Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures - Spring Break Addition

In the spirit of spring break and all the parents, grandparents and caregivers pulling out their hair trying to keep the kids busy this week. I have put together a pretty simple guide of some fun, stay at home activities to keep your littles from climbing the walls, and you from losing your marbles. These activities can easily flex and apply to all seasons and lots of ages. They are great for rainy and snowy days too!

1. Play Beach:

Now that the weather is warming up, this is a super easy activity to do outside. However, my kids get the biggest kick when we do it inside. I know, I already see you rolling your eyes at the mess. This activity stays pretty easily contained and I find it keeps my kids occupied the longest. My boys alternate at the sand station and water station

What you need:

• A large bin or tote that you fill 3/4 of the way with water.

• Kinetic Sand - you can purchase it here.

• Toys from around the house that can get wet (aka nothing with batteries). I would also avoid your standard bath toys since they are used to those getting wet and might not keep their attention as long. My boys like to use cars, figurines, etc.

• If you have any of the baby medicine syringes those are super fun in the water and don’t make such a big mess. A small strainer and spoons are great additions too.

• Bathing suits!

• A lounge chair for you to sit and watch. Wouldn't be the beach without it.

Setup:

• Grab a beach blanket and spread it out.

• Create 2 stations, a sand station and a water station. Have your children alternate at each area. Be careful not to mix the sand with the water.

2. Cosmic Bath:

This is a super fun way to end the day! But also can totally apply to a mid day activity if you are in need of something to do and contain your little one! Super simple and the kids love it!

What you need:

• Glow sticks - you can purchase them here!

• A bathtub

• Bubble bath is a bonus. We like this one.

Light the glow sticks and throw them in the tub. Make a fun sudsy bubble bath for extra fun. Turn the lights out and play some fun music!

My kids LOVE this activity. They have a blast watching the glow sticks under the water. This is beyond simple and cheap and its a big hit in our house.

Some other things and activities that I constantly have on hand are the following:

Modeling Clay - Click for the one we use. I am not a fan of playdoh, like AT ALL. The color mixing drives me nuts and the mess is too much for me. But my kids love it. So, what do I do? Well, I stumbled across this modeling clay and we are all hooked! It doesn’t make the same mess. It has a similar consistency and is just as good for their fine motors and they can actually create and keep what they make. If you keep the clay out it hardens. Don’t want to keep your creation? Well then, just put it back in the container.

Brown Kraft Paper Roll - Click for the one we use. The amount of activities we do with this roll of paper is pretty incredible.

• Draw a make-believe city

• Trace your dinosaurs and decorate them

• Have a sibling or adult trace your body and decorate it. You can also draw yourself as what you want to be when you grow up.

• Banners and signs (great for birthdays and holidays)

• Spring leaf and flower hunts. We then strip a crayon and “rub” the image onto the brown paper.