Winter playtime ideas
Being stuck inside all day with a baby or toddler can be more than a little challenging.
Winter playtime ideas
It’s winter and heading outside seems too cold or too germy. It has been a long year for parents and babies so Earlybirds has taken the leg work out of thinking up new game ideas for playtime. Here are some suggested indoor activities to amuse you and bub while also nurturing your baby’s developing brain.
To our Melbourne Earlybird community, we’re thinking of you and hope these activity ideas help you during Lockdown 2.0.
Cooking
If your bub can sit up, pop her in a highchair to watch you cook. You can chatter away in whatever silly voice you enjoy using and give your baby little samples along the way. Let your baby smell the different herbs and spices you use and watch their little faces react.
Tell her when things are ‘hot’, ‘cold, ‘sweet’ or what colour they are. Show your baby how you peel a vegetable before you boil it down for a mushy snack. Toddlers can help you stir basic recipes like pancakes or cake batter.
Pop a dollop of yoghurt on their trays and show them how to make swirls for a yummy (if a little messy) first try at painting.
Make homemade play dough with this recipe and test their creativity whilst also engaging their senses. https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/playdough-recipe/oyycpq9f
Bath time
Clean off the traces of your finger-painting session by filling the tub or kitchen sink with bubbles. Blow the bubbles, pop them or make wigs and beards with them for a giggle.
Show your baby different objects that float or sink to the bottom and of they are toddlers, ask them what they think will happen before placing the object in the water.
If you have a bath, try these bath crayons which are entertaining and easy to clean off. https://tigertribe.com.au/products/bath-crayons
Make a hand puppet by sewing two washcloths together. Have the puppet talk to her in a funny voice as you clean your baby
Music
Enjoy your favourite tunes and watch a rainy afternoon fly by – no Wiggles allowed! To get your endorphins going and your body moving, pick your baby up and have a dance. It’ll be smiles all round and you’ll create some new memories to conjure up when you hear your favourite song.
Make your baby a really simple instrument like pasta in a container or give them a good old-fashioned wooden spoon and a pot so they can rock along with you.
Create a dance move or actions for lyrics that are repeated so your baby can learn to mirror you.
Mirror
Babies find themselves endlessly fascinating! Place your baby on his tummy with an unbreakable toy mirror facing him to encourage him to push up. This engages your baby’s upper body and back muscles. You can also carry your baby from room to room so he can check himself out in wall mirrors. Touch his eyes, nose, and so on as you look together so he will begin to identify his features in the glass.
Say ‘nose’, ‘ears’, ‘hair’, ‘mouth’ etc as you point them out and watch how your baby learns to point to them on his own with practice
Toddlers can play dress ups and trial different looks with sunglasses hats and costumes