When its too hot . . .

Or too cold, or too rainy, or too muggy, or too whatever we have to keep busy, or else!

Here are a few things the Unck family loves to do when we need to be entertained INDOORS. I figure many of you out there that read this blog are mothers to young children yourselves, so why not spread ideas. These are activities to do WITH your children. Sometimes I need to be 'entertained' just as much as my babies, so some of these activities are just great for that. Being a full time stay at home mom, with a husband who travels quite often, these are our tried and true boredom-busters!

1. Shaving Cream Art
Inexpensive, Messy, and best for children over 2!
This activity is MESSY, but easy to clean up, both off your children, and around them. It is inexpensive too, and is a huge outlet for learning and fun. First, spread out a vinyl tablecloth over your kitchen table, and anything under the table (if you have carpet underneath). You can use anything easy to wipe off. I keep a vinyl tablecloth stashed away just for this activity. I use cheap, cheap, cheap cans of shaving cream (not gel) and spray mountains all over the vinyl cloth. I also arm my children with painting clothes. Sometimes we pull out food coloring and paint brushes, but mostly we just dig in with our fingers. Tyler "practices" words, and pictures, while Natalie just makes a mess. She is still a little young for this, but enjoys it while sitting on my lap. Let your imagination roam

2. Bubbles, in unusual places!
Inexpensive, great for ALL ages
For this we have a large quilt, that is easy to wash. I usually keep this blanket just for bubbles. We love to clean up all the toys (my favorite part, since doing this activity results in a clean house, and clean children!). After we a have a large free space we pull out the blanket. I don't know about your kids, but my kids love when I toss a large blanket on the floor. It is like another layer of fun! After they are done rolling around in it, I kneel on the corner and blow bubbles like crazy. My kids like to lay flat on their backs, and catch bubbles as they fall on them.

3. FOAM blocks, awesome!
All ages, kind of pricey, but sooo fun
Last Christmas I really wanted to get some blocks for my kids. Mostly for Tyler, but knowing Natalie would love them too, eventually. I remember standing at Toys-R-Us, debating for way too long if we should get wood or foam (didn't know there was such a thing) blocks to play with. I eventually decided on foam, and I'm so glad I did. No one gets hurt when they are thrown, Natalie used to love to chew on them (and I just let her!) and they stack in really unique ways, because they don't slide off each other. They are made by imaginarium, but there are lots of brands.

4. Musical fun/Noise!
All ages, and can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you want
We have a songs bucket full of popsicle sticks where we wrote names of all different songs. Tyler helped me write and color on them with markers. I'm always adding too the bucket. Natalie loves to pull out all the sticks, and Tyler loves to sing. There are many web sites out there with names.
I also bought the kids this musical set by Melissa and Doug: http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prod.php?p=488&k=88552&name=Band-in-a-Box

It is great fun!

4. Some of our other fall backs are watercolors, play-do, and art buckets full of glue sticks, all sorts of markers and crayons, and construction paper. But, I figure you all know about that stuff!

If you have anything else you and your kids love to do, let me know about it, and I'll post it. Have a fun day!