6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·30+ min
Dry Rice Sensory Bin
🛒Materials: Dry rice, cups, spoons, tray
- 1Pour dry rice into a deep tray.
- 2Add cups, spoons, and small figurines.
- 3Let them scoop, pour, and hide things.
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Put a sheet under the tray for easy cleanup.
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#2·20+ min
Sticker World
🛒Materials: Sticker sheets, paper
- 1Give your child a large sheet of paper and stickers.
- 2Challenge: 'Can you make a story with stickers?'
- 3No instructions — just let them create.
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#3·30+ min
Activity Bin (Rotate Weekly)
🛒Materials: Container, random household items
- 1Fill a bin with 5–7 items (spoons, cups, fabric scraps).
- 2Tell your child this is their 'special bin' only for when you work.
- 3Rotate items weekly to keep novelty.
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Novelty = 30+ minutes of independent play guaranteed.
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#4·15+ min
Peek-a-Boo Sensory Bin
🛒Materials: Dry rice or oats, small safe toys
- 1Pour dry rice or oats into a deep bowl.
- 2Hide 4–5 small safe toys under the surface.
- 3Say 'Where's the duck?' and let them dig to find it.
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#5·10–15 min
Toy Car Wash
🛒Materials: Plastic toy cars, tray of soapy water, toothbrush
- 1Fill a shallow tray with warm soapy water.
- 2Give your toddler plastic toy cars and a toothbrush.
- 3Let them scrub the cars clean.
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#6·20–30 min
Cardboard Box Tunnel
🛒Materials: Large cardboard box
- 1Open both ends of a large cardboard box.
- 2Place it on the floor as a tunnel.
- 3Hide a toy at the other end and encourage them to crawl through.
