8 Mess-Free Indoor Activities For Your Toddler
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Colder days are on the horizon, and even though they're technically shorter, they sure can go by slowly when you're stuck inside with little kids. If you're not up for turning your home into an art studio, we support that decision. These eight activities are low on the mess and high on the easy entertainment.
Whether you're turning the hallway into a racetrack or surprising your little ones with a 2 p.m. bubble bath (hey, it's the opposite of a mess, right?!), we've come up with a series of ideas that will help get you through the fall and winter seasons ahead, with minimal cleanup.
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Create an Indoor Racetrack
If your tot's the type who's obsessed with "things that go," gather up the car and truck collection and create an indoor race track. The one shown here incorporates some easy crafting, but you can also purchase PlayTape if you'd rather get right to the races. Excellent for open-ended play, this award-winning toy can be used on floors, walls, and even furniture without damage or residue (we've tested it; pretty miraculous!).
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All Things Cardboard
Paper-towel rolls, toilet-paper rolls, shipping boxes: before sending it to the recycling bin, let your kids have at it. A cardboard box can become a car, plane, or spaceship, and tubes can be stacked, decorated, or turned into spy equipment. Offer them crayons and stickers to get creative.
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Board Games
Check out our guide to the 10 best beginning board games for little kids. Classics like Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land stand the test of time, but there are plenty of new games on the market for early ages, too.
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Color Sorting
Color sorting doesn't have to be Pinterest-ready to entertain. Take any array of toys, game pieces, candies, blocks, or whatever else you have on hand, and have your toddler organize the individual pieces by color.
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Magnet Alphabet
A classic set of alphabet magnets on the side of your refrigerator is an easy — and educational — way to entertain. You could get creative and DIY your own magnet board on a metal baking sheet for a creative and fun way to occupy your toddler (and the pieces will all stick to the baking-sheet base — yay!).
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Just Add Water
It's tough to beat the fun of a midday bubble bath (especially with a sibling). Add a set of bathtub crayons or color tablets for an added element of entertainment.
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Contact-Paper Play
Contact paper is an easy, mess-free way to create. Just adhere some sticky contact paper to a window and offer your child cut-up paper and other materials for a beautiful way to display their art — without the mess.
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Mess-Free Painting (Yes, Painting!)
And finally, if your kiddo is really into the idea of painting but you're still set on keeping things clean, just place a piece of white card stock into a resealable bag, squirt paint onto the paper, and seal it up. Then, your child can "paint" with their fingers, moving and swirling the paint around for a fun sensory experience.