Playtime Pantry

The 4pm slump, 1-year-olds

Short, lively, and nothing that takes long to set up. 17 ideas
  • Action Songs: the setup, laid out

    Burn energy

    Action Songs

    3–15 min 6 mo–5 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Copy Me: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Copy Me

    3–12 min 10 mo–4 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Color Hunt: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Color Hunt

    5–15 min 20 mo–6 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Freeze Dance: the setup, laid out

    Burn energy

    Freeze Dance

    5–15 min 18 mo–9 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Tearing Paper: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Tearing Paper

    5–20 min 15 mo–3 yrs Some mess
    • newspaper or old magazines
  • Cabinet Concert: the setup, laid out

    Burn energy

    Cabinet Concert

    5–20 min 8 mo–2 yrs Low mess
    • pans, bowls and trays
    • a wooden spoon
  • Laundry Basket Push: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Laundry Basket Push

    10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • a laundry basket
    • stuffed animals
  • Ball Tub: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Ball Tub

    10–20 min 8–20 months Low mess
    • a laundry basket
    • soft balls or rolled socks
  • Stuffy Toss: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Stuffy Toss

    10–25 min 15 mo–6 yrs Low mess
    • stuffed animals
    • a chair or cushion to land them on
  • Pillow Path: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Pillow Path

    10–20 min 18 mo–5 yrs Low mess
    • pillows or couch cushions
  • Sticky Wall: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Sticky Wall

    10–25 min 10 mo–2 yrs Low mess
    • masking tape
  • Couch Cushion Mountain: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Couch Cushion Mountain

    15–30 min 18 mo–5 yrs Low mess
    • couch cushions and pillows
  • One Box, Anything: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    One Box, Anything

    20–90 min 18 mo–9 yrs Some mess
    • a big cardboard box
  • Bubble Wrap Stomp: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Bubble Wrap Stomp

    5–15 min 12 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • bubble wrapto buy
    • tape to hold it down

The 4pm slump for other ages

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