Even when you're stuck at home, play encourages healthy growth.
As families spend more time at home mainly attributed to the pandemic or cold weather, it's natural to feel stressed—not only about physical illnesses, but also about the reality of being at home with energetic children. You might feel less anxious and more prepared if you plan ahead of time for this possibility and have some activities and experiences available!
Begin with a Toy Rotation.
Try a toy rotation if you have a range of toys. Choose a few toys to leave out for your youngster to play with and hide the rest. After a week or so, swap out the toys they've been using for the ones you've been storing, and they'll feel like they have fresh toys!
We know their toys can only keep them entertained for so long...
Boredom might then set in. Boredom may not appear the same for newborns and toddlers as it does for adults. Signs that your child is bored:
Whining or fussing
Struggling to concentrate or play?
Becoming more assertive
Ideas for Parent-Child Play
Consider giving different forms of play to fulfill your child's demands and keep the enjoyment continuing while you hunt for activities to do with them. Independent play (when children play alone with you nearby) is equally vital, and parents should not feel bad about allowing their newborns and toddlers to play on their own.
Here are some alternative play options to try with your kids:
Spending time outside will probably be energizing and a welcome change of scenery for all of you. Playdates, rolling down hills, hopping like kangaroos, or just sitting back and staring at the sky are other options. After any outside play, wash your hands thoroughly before going inside.
Young children:
For a stroll or a storytelling, take their stroller outside.
For tummy time, spread a blanket out on the grass.
Play with bubbles, sing along to music, and explore what you see outdoors.
When you want your infant to watch an older sibling or other kids play, park the stroller or keep it in your arms.
Toddlers:
Play 'I Spy' (make it basic, "I Spy something Blue," "I Spy Something Moving").
Collect pebbles or leaves and classify them according to size, color, and shape.
Toss, kick, or roll a ball back and forth.
Dig in the soil (don't forget to bring buckets, bowls, measuring cups, spoons, gardening tools, and anything else you might have!).
Draw drawings, trace one other's outlines, and more using sidewalk chalk.
Water is used to paint. Fill a cup with water and provide a brush to your youngster to "paint" the sidewalk, door, etc.
Make bubbles.
"I'm going to catch you," play.
Pretend to be various creatures you would see in your area, such as birds, squirrels, rabbits, and deer.
Most indoor play can be done outside, so if the weather permits, carry some blocks outside, read together outside, or color or paint a cardboard box in the yard.
Physical Play: Children must move and work their bodies...and voices. They will require opportunities to scream, run, climb, and leap. This may happen both outside and inside. Here are some suggestions:
Play some music and throw a dance party.
Crawl, stroll, or leap from one sofa cushion to the next (don't touch the floor, it's molten lava!).
Make a parachute out of a bedsheet (open it wide and raise it up above your heads, then bring it down to the floor). While playing peek-a-boo with newborns, lift and drop a light blanket over them.
Make a fort out of sheets, blankets, couch cushions, pillows, chairs, and other items. You may even "camp" inside!
Make a course out of furniture, cushions, and toys.
Quiet Play: Every day, children (and you) will require some quiet time. This is ideal for unwinding, recharging, and perhaps even getting some work done.
Read aloud or independently (toddlers can flip through books and talk about what they see in the illustrations)
Coloring \s Puzzles
Block construction
Object classification
For "playing house," utilize plush animals, dolls, trains, automobiles, or kitchen equipment.
Stickers on paper - create huge shapes, letters, or numbers on paper and have your youngster line them with stickers.
Tape on paper - cut short strips of masking tape for your youngster to adhere to a sheet of paper (sounds boring, but little ones love it).
Recognize that assisting you with "serious" work is one of the most popular sorts of play for youngsters. Consider whether your child can assist with food preparation, table setting, laundry sorting or putting away, cleaning (for example, placing shoes in the closet) or putting fresh toilet paper rolls in a bathroom basket. These projects may take a little longer with our toddlers, but they are enjoyable and teach them the importance of teamwork.
Consider Your Daily Routine
During this period, try to maintain your everyday habits as consistent as possible. Try to keep to daily routines as much as possible, including regular wake-up hours, meals, naps, and bedtimes. Children thrive on predictability, and it benefits their caretakers as well. (It's much simpler to deal with a lengthy day with little children if it's broken down into smaller, more manageable chunks.)
Check out this article for a more in-depth look at things you can do at home with your babies and toddlers to boost their development and protect them (and you) from feeling confined in the house.
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