Bad-weather, boredom-busting activities for baby
When you can’t go outside, try these fun activities to keep your baby busy in winter.
If you have little ones, you will know how challenging it can be to keep them entertained when the weather is bad, or when you simply don’t have the opportunity to play outside. The good news is that with a few basic materials, and a bit of preparation, it’s possible to set up activities that will keep babies and toddlers busy (and content). We asked Danielle Van Es, a qualified Early Childhood Development teacher and owner of TopTots Ballito, for some inspiration.
For babies
If you’re looking for an easy indoor activity for babies, Danielle suggests mess-free painting. “It’s great for sensory integration, finger dexterity and visual input,” she explains. To try this activity, place some paint droplets on a sheet of paper, and then tape the paper to a table with some cling wrap over it so that baby can move the colours around without actually touching the paint. For some variation, try taping bubble wrap over your paper, or placing paint inside a Ziploc bag.
Another great indoor activity is to tape toys onto a surface such as a window, wall or floor. When baby plays with the toys, skills like fine motor and bi-lateral control will be developed. “Taping toys on windows will encourage more balance when they are trying to stand,” says Danielle.
Super simple, but highly entertaining for little ones, ‘posting’ is definitely worth trying if you’re stuck inside. “All children love to post,” says Danielle. “Some examples include putting ping pong balls into a formula tin, or posting dry spaghetti sticks into the holes of a colander,” she suggests.
Toddlers
If your child is a little older, you can introduce simple ball games that are safe to play inside. Ball-rolling, for example, doesn’t require much space and helps to develop some key skills. “Ball-rolling is a fun way to work on gross motor skills,” says Danielle. “It’s also good for hand-eye coordination.” To set up an easy game, create tunnels with paper and tape, through which your little one must roll a small ball.
Threading is another clever activity for toddlers, and can actually be done with many ordinary household items. Danielle suggests that little ones thread dry macaroni onto string — this action works on fine motor skills, as well as concentration.
She also suggests using stickers as a fun way to work on colour and shape recognition. “So much can be done with small round coloured stickers,” she says. “Stickers can keep kids busy for ages, and they’re also really good for their fingers!”
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