Playtime Pantry

Before bed, 2-year-olds

Wind-down play with no mess to clean up after. 21 ideas
  • Peekaboo: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Peekaboo

    3–10 min 4 mo–2 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Animal Yoga: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Animal Yoga

    5–20 min 2–9 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Sticker Rescue: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Sticker Rescue

    5–15 min 15 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • stickers
  • Where Did It Go?: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Where Did It Go?

    5–15 min 7 mo–2 yrs Low mess
    • two or three cups
    • a small toy
  • Who Is That?: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Who Is That?

    5–15 min 4 mo–2 yrs Low mess
    • a mirror
  • Cotton Ball Transfer: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Cotton Ball Transfer

    10–20 min 2–5 yrs Low mess
    • cotton balls
    • kitchen tongs
    • two bowls
  • Shadow Zoo: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Shadow Zoo

    10–20 min 2–9 yrs Low mess
    • a flashlight
  • Animal Line-Up: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Animal Line-Up

    10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • painter's tape
    • toy animals or cars
  • Bath Cups: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Bath Cups

    10–25 min 8 mo–2 yrs Low mess
    • a shallow bath
    • a few cups
  • Muffin Tin Drop: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Muffin Tin Drop

    10–25 min 12 mo–3 yrs Low mess
    • a muffin tin or ice tray
    • large objects to drop in
  • Muffin Tin Pasta Sort: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Muffin Tin Pasta Sort

    10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • a muffin tin
    • three pasta shapes, mixed
  • Sticker Line-Up: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Sticker Line-Up

    10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess
    • dot stickers
    • paper
    • a marker
  • Copy My Build: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Copy My Build

    10–30 min 2–9 yrs Low mess
    • building bricksto buy
  • Teddy's Check-Up: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Teddy's Check-Up

    10–30 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
    • a toy doctor kitto buy
    • a stuffed animal or doll
  • All Aboard Passengers: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    All Aboard Passengers

    10–25 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
    • a train set with trackto buy
    • small people or animal figuresto buy
  • Animal Hospital: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Animal Hospital

    15–40 min 2–7 yrs Low mess
    • a toy doctor kitto buy
    • stuffed animals or toy animals
    • painter's tape for bandages
  • Block Road City: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Block Road City

    15–45 min 2–7 yrs Low mess
    • wooden blocksto buy
    • toy carsto buy
  • Stuffed Animal Picnic: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Stuffed Animal Picnic

    15–40 min 18 mo–5 yrs Low mess
    • play food or a tea setto buy
    • stuffed animals

Before bed for other ages

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