Have toddlers? A preschooler or two? And are you looking for simple things to do?
Today I’m listing some favorite activities to do with those kids under five. Those days when you have little ones in your home are certainly some of the most busy years but also some of the sweetest years as they have an exuberance and joy about them.
All the pictures are from my instagram feed – find me there at finding_joy. 🙂
66. Let them help you dust.
67. Teach them how to say I love you in different languages.
69. Play catch.
70. Tape their name on paper and have them color around it.
74. Count to 100.
75. Teach counting by twos.
76. Let them help you wash the walls.
77. Teach them to tie their shoes.
78. Teach them how to set the table.
79. Make a fort.
80. Let them play with flashlights.
81. Make shadow puppets on the wall.
82. Bring a stack of books in the living room and read them all.
83. Let them take a bubble bath.
84. Go to Target {if you’re feeling brave}.
85. Play with chalk outside.
86. Draw chalk roads and a town for them to play in.
87. Play hide and seek.
88. Let them play with the pots and pans and measuring cups.
89. Play Memory.
90. Act out different animals.
91. Get out the playdough.{which for us is gluten free}
92. Have them tell you their favorite things.
93. Hold them.
94. Simply sit and watch them. They grow.
95. Give yourself a gold star. Kids under five take work. 🙂
What activities would you add?
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24 comments
Such a sweet list! 🙂
I love this list and will certainly make use of it in the future! I have a 9 month old and struggle to find age appropriate things to do with her. I think she is getting tired of her toys… We take walks, go to the park, blow bubbles, and I even tried homemade finger paint. Any other suggestions?
Ok, I commented on the wrong post- so I’ll try again… one thing to add.. play with a box! It can be a car, a fort, a marble catcher, a doll house… LOVE what a little one, a box, and a dab of imagination can create 🙂 Two of our favorite books are It’s A Box and The Birthday Box- whenever my little ones read those, they are inspired to create fun from a box. 🙂 Thanks for the amazing list, Rachel.
Love your list! At one point I had 4 under 5 and it is tough!! Right now I’m down to 1 under 5 (and one who is 5) and I’m so sad they’re growing up.
So many fun things, and fantastic photos to boot!
We have an anchor in every storm! Praying!
Hebrews 6:17-20 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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Lifting up prayers!
Psalms 57:1-2 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
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Praying for you right now!
Psalms 130:1-2, 5-7 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications (5-7) I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
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You are an inspiration! For real! I have three boys under 3.5, and my oldest ALWAYS wants me to “play cars” with him, but I just don’t really know how. Sounds dumb, right? But I just don’t get it! Anyway, we spent a while this afternoon making shapes with them, which he LOVED, and then I got the bright idea to make LETTERS with them. We’re working on letter recognition, but he’s not so much the flashcard type, so this was perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sock puppets, have puppet shows, dance with them, role play, felt crafts are really easy, I made my boys superhero masks out of them…
My son spends most of his time playing with our pup. They are inseperable.
Look through your picture albums (online or physical). Talk about your relatives and their place in the family. Show them what you looked like as a child, teenager, at your wedding.
Play soccer using a soft ball and two goals (cardboard boxes).
Pick a movie, make some popcorn and set out candy (or your snacks of choice) in a kitchen window…our toddler “buys” his snacks and drink at the counter like a movie theater, gets an admission ticket and “goes to the movies”. He loved it!!
84.Take them to Target!! Sometimes a couple times per week. I would hardly call myself brave, but that is one of my standbys with my 3 and 1 year old…especially when dad is working late and we need to get out of the house. 🙂
Start a rock collection! My almost three year old loves his rocks!! We go outside and just pick up rocks for his collection.
Kicking Autumn leaves everywhere! Puddle jumping in winter as well. 2 of my favourite things from being a kid!
Go out in the rain. Play in the puddles Take bubbles out to the puddles. Make rivers in the dirt. Cork boats. Wash the car in the rain. Wash the kid in the rain! lol
Blow up balloons. Don’t let them touch the floor. Play tennis or baseball. Use static electricity to stick them to the walls.
[…] sa obavezama i, kao i sve mi, mame i žene, uspeva da se izbori. Posebno me obradovao njen tekst 95 things to do with kids under five, koji me je podsetio da naša deca neprestano uče i da ne moram baš svaki put da zasučem rukave […]
[…] me obradovao njen tekst 95 things to do with kids under five, koji me je podsjetio da naša djeca neprestano uče i da ne moram baš svaki put da zasučem […]
pasta necklaces, “paint” with water on the concrete, use an “old fashioned” popcorn popper(they can watch it pop!), make a card for someone! This article is a FAB reminder of the simple things! Thank you.
Those are awesome awesome reminders. Thank you, Penny. 🙂
[…] me obradovao njen tekst 95 things to do with kids under five, koji me je podsjetio da naša deca neprestano uče i da ne moram baš svaki put da zasučem rukave […]
[…] sa obavezama i, kao i sve mi, mame i žene, uspeva da se izbori. Posebno me obradovao njen tekst 95 things to do with kids under five, koji me je podsetio da naša deca neprestano uče i da ne moram baš svaki put da zasučem rukave […]