Saving Sanity Ideas with Snowed-in Tots

By Geniene P. (Contact)

Published January 7, 2010

Things to do With Your Toddler:
Everything is white these days. White with snow that is. If you are like me and have a toddler or younger, their outdoor activities are very limited. My daughter lasted all of 3 minutes the first day we went out to play in her sled. She got a face full of wind and declared "I'm done." I acquired this list of things to do with your toddler from my single moms group and isn't this the perfect time to share them? Keep in mind, some ideas might not suit your household or lifestyle and feel free to tweak for your own winter fun.

As an aside, please go to this link with a petition for the White House regarding the HUD funding: http://www.mvorganizing.org/involved/petition 

1. Color
2. Play Doh
3. Play hide-and-seek
4. Blow bubbles
5. Place chase
6. Do fingerplays
7. Sing songs (kids have a remarkable ability to forgive tone deafness)
8. Make an obstacle course out of cushions or furniture (using blankets to make tunnels)
9. Make a fort or tent out of cushions and sheets
10. Make a car out of a box
11. Read a book
12. Fingerpaint 
13. Toss bean bags into a bucket
14. Play the shell-and-pea game
15. Dance to music
16. Download games for toddlers from the internet (Nick Jr. has great ones)
17. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags
18. Roll a ball back & forth on the floor
19. Put on a puppet show
20. Go fishing with a yardstick & yarn
21. Make a horseshoe game
22. Play paper baskeball (or Nerf)
23. Make a drum out of an oatmeal box
24. Play with musical instruments: kazoo, harmonica, etc.
25. Bang on pots & pans with spoons
26. Play dress up
27. Dress up dolls or plush animals
28. Make a playhouse out of a large box
29. Let child play with a sticker sheet 
30. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets
31. Frost cookies or bake together
32. Plant a flower or vegetable/herb plant together
33. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket
34. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers
35. Play hide-and-seek together
36. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and take it for a walk around the house
37. Record each other talking
38. Give a piggy-back ride
39. Play horsie
40. Play tug-of-war with a blanket
41. String large beads onto a shoelace
42. Glue shapes onto paper
43. Make sock puppets
44. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone
45. Act out a story in a book
46. Make hopscotch out of colored paper or place mats
47. Do the hokey-pokey
48. Play Red Light, Green Light
49. Have a picnic in the living room
50. Play dress up in Mommy's/Daddy's clothes