Old Style Toddler Fun?

Katgoddess

http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2006/10/28/how-to-make-playdough-no-cook-recipe/

This is the recipe I use for play dough. It works every time.

Take a look at your local netmums board for ideas of cheap/free places to go.

uropachild

Oh, and homemade playdough sounds like fun. We do have some bought stuff which hasn't been out in a while, so that may be on the list for tomorrow too.

silligilli

I'm a nanny for 3 children under 5 , hard work but worthwhile. We love to do a gruffalo walk. If your little one will sit long enough to listen to gruffalo story, she'll enjoy this - We read the story then go to some local woodland and hunt the gruffalo, making all the sounds of the animals in the story, an owl, mouse, snake etc. 'my' 20 month old loves this as she toddles round the woods (wears her out too, a bonus) I agree with slinky malinky too, it doesn't hurt for kids to play alone. It encourages their imagination and you do need to rest.

xxvickixx

Lol - we go Gruffalo hunting too and Going on a Bear Hunt - sometimes we find both!

Toonie

If you have a printer then I can heartily recommend this website http://www.dltk-kids.com

It is an American site which has some amazing craft pages along with lots of resources for all ages. I frequently use it for the children I look after and find that many of the activities can be adapted for different ages. Most recently I have been doing the mini books that can be customised http://www.dltk-teach.com/minibooks/customgirl/index.htm

Broomstick

Slopes are good! I used to get an unused piece of wide shelving/table top and prop it up on low cushions at one end on a carpeted floor so it wouldn't slip. It could be used for climbing and sliding on but also for anything that rolled to be sent down. (I wouldn't leave the child alone with it just incase the board slipped though.)

Something else I did (we lived in a relative's pristine 2nd floor flat at the time) was to buy a small bag of sandpit sand and stick it in a washing up bowl with a load of spoons, pots, plastic toys, put the plug in the empty bath and the child plus mini sandpit in there too. They could make tons of mess but it would all be contained. At the end of the playtime (again, I never left DS alone because of the taps- but I could get a sit down and break to read!) I'd just take brushed-down child out of the sandy bath and could clear up the mess really easily, sweeping up all the sand etc afterwards when I had a moment.

If you get hold of a huge cardboard box you can put a window and door in it and you should have a playhouse that lasts for ages, or my DSs loved playing in really simple tents made from a couple of chairs with a sheet thrown over the top and clipped in place with clothes pegs.

B x

Katyroo62

I've not got children but my sister has 6. I can't take credit for these ideas, I've stolen them from her. Gathering lots of sparkly/fluffy/shiney items and them gluing them on something. (A cheap notebook that she could draw in maybe); decorating biscuits. (you can get cheap digestives and make your own coloured icing); They love having tea parties. She bought an old tea set from a carboot for about £2, the kids help to make sandwiches etc and have orange squash in the tea pot and have the sandwiches for lunch; Face painting; salt dough; making things out of boxes etc. (robots, teddy beds etc)

Erm.... can't think of anything at the mo

MadDogWoman_2

For my 3yo tonight I opened the patio doors, put her wellies on and let her dance in the rain, she thought it was fabulous fun, but as your garden is a no go area, how about taking her puddle jumping?

She also enjoys baking, lacing cards, colouring, sticking, painting, she loves The Gruffalo.

zippychick

Hi

I've moved this to the families board, to see if we can get you some more input and suggestion

There are a few Old Style threads which may have some ideas (stole this list from a previous post from Pink Winged!):p

easter holidays - CHEAP ways to entertain the kids

How do I cope with the school holidays and no money?

What are you doing today with your children? (school summer holidays)

Entertaining a 3 yr old on a budget

Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL]

Thanks
Zip

Mupette

i never had a garden when ds was small, so we used to have picnics on the living room carpet, picnic rug included (or old duvet if no blanket)

Or use duvet and chairs for den making, for girls or boys