Playtime Pantry

While you cook dinner, 3-year-olds

Low supervision, low mess, close to the kitchen. 44 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

  • I Spy: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    I Spy

    3–20 min 3–10 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Would You Rather: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    Would You Rather

    3–20 min 3–12 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Animal Races: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Animal Races

    5–15 min 2–6 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

  • Animal Yoga: the setup, laid out

    Learn something

    Animal Yoga

    5–20 min 2–9 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • Sock Basketball: the setup, laid out
    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
  • Tape Long Jump: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Burn energy

    Tape Long Jump

    5–15 min 2–6 yrs Low mess
    • painter's tape
  • What Changed?: the setup, laid out
    Good for siblings

    Learn something

    What Changed?

    5–15 min 3–10 yrs Low mess

    Nothing to gather

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

Showing 24 of 44

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