Indoor Treasure Hunt

Items Needed:
Small toys or snacks
Treasure map (optional)

by Real Treasure Hunts

Think back to when you were a child and searched for Easter eggs on Easter. That was always fun and exciting to me. Having a treasure hunt just because sounds like a big hit! Hide several small toys, books, or special snacks around the house. Give your child clues or draw a map that leads to the treasure.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

This would be fun for moments such as: New Years Eve- Make it a tradition by counting down the hours to the new year. Valentines Day- Make a stash of hearts with reasons you love your child. St Patricks Day- Hide what the Leprechauns left behind. Easter- Hide eggs with candy, little toys, or coins inside. Even could hide the Easter Basket. May/June- Out of school- Hide a large basket full of fun Summer ideas. August/September- Back to school- Hide a large basket full of school goodies. October- Hide their buckets that they use to go trick or treating with their costume inside. Thanksgiving- Hide some leaves and you could write on them what you're thankful for. December- Hide their stocking with it full of stocking stuffers, have a basket delivered to your front door from the Pajama Elf, etc.  

Play with Boxes

Items Needed:
Cardboard boxes of various sizes.

Collect super market boxes and play Grocery Store or House

by No Time for Flashcards

Make a train

I LOVE this one made with diaper boxes by Kooz Top 5

Make a Fort include animals by Songbirds and Buttons 

Place your child in a huge box and they can color the inside. This one was just floating around Pinterest with no source.

Build a dollhouse out of shoe boxes by Little House in Hillsboro

Create a car by Fun Family Crafts

I cannot wait to do all these with my boys and post our own photos!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Basket Toss

Items Needed:
Wiffle balls or Wiffle golf balls, bean bags, playground ball (We chose Wiffle balls)
Bowl
Laundry basket


Place Wiffle balls in a bowl and place the basket on the side propped up with a pillow or books to tilt it a little. Give a quick demonstration. I chose to do the basket toss. You could also have your child roll them in the basket like soccer and a goal, or you could bounce a play ground ball into the basket. Many options to choose from!

This kept my oldest son entertained but my little one could care less after 5 min. He'd throw them all in the gather them all up again. Super handy to have the bowl (a colander from their kitchen tools) near.

Source: Unplugged Play

Shoe Trail

Items Needed:
Empty laundry basket
shoes

Give your child a basket and fill it with shoes. Make a trail from heel to toe around the house. Count as you follow them, Count how many shoes a person has, or how many there are total. Help put them back when they're finished.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Bean Bag Toss

Items Needed:
4-by-6-inch scraps of material
needle and thread
dry beans
ziploc bag

Fill a small back with dried beans. Sew two squares of material together on three sides, leaving a space for the bag to fit into. Turn the bad inside out to hide the seams, insert the beans, then sew it up completely. If you want you can also use an old sock, tie it in a knot and fold the top over it. Play catch or have them throw it in a laundry basket from a distance.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Follow the Leader

Have your child follow you through the house. Imitating you, the sounds and movements you make. Take turns and let your child lead you. Pretend being a horse, a bunny, a car, dance around, etc.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Make a Tape

Items Needed:
Tape recorder
Blank cassette tape


I used to love this as a kid... I'd just mess around on the cassette player recording myself or my sisters. If you have access to a tape recorder have your child record a message to daddy to play on his way to work. Sing songs, read nursery rhymes, tell him a story, talk about what you do when he'a at work, Tell him why you love him and why you're thankful for him. This would be such a sweet Father's Day or Birthday gift. You could even do this for other relatives!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Balancing Board

Items Needed:
Board measuring about 8 in wide by 6 ft long
books

Place a board across two piles of books or just along the floor. Have your child practice walking across the board and keep their balance. You can build the balance beam higher as your child because more sure footed but obviously they'll need some supervision.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Tell Me a Story

Items Needed:
Various household objects
 Pillowcase or brown paper bag

Put 5 or 6 items into a bag: keys, purse, stuffed animal, book, etc and remove each item from the bag one at a time. Create a story by adding one sentence to whichever object you pull out: "Once upon a time there was a white kitten named Angel. Angel just loved to read books, especially books about cookies."

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Living Room Picnic

Items Needed:
tablecloth
picnic dishes
picnic food

Have an indoor picnic during bad weather. Spread a tablecloth on the living room floor and enjoy some picnic food!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Hotter/Colder

Items Needed:
Small toy or treats


Hide items around your house and encourage your child to find them. Tell them they are "hotter" if they're close to the item and "colder" if they're farther from it.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sort the Laundry

Items Needed:
Laundry

This will give your child some responsibility and teach them a practical skill at the same time. Show your child how to sort your laundry into white, lights, and darks. You could even have your child put the clothes into the dryer or help you carry the folded clothes to the appropriate room. My son really likes to do that with me. Also if you'd like you could show your child how to fold towels, blankets, dish towels, etc. The easier items.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Doll Closet

Items Needed:
Tension Rod
Baby clothes hanger
Bookcase

Make a doll closet by inserting a tension rod on the lower case of a bookshelf. Have your child hang the clothes on baby clothes hangers and then onto the rod. (You can even save new-born baby clothes, bibs, and blankets.)

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Pillow Throw

Items Needed:
Lots of throw pillows

Put breakables away first!

Have one person sit on the bed or couch with all the pillows, have the other person run from one place to another dodging the pillows thrown at them.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Fun with Weights

Items Needed:
Bathroom Scale
Various Household Objects

Weigh your child, help them weigh household objects: a stack of books, a bag of flour, dolls, etc. Try to find something that weighs the same as your child.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sewing Practice

Items Needed:
Heavy Cardboard
Scissors
Hole punch
Show lace or yarn
Tape

Cute a shape out of heavy cardboard and punch holes at regular intervals. Tie a knot on one end so it will stay in place and not unravel while your child is sewing. Wrap the other end with heavy tape so it doesn't fray or use an old shoe lace. Weave the shoelace through the punched holes. This activity is great for hand eye coordination.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Newspaper Golf

Items Needed:
Newspaper
Tape
Golf or Tennis Balls
Making tape or paper

Make golf clubs by rolling up several pieces of newspaper and securing them together. Mark several holes by using paper or masking tape. Use your club to try to hit the ball to the hole. Reward the winner with a treat!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Who Loves You?

Items Needed:
Paper
Pen
Markers and/or stickers for decorating

Ask your child, "Who loves you?" and write it down. Ask, "Who else loves you?' and write down the names and then read off the list. Title the list, "Look Who Loves (child's name)" and hang it up. Of course let them decorate it some if they'd like.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

I Love You Because...

Items Needed:
Paper and Pen
Crayons and Markers

Ask your child, "Why do you love Daddy?" Write down all the responses and have your child decorate it how they'd like. Place it in Daddy's lunch for a sweet surprise! You can ask, "What's the funniest thing Daddy ever did?" Vary the "love note" by relative.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sorting Socks

Items Needed:
Socks
Laundry Basket

Take all the socks out of your child's sock drawer and have her identify each color as she puts them back. For some fun, have her collect everyone's socks and sort them by size, owner, and/or color. Keep in mind, however, that you may be the one resorting afterwards.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book