Favorite Messy Indoor Activities with Young Toddler?

[not_telling]

DS is 17 months and I'm feeling like we need to expand the kinds of activities we do when we're indoors (which is often, now that it's winter). I'm trying to think of messy, sensory-stimulating activites we could do. Seems like he's too young for, say, fingerpaints, because he would probably put his painty hands in his mouth.

I'd like to know what fun things you do and -very important! - how you prepare for and clean up the mess...cuz I have to admit that I hate the idea of things getting real messy...but I'm just gonna suck it up and try to enjoy the mess.

[SparklingGemini]

I don't think 17 months is too early for finger paints. We started those around 11 months I think. DD still loves them,

You could always try finger painting with pudding, if you're concerned about the eating aspect.

[Red Pajama]

The PP suggestion about pudding is a great one. Big, chunky crayons are a nice activity, although most kids will mouth the crayons, too. Art for kids is about process, not product, so keep that in mind when planning things.

Paper tearing is both fun and messy, and is a great fine motor activity, too.

If you live where it's cold enough for snow you could bring in a bowl of snow and let him play in it until it melts.

My kids love to "write" in the flour dust after I kneed bread. You could sprinkle flour on the counter and see what he does.

Measuring and scooping are fun, if you have a large enough container and don't mind the mess. you can use a variety of mediums as long as you're watching closely-- flour, salt, beans, rice, bird seed...

[daniturtle]

I'm going to watch this thread, I have a 15-month old so we're looking for stuff too. I'm getting tired of reading books over and over and over!!!!

My brother-in-law mentioned that at his daughter's daycare they would strip the toddlers down to their diapers to do "finger"painting. Seemed like a good idea to me.

[triana1326]

Originally Posted by daniturtle

I'm going to watch this thread, I have a 15-month old so we're looking for stuff too. I'm getting tired of reading books over and over and over!!!!

My brother-in-law mentioned that at his daughter's daycare they would strip the toddlers down to their diapers to do "finger"painting. Seemed like a good idea to me.

We snuck one of DH's ratty white shirts to use for a full body smock - DD loves to fingerpaint (as well as decorate the shirt while wearing it) and DH will occasionally wear the shirt after the paint dries. It's so cute and DD recognizes that she made the pretty colors on the t-shirt...

[MeAndVee]

When I was a toddler I went with my mother to a Mommy & Me class. And I can remember painting with shaving cream. I LOVED how with my pointing finger I could draw "roads, highways!" It was a blast. SO I do it alot with my toddler and he is very much into it. You could use whipped cream if you are worried about him consuming it {don't know if shaving cream is non toxic}. DS has never been a mouthy child, even as a baby he didn't put very much in his mouth. Also, I vaguly remember seeing a bath toy that contained cans of colored shaving cream and I would imagine that is non toxic so if you could find that it would be an option! Have fun! Embrace the mess!

[not_telling]

Thanks for the ideas so far...and keep 'em coming!

There was one day that I was baking and gave DS some flour and uncooked lentils to play with on his high chair tray. He did enjoy this

Maybe I'll try fingerpaints, but switch to pudding if he sticks it in his mouth.

He looooves tearing tissues apart...of course, since I don't want to waste this precious comodity I don't let him do it too often. I'll start giving him scrap paper and see what he does.

[Aubergine68]

Cornstarch and water goop in a bowl on the kitchen floor.

Big rubbermaid bin of snow brought inside, placed on towels on kitchen floor, mittens on the toddlers.

For older toddlers, mixing colored water with spoons into plastic egg cartons or cups. I put out a bowl of red, blue, and yellow colored water and lots of towels handy.

[celesterra]

I have 16-month old twins, so I am constantly on the lookout for interesting activities. I have given in to the mess. Do you let your ds get messy at mealtime?

Last week, I dragged the plastic pool we used outside into the kitchen, and put inside it a rectangular, shallow bin with a couple inches of warm soapy water. I have the boys toys and let them strip down. It bought me enough time to make dinner without them hanging on me.

I like to give them mixing bowls with oats for play "cooking". They really put everything into their mouths - I tried split peas last week and they just kept eating them. I also got them a play kitchen, and I put soapy water in the sink every now and then.

I recently introduced playdough. You can use a regular recipe or do an edible one like peanut butter playdough. One of my boys really enjoyed it and really liked using the rolling pin, while the other didn't seem ready. He just kept eating it!

We use fingerpaints, too... and it does go right into their mouths. I just am not comfortable with them eating crayons and marker tips, so we're not using those yet.

Have fun!

[Theia]

I would love to do some of these things with my toddler. We don't get snow, but the finger paints sound fun. Not to hijack, but: My problem is that our whole apartment is carpet except for our little kitchen. How can I get around that? Embrace the mess, but not be stressing about stains on carpet?

[celesterra]

I have a queen sized blanket that I keep on the carpet at all times. You can also get some oilcloth by the yard for under the table, or just a vinyl tablecloth to use as a drop cloth.

[Dea]

A couple friends and I have a messy art playdate weekly.
We've finger painted a lot, we've played with shaving foam, although nearly 2 year olds learned that it hurts in their eyes! We've blown paint in a straw, played with playdoh (cinnamon kind), built gingerbread houses, made wreaths with leaves and glue, lots of colouring ( prefer the skinny markers that are non toxic and washable, the children can pull the caps on and off eaisly and they don't have to work as hard to get a good dark line, like with crayons)
You can also do shaving foam in a small bin with textures in it like rice or beans, you can mix rice or beans in with home made playdoh. I let DD help me bake, she gets good and messy.
About the mess, I just suck it up. She's going to get dirty, but she has so much fun!

[Dea]

you can also freeze blocks of water and then colour some salt to spinkle on the ice to make designs.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by Dea

you can also freeze blocks of water and then colour some salt to spinkle on the ice to make designs.

This reminds me of something else I've done. I have muffin pans and I fill them with water (sometimes colored water with strings dangling out). I freeze them and let them thaw slightly. I've had toddlers spend a long time popping the ice muffins out of the pans, putting them back in -- if there is a string, it is easier for them to do. If you live in a cold climate, the ice circles are pretty hung from trees outdoors.

You could do this with ice cube trays, too.

[hlao23]

Originally Posted by Theia

I would love to do some of these things with my toddler. We don't get snow, but the finger paints sound fun. Not to hijack, but: My problem is that our whole apartment is carpet except for our little kitchen. How can I get around that? Embrace the mess, but not be stressing about stains on carpet?

My mom just bought an Aqua doodle for DBS. It's a big mat that they draw on with a "marker" filled with water. The mat turns blue where they draw. Love, love, love it. No mess anywhere and no worries about him putting the marker in his mouth...he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth still.

Love the pudding idea!

[calendula]

Great ideas! Subbing.....

[Meksmama]

We recently brought in snow in bowls from outside and I gave my children measuring cups and spoons. I set it on towels since we only have carpets but it was fun and I actually got some bills wrote out...

I do like the table cloth on the floor idea!

We also make our own play dough and rip paper alot!

[twinergy]

Instant mashed potatoes with food coloring makes a great finger paint substitute. I haven't tried jello recently, it sounds like fun but my kids weren't into it last time we tried it. Blowing bubbles is lots is a big hit as is play dough. We got a whole bunch of fun playdough tools for christmas that are very popular. I just found a bird feeder at Michaels for $5 and installed a it right outside the window where the kids can see. I can't wait for the birds to find it. The pet store is also our most requested outing. Chasing Cheerios blog is a good place to get ideas.

[JessieBird]

Awesome suggestions!

The birdfeeder idea is a great one. It's quieter and not messy (at least not inside!) but it's an amazing learning experience for both of you or a great way to get some quiet time for yourself if you slip away. We consider the birdfeeder (or squirrel feeder as the case may be) our healthy version of tv! DS has been mesmerized since about 8 mos and is even more entertained now at 13 mos. I'm looking forward to making birdfeeders with him soon. To involve more senses, you can practice imitating the different bird calls and "flying" (dancing).

[Zimbah]