It has been a wet and windy Australia Day weekend so far here….I don't think the rain has actually stopped for 2 days….so glad we are up high as the town is on flood watch now with more rain yet to come!
The torrential rain has forced us inside so i have been madly trying to keep the toddler twosome busy with some rainy day activities….for some reason toddlers always seem to need to be kept busier when it is raining outside…have you noticed that?
We especially miss the lack of outdoor time here as Ruby needs a lot of gross motor physical type play for her sensory processing difficulties before she can relax and concentrate. We always notice her becoming quite rough with Tara, running and tripping a lot and generally displaying very ‘hyped up' behaviour when she hasn't been able to run around outside for a while.
We brought a little indoor trampoline and it has been the best investment for her. When she is getting particularly rough or spinning a lot we encourage her to go and do some bouncing and she loves it. I really do believe it helps and can't recommend one highly enough to those that have sensory seekers and need that large muscle stimulation indoors.
Due to the weather you see in the photo above, i have been keeping the girls busy with a few simple activities to keep us all sane this weekend! We have done some baking, some singing, visited an indoor play centre (where we had an absolutely huge breakthrough with Ruby!) had the playdough out and used our verandahs ALOT! Thank goodness for that space which allows us all to breath some fresh air and embrace a chance of pace and scenery!
The girl's had fun with their sensory rice tub on the verandah….
You know those beautiful looking sensory tubs that have been put together with so much care? Well…this isn't one of those obviously!! It is simply a tub filled with rice, some pasta and a few oats. I add a few little prompts in there but usually the girls bring what they want to play with. At the moment they really enjoy filling tubs and the little wooden crates with ‘food' for the horses and cows….
There is lots of experimenting, pouring, touching and exploring……a really simple activity to keep them busy on a wet day! I pull this one out again and again…it never disappoints! No need for the box to be elaborate…it's the sensory fun and imaginative play they enjoy!
There was fun dancing with the ribbon streamers i made the girls for Christmas (Will share how i made them in a post soon!)…..I am yet to see a toddler that doesn't like to have fun with music in some way!
We shake our ribbons up high….and down low….
Then have fun hiding in them! Music and dancing is such a fun way to wear the girls out and not bad exercise for me i must say!
Just click on the words or pictures to follow the link to any activities you are interested in…I hope you find some fun to share with your toddler next time it rains…or even when it isn't…no need to wait for a rainy day to have fun with these activities!!
Warm Wishes…
Great activities Jode! It’s still raining, how about where you are?
Thanks Penny! We are back to rain today unfortunately!!!
Lovely sunny day here 🙂 But I think that might be rubbing it in a little 🙂 Oh and the view of your yard is just gorgeous!
I think my little Sarah would like some of these activities. I really need to organise some activities for her, poor little deprived second child.. 🙂
Awesome activities! It’s not raining where I am, but there is a ton of snow outside and my kiddos just can’t play outside for very long before they freeze. These will be very helpful. Thanks.
Looks like there may’ve been a littl rain play too 🙂 Such happy faces!
Oooh, the no mess paint activity looks like fun!
It’s been too sunny here, these would be great on those days as well where it’s just too stinking hot to go out 🙂
Great list of ideas, love the sticker one my girls would go crazy over that one
Wow amazing list of fun .
We did bath tub painting last rainy day, but these are on the list for next time. 🙂
I love this collection, so many great ideas. I can see one of those sensory tubs in our very near future. I always think I need to be so carefully organised to plan and make a sensory tub, I really haven’t done it very often. I love that you just put together a few things and let the girls have their way with it. That’s exactly my Pebble’s style – more than likely if I *did* make the best sensory tub ever she would just tip it all out and make it her own anyway 😛 Thanks for giving me the confidence and freedom to get more relaxed with it.
The weather can make such a difference can’t it! So many great ideas for those days we’d all rather stay inside 🙂 As always, love your frugal fun!
When it rains at our house, the audiobooks come on. There are lots of great sites to download them from, but we use this one a lot because the stories are original and free. Here’s the link if anyone is interested. http://www.twirlygirlshop.com/moral-stories-for-kids
Great list of ideas Jodie, I’m battling the Melbourne winter weather myself, & your list has given me some great ideas for those stuck-inside days. thank you for sharing!