Favorite Messy Indoor Activities with Young Toddler? - Page 2

[shanniesue2]

ooh! ooh!

17 months is not too early for finger painting... just make sure it's non-toxic. You can also give her a brush and she'll have fun. The absolute easiest way to do painting inside is to get them naked (or in a sposie if you're concerned about them pottying) and set them in the bath tub with paint supplies. The bonus when it's cold out is that you can turn on the heater in the bathroom to make nice and cozy. Then when she's all done painting, you just run some warm water and take a bath. You don't have to worry about paint on your carpet/floors/table/countertops. And clean up of the space is exactly the same as clean up of the baby

We did this with DS to make our Christmas cards this year. He had a blast!

When it gets warm outside, we strip down (well DS does) and paint the driveway.

[Dahlea]

Subbing! I need ideas for my 15 month old. Seems like all we do is run around outside (which is fun but it seems like we should be doing other things too!). We did throw birdseed in the yard for Yule and he loved sticking his hands in it and throwing it.
Oh I'm on my iPod so it's a pain to do links but check out these blogs-notimeforflashcards and crafty crow.

[_betsy_]

I have a 3 year old and a just turned 1 year old (*sniffsniff*).

Today, we took some paper (coloring pages DD1 did yesterday, printed off the home computer) and we ripped them up. Both girls had fun with tearing paper, it's very tactile and DD2 is especially fond of the noise it makes. Then we did various things with the shredded paper, like throw some in the air, pile it all in a big pile and walk/stomp on it like autumn leaves, etc.

[not_telling]

Definitely gonna try the painting-naked-in-the-tub

A question about painting with pudding or instand mashed potatoes...do these need to be watered down at all to be easily used as fingerpaint?

Also, re. using food coloring...do their hands get stained, and if so, how many days till it washes all away?

[twinergy]

Originally Posted by not_telling

A question about painting with pudding or instand mashed potatoes...do these need to be watered down at all to be easily used as fingerpaint?

Also, re. using food coloring...do their hands get stained, and if so, how many days till it washes all away?

The great thing about instant mashed potatoes is that you can add the flakes a little at a time until you get the desired consistency. They do, however, set up a little after adding them so I would make them a little on the runny side. I think the kids also prefer them more runny. My DS likes to fling it too. I also like to use yogurt, similar in texture to pudding and I think a lot less sugar. As for food coloring, the concentrate will stain hands, but it doesn't last for long and I have never had a problem with staining after it is mixed.

[shanniesue2]

how about some kind of cooking? I started letting DS help cook when he was about 15 months old. I let him push a chair up the counter and help add ingredients and stir. I think tomorrow, we are going to make brownies! (we don't bake sweets very often, so it will be a treat for all of us)

P.S. I'm not much of a cook, so I don't get very creative, but I know some mamas on here have their LOs help make bread and such.

[lotusblossom9]

DS is 17 months as well. Finger paint still goes in the mouth. He's more interested in just pouring and dumping the crayons and markers. Here are a couple of websites I have been looking at for ideas:

http://montessorimom.com/toddler-sco...as-practical-/

http://www.arkcity.com/pat/101things.html

[triana1326]

DD got a homemade sensory table for Christmas. When I worked at a daycare, I would fill it with shaving cream and glitter, dried beans/peas/lentils, water, sand, rocks, and all sorts of food products like fruit/veggies/soups/etc. We had tons of scoops, cups, and toys to move the materials around. We also used a regular blue tarp to protect the floor. DD LOVES the table and it gets her off my legs enough to make dinner or do some bills...

[not_telling]

Originally Posted by triana1326

DD got a homemade sensory table for Christmas. When I worked at a daycare, I would fill it with shaving cream and glitter, dried beans/peas/lentils, water, sand, rocks, and all sorts of food products like fruit/veggies/soups/etc. We had tons of scoops, cups, and toys to move the materials around. We also used a regular blue tarp to protect the floor. DD LOVES the table and it gets her off my legs enough to make dinner or do some bills...

I was looking at some of the Sand n' Water Tables on Amazon (originally was looking for something else, but got distracted )...and was wondering about having a toddler play on an elevated space (like a sensory table or one of those sand/water tables) vs. working out of rubbermaid bins on the floor. Do you think one way is easier than the other for a young toddler? If working on a small table, would the child be less likely to get completely covered in whatever he's working with (e.g. water, shaving cream)?

DS would play in the bath/with water all day if he could. But, I don't want him to turn into a dried up prune...he's definitly having some dry skin issues, so a bath every day doesn't seem like a good idea.

[twinergy]

Originally Posted by not_telling

I was looking at some of the Sand n' Water Tables on Amazon (originally was looking for something else, but got distracted )...and was wondering about having a toddler play on an elevated space (like a sensory table or one of those sand/water tables) vs. working out of rubbermaid bins on the floor. Do you think one way is easier than the other for a young toddler? If working on a small table, would the child be less likely to get completely covered in whatever he's working with (e.g. water, shaving cream)?

DS would play in the bath/with water all day if he could. But, I don't want him to turn into a dried up prune...he's definitly having some dry skin issues, so a bath every day doesn't seem like a good idea.

My DD loves water play too. I got her a water play table and she just climbs into it. A pool would have been a better choice for her (but they were all sold out before I thought of it). Maybe you could try it out, to see how your DS will react, with something you have around the house, like a large plastic bin, first before spending a lot of money on something.