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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#3·30+ min
Building Block Free Play
🛒Materials: Lego, Duplo, or any blocks
- 1Set out a bucket of blocks.
- 2No instructions — free build.
- 3Only rule: must name what they built when done.
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#4·10–15 min
Toy Hide and Seek
🛒Materials: Favorite stuffed animal or toy
- 1Hide your child's favorite toy in an easy-to-find spot in the same room.
- 2Say 'Where is Teddy?' and let them search.
- 3Help them with hot/cold clues ('You're getting warmer!').
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#5·10–15 min
Balloon Tapping
🛒Materials: Balloon, painter's tape
- 1Hang a balloon from a doorway at your toddler's head height.
- 2Show them how to tap it with their hand or a paper tube.
- 3Encourage them to reach and jump.
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#6·10–15 min
Pom-Pom Post
🛒Materials: Empty tissue box or container with hole, pom-poms
- 1Cut a hole in the top of a container (or use a tissue box).
- 2Show your toddler how to 'post' pom-poms through the hole.
- 3Dump them out and repeat — toddlers love the repetition.
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This is a classic Montessori object permanence activity.
