6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·15–20 min
Indoor Obstacle Course
🛒Materials: Pillows, chairs, tape, blankets
- 1Line up pillows to jump between.
- 2Set chairs as 'tunnels' to crawl under.
- 3Use tape as a balance beam.
- 4Time each run through the course!
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#2·20 min setup + hours of play
Blanket Fort HQ
🛒Materials: Blankets, chairs, clips/pegs
- 1Drape blankets over chairs to make walls.
- 2Use pegs or clips to secure corners.
- 3Add pillows, books, and a torch inside.
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A fort instantly becomes a base for pretend play.
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#3·10 min
Rain Art
🛒Materials: Watercolour paints, paper
- 1Paint a colourful design on thick paper.
- 2Briefly hold it in the rain for 5 seconds.
- 3Watch the rain create unique patterns.
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#4·15–20 min
Shadow Drawing
🛒Materials: Paper, pencils, toys, a lamp
- 1Place a sheet of paper under a lamp.
- 2Line up small toys to cast shadows on the paper.
- 3Trace the outlines of the shadows and color them in.
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#5·10–15 min
Interactive Storytelling
🛒Materials: None
- 1Start telling a story about a character.
- 2Pause at key moments and ask your child to make the decision.
- 3Continue the story based on their choices!
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#6·15–20 min
Word Treasure Hunt
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil
- 1Hide 5 paper 'clues' around the house, each with a simple word (e.g. DOOR, TABLE).
- 2Each clue leads to the next hiding spot.
- 3Final clue leads to a small reward (sticker, snack).
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Write words your child can almost-but-not-quite read for the perfect challenge.
