Fine motor
Pinching, peeling, pouring and posting. 75 ideas
- Good for siblings
Burn energy
Sock Basketball
5–20 min 2–10 yrs Low mess- a laundry basket or bucket
- five or six pairs of socks
Learn something
Scarf Pull-Through
5–20 min 8 mo–2 yrs Low mess- a cardboard tube or container
- scarves or fabric strips
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Endless Pulling Box
5–20 min 7 mo–2 yrs Low mess- a box or tub with a small opening
- scarves or fabric strips
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
Learn something
Muffin Tin Pasta Sort
10–20 min 18 mo–4 yrs Low mess- a muffin tin
- three pasta shapes, mixed
- 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
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Rain In A Jar
10–20 min 3–10 yrs Some mess- shaving cream
- a clear jar or glass
- food coloring
- water
Learn something
Oil and Water Drops
10–20 min 3–8 yrs Some mess- vegetable oil
- food coloring
- water
- a clear cup and a few small cups
- +1 more
Learn something
Paper Plate Faces
15–30 min 3–8 yrs Low mess- paper plates or paper
- something to draw with
Learn something
Bath Pouring Station
15–40 min 12 mo–6 yrs Low mess- a bath, sink or tub of water
- cups and containers
Learn something
Kitchen Pouring Station
15–30 min 18 mo–4 yrs Some mess- cups and a measuring cup with a spout
- a tray with a rim
- water or dry rice
Learn something
Shadow Drawing
15–30 min 3–9 yrs Low mess- paper or sidewalk chalk
- something to draw with
Learn something
Feed the Monster
10–20 min 15 mo–4 yrs Low mess- a cardboard box
- a marker to draw the face
- monster food: pom-poms, rolled socks or soft balls
Learn something
Fizzy Drips
15–30 min 2–7 yrs Some mess- baking soda
- white vinegar
- food coloring
- droppers or a teaspoon
Learn something
Foam Paint
15–35 min 3–8 yrs Messy- shaving cream
- food coloring or paint
- a bath or a big tray
Learn something
Leaf Cutting Tray
10–20 min 3–6 yrs Some mess- child safety scissors
- a tray or shallow tub
Learn something
Washing Line Words
15–30 min 4–8 yrs Low mess- clothes pegs
- string
- letters or paper to write them on
Burn energy
Shaker Making
15–35 min 3–9 yrs Some mess- small bottles or tubs with lids
- rice, beans or pasta
- tape to seal the lids
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Cardboard Box Car
20–50 min 2–6 yrs Low mess- a box big enough to sit in
- paper plates
- markers or crayons
Learn something
Rainbow Rice
20–45 min 2–6 yrs Some mess- uncooked white rice
- food coloring
- white vinegar
- zip-top bags
Learn something
Salt Dough Shapes
25–60 min 2–11 yrs Some mess- all-purpose flour
- salt
- water
- a mixing bowl
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Bath Time Brick Build
10–25 min 18 mo–5 yrs Some mess- large building bricksto buy
- a bath
- Good for siblings
- Good for siblings
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Animal Footprint Fossils
10–30 min 2–7 yrs Some mess- play doughto buy
- toy animals or dinosaursto buy
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Buried Treasure Dig
10–30 min 3–7 yrs Some mess- kinetic sandto buy
- small treasures: buttons, coins or figures
Learn something
Pom-Pom Scoop
10–25 min 18 mo–4 yrs Some mess- large pom-pomsto buy
- water
- a tub or big bowl
- a strainer, cups or a slotted spoon
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Train Cargo Delivery
10–30 min 2–6 yrs Low mess- a train set with trackto buy
- cargo: pom-poms, small blocks or buttons
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Bubble Wrap Prints
10–20 min 18 mo–6 yrs Some mess- a sheet of bubble wrapto buy
- washable paintto buy
- paper
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Numbered Parking Lot
10–25 min 2–6 yrs Low mess- toy carsto buy
- a big sheet of paper or flattened box
- a marker
Learn something
Pom-Pom Drop
10–25 min 15 mo–3 yrs Low mess- cardboard tubes
- painter's tape
- pom-pomsto buy
- Good for siblings
Burn energy
Sticky Target
10–20 min 18 mo–6 yrs Low mess- clear contact paperto buy
- painter's tape
- scrap paper to scrunch into balls
Learn something
Trace and Match Shapes
10–25 min 3–6 yrs Low mess- magnetic tilesto buy
- paper
- a marker or crayon
- 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
- Good for siblings
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Play Dough Birthday Cakes
15–40 min 2–6 yrs Some mess- play doughto buy
- drinking straws cut short for candles
Learn something
Paint the Toys
15–30 min 18 mo–5 yrs Messy- washable paintto buy
- plastic toys that can be washedto buy
- a tub or tray
Learn something
Toy Washing Station
15–45 min 18 mo–7 yrs Some mess- washable toysto buy
- warm water
- two tubs
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Frozen Excavation
20–60 min 2–10 yrs Messy- small figures or carsto buy
- water
- a container to freeze in
Learn something
Small World Bin
25–90 min 2–9 yrs Messy- small figuresto buy
- a shallow tub or tray
- a filler like rice or dry pasta
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