I don't know what it's like in your house, but in mine I'm a sought after playmate. The children would absolutely love me to stop everything I'm doing and just play and be with them - all day! I'm willing to bet that you are always in demand too :).
That being said, I am always keen on activities that amuse them and keep them busy for a little while. Quick and easy things - things that don't require much thought, or unpacking, and things that are super easy to clean up. One of my go-to ideas that fulfill these criteria are spray bottles. Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE them. The best part is that it exercises those little fingers and is great for the strengthening of the fine finger muscles.
Little One is happy to simply walk around the garden spraying whatever he can, but I have found some nice variations of this simple idea on the web. One nice activity is to paint with a spray bottle. You can use this homemade paint recipe and water it down a bit. Then find a spot where it can get a bit messy, stick some bigger sheets of paper to the wall and allow the children to spray a painting.
I have also read that you can add food colouring to some water and spray paint snow. Now that sound like so much fun. Pity it doesn't snow here. :(
I have let Little One spray a big window and then "clean" it for me - a nice activity for a rainy day. I have also added a spray bottle to bath time and allowed him to spray the walls. I recently found this wonderful idea - bubble bath spray painting - I know both my boys would love this. I will however, have to find paint here locally that doesn't stain. (Know of any?) I wouldn't want multi-coloured children - although now having said that, it could be fun ;). Another idea for bath time is to allow the children to play with some shaving cream and then ask them to spray it away.
(mmm, how high can it go?)
Have any more spray bottle ideas? If you do, please share them in the comments.
Till next time, have fun!
PS. Sharing at
PS. Sharing at
I love your spray bottle ideas!!! No joke, two minutes ago I was JUST thinking that I need to get spray tote for each kid so they can have their own chore bucket! I wish we could have a colorful spray bottle painting party! That would be so fun!! Xoxoxxoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Georgia, another idea with the spray bottle, is to put toy soldiers or animals in a row and let the kid 'shoot' them. If you don't like the shooting part, it can be shapes or anything else that can stand upright outside and be toppled over. In summer it can be a nice relief from the heat to spray each other - not advised in winter and always with permission from the other person. Regards, Eike
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas-- need to buy good spray bottles for summer fun! You could play spray bottle tic-tac-toe on the sidewalk. It would have to be a game you played fast if the sun was shining bright and the temperature was hot.
ReplyDeleteTry to "shoot" balloons, hanging with a string attached to the ceiling
ReplyDeleteHooray for spray bottle activities! Just the other day I actually needed my spray bottle for some ironing and had to go out in the yard in search of it :)
ReplyDeleteWe did this activity a few weeks ago when the weather was a bit better. My daughter loved it!
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