
No mess, 5-year-olds
Nothing to mop up afterward. 84 ideas

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings


- Good for siblings


- Good for siblings




- 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
- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings


Learn something
Walking Water
5–20 min 4–11 yrs Low mess- six clear cups
- food coloring
- paper towels or coffee filters
- water






- Good for siblings

- 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


- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings



- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings




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

- Good for siblings



Learn something
Shadow Drawing
15–30 min 3–9 yrs Low mess- paper or sidewalk chalk
- something to draw with




Learn something
Washing Line Words
15–30 min 4–8 yrs Low mess- clothes pegs
- string
- letters or paper to write them on




Learn something
Balance And Weigh
20–40 min 4–10 yrs Low mess- kitchen scales, or a coat hanger and two cups
- small things to weigh
- 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


Stay busy and calm
Home Shop
25–50 min 5–11 yrs Low mess- play money or real coins
- paper for price labels

- Good for siblings



- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- Good for siblings

- 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
- 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
- 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

- 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
- 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

- 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

Learn something
Block Bridge for the Train
15–40 min 3–8 yrs Low mess- a train set with trackto buy
- wooden blocksto buy
- Good for siblings

- 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

Stay busy and calm
Bean In A Jar
10–20 min 3–11 yrs Low mess- dried beans or seedsto buy
- a clear jar or glass
- cotton wool or paper towels
- water
- Good for siblings

Learn something
Cardboard Train Tunnel
15–40 min 2–6 yrs Low mess- a train set with trackto buy
- a shoe box or cardboard box
- Good for siblings

Learn something
Pretend Pizza Shop
15–40 min 2–7 yrs Low mess- play food for toppingsto buy
- paper plates for pizza crusts

- Good for siblings



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