The same toys and games can get boring — fast! Spend quality time with your preschooler with one of these 10 fun mommy-and-me activities that are anything but the same-old, same-old.
Trace each other’s hands and feet
This is a great opportunity to talk about big and little, count toes and fingers, and play with different art supplies. Try turning the tracings into animal pictures for an added challenge.
Liquid sidewalk chalk
Mix one cup of cornstarch with one cup of water. Stir in food coloring. Pour the mixture into a muffin tin. Use paintbrushes to “paint” the sidewalk.
Go for an adventure walk
Lace up those sneakers and head around the block. Look for fallen leaves, interesting rocks or interesting flowers. Ask your kiddo lots of questions about what he or she sees.
Digging in rice
Fill a large bin with rice. Bury a few of your child’s favorite toys in the rice, and work on digging them out.
Finger paint
A perennial favorite, finger painting is a messy and fun activity. Roll butcher-block paper across a table to protect the surface, and then go wild! Bonus: To make a piece of art worthy of the wall, use painter’s tape to spell out a word, initial or picture. Paint over it, and then remove the tape to reveal the image.
Splash in a water tub
Fill a large plastic container with water. Gather up plastic cups, lids or toys, and dunk them in the water. See how much water fills each container and see which toys will float.
Eat a lunchtime picnic
This activity is so out of the norm that your little one will be sure to be surprised. Spread a blanket out on the floor — or outside, if the weather permits — and eat lunch picnic style.
Build sponge towers
Cut up packages of colorful, inexpensive sponges. Strips work great, but you can cut out shapes as well. Build towers and castles from the pieces. Bonus: When the tower collapses, it collapses quietly!
Sing silly songs
Kids love to sing. Pick a few of your favorites and belt out the tunes together.
Hold a dance party
Get exercise while having fun. Turn on your favorite tunes — anything works, from Lady Gaga to Kidz Bop — and let loose! Try mimicking each other’s dance moves to work on those fine motor skills.
Watch: Entertaining your toddler
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