instruments, or vocal styles. Who knows: you may just have the next Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars on your hands!
Nature walks in light rain
Yes, we’ve given you 3 options for inside fun for rainy days. But sometimes, everybody just needs a little fresh air, right? If the rain is light, there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a sturdy umbrella, dressing your toddler in rainwear and letting your baby enjoy their pushchair ride completely protected by one of our rain covers!
Let your toddler get the most out of his rainboots by encouraging splash and puddle play. Point out interesting leaves or stones to collect on the way. This kind of sensory activity is just as healthy as the outside air.
