Here are 2 sure-fired ways to buy sometimes up to 15 minutes(!) with your toddler. And really even preschooler b/c JJ still requests these activities too. What’s great about them is they really require nothing special you don’t already have and the set up is super easy.
CAR/TRUCK WASH: All you need for this is: (1) baking pan; we use a brownie pan (2) water (3) toy cars/trucks; we use matchbox cars (4) different sponges/brushes; I cut up a kitchen sponge into thirds and use bottle brushes.
You fill the pan with an inch of water, sometimes I put a squirt of soap in it to make it bubbly. Put the dishpan on the table with a hand towel under it to absorb spills. And then let the kids wash the cars with the sponges – yep that’s it. My boys LOVE it and request once a week; it’s great for when you are getting dinner ready and you’re already in the kitchen. I guess you can switch it up too if you have girls – maybe doll was…dunno a lot about that arena.
PAINTING THE SIDEWALK: This is for outside. And you need: (1) cup of water and a (2) medium paintbrush. Dip the paintbrush into the water and tell the child they can paint sidewalk or whatever with the water. I know it sounds dumb, but Henry loved it. The sun was out so it dried up fast, but he didn’t care he just painted it again.
Love easy ideas – if you have some I’d love to hear them.
