| Are you constantly trying to come up with new | | | | they cut out letters to make that sentence. |
| and exciting ideas for playtime with your | | | | Kids can be learning as well as having |
| kids? Finding new playtime activities can be | | | | fun.Finger Painting: Messy activities like |
| a challenge for any parent when it seems | | | | finger painting can be done with less mess |
| you've done every activity in the book. | | | | too. Just lay down an old shower curtain on |
| There is good news however- new playtime | | | | your kitchen floor to contain the paint |
| activities are more numerous than you may | | | | splatters. Cut open a few brown grocery |
| think. Take a look at the following ideas. | | | | sacks, bring out a few different colors of |
| These can be done indoors, but can also be | | | | paint and you're all set. Kids love |
| changed into outdoor activities if | | | | activities that are messy, and you'll have |
| needed.Obstacle Course: This first activity | | | | the mess fairly contained.Picture Hunt: This |
| can be set up easily in your living room, | | | | can be used as a quiet time activity, and it |
| even if space is limited. Just pull out a | | | | is still fun for your child. Get a stack of |
| few chairs, bring out a stepstool, roll up a | | | | your child's books and have them look for a |
| blanket, and lay down a few pillows. You can | | | | particular picture in each book. You can |
| also have your kids pick out a few items | | | | time them to make it more exciting for |
| around the house to add to this obstacle | | | | them.Guessing Game: This is another quiet |
| course. This activity is always a hit | | | | time activity but still fun. Just pick out a |
| because kids love crawling over and under | | | | few objects, have your child close their |
| chairs, jumping over a blanket, stepping up | | | | eyes, place an object in their hand and have |
| and down on a stepstool, bouncing from one | | | | them guess it. You can even have your child |
| pillow to the next, and running in a circle | | | | pick a few objects and you close your eyes |
| around a teddy bear. This is an easy | | | | and guess. Kids always get a kick out of |
| activity and fun for both you and your | | | | seeing their parents play the same game.Other |
| kids.Personalized Placemats: Why not turn a | | | | ideas: Making your own playdough, making |
| boring coloring page into a personalized | | | | puppets out of lunch sacks or socks, a toy |
| placemat by laminating it. Better yet, add a | | | | hide and seek game- you hide the toy and your |
| few pictures of your child to make it a | | | | child searches for it, doll or teddy bear |
| picture placemat. Also try making a family | | | | picnic, building forts out of chairs and |
| placemat by having your child draw a picture | | | | blankets. The possibilites are endless.The |
| of each family member, then placing a photo | | | | good thing is that all these ideas can be |
| of that family member next to each | | | | recycled, if an idea is a hit use it again in |
| drawing.Musical Instruments: Making musical | | | | a couple weeks. A great resource to find new |
| instruments out of household items is easy | | | | ideas are child-related websites. Go to a |
| and inexpensive. For example, a paper towel | | | | few different websites and jot down a list of |
| roll and some dry beans can make a long | | | | ideas to always have on hand.The main point |
| tamborine. A shoebox with a hole in the | | | | is that playtime activities are numerous. |
| middle, and a few rubberbands can make a | | | | You may think finding new activities is a |
| guitar. An empty oatmeal container can be | | | | challenge, but use the resources available |
| decorated and used as a drum. Making their | | | | and then be creative. The most important |
| own instruments keeps kids busy and is a fun | | | | part is to just have fun with your kids. If |
| and creative idea.Scavenger Hunt: This | | | | they see you having fun then they'll have fun |
| activity just takes some preparation before | | | | too- and isn't that the point of playtime |
| you get your kids involved. Hide a few items | | | | anyway?This article has been brought to you |
| around the house, write up clues for each | | | | by: |
| item, then let your kids find the items using | | | | |
| the clues you wrote out. This is a great | | | | Smith is a stay-at-home mom of two |
| idea for older and younger children. Just | | | | toddlers, with her third child due in May. |
| make the clues harder for the older kids, and | | | | She's created her own website called "Your |
| easier for the younger ones.Picture Scenes: | | | | Heart And Home", this website includes |
| Who doesn't have an old stack of magazines | | | | recipes, ideas, inspiration, and of course |
| and catalogs lying around the house? Put | | | | shopping! You can find Stuff A Friend animal |
| these dust collectors to work. Give your | | | | stuffing kits for your kids. Also Patty's |
| child a project by having them cut out | | | | Pretty Paper for notecards, notepads, and |
| pictures from these magazines and pasting | | | | stationary you can have personalized. Gift |
| them on paper to make a scene. For example, | | | | Can Builder is on her site too. This is a |
| if you choose a zoo scene then have them cut | | | | fun gift idea where you can choose the gift |
| and paste pictures of animals onto paper. | | | | can from a large selection of themes, then |
| Try a number or color scene for younger kids, | | | | choose from our huge variety of fillers to |
| this not only keeps them busy but can help | | | | make this gift truly unique. Come visit |
| them learn their numbers and colors as well. | | | | "Your Heart And Home" today! |
| You can give an older child a sentence, then | | | | |