When snow unexpectedly closes the doors of your daycare or preschool, keeping your toddler entertained through the entire day can be tough. You’re stuck inside, and since the roads are probably not safe enough to go grab supplies for new activities, that leaves you with what you already have in the house! To keep you all warm, cozy, and sane, here are some simple snow day toddler activities that add new fun to old toys and supplies!
Snow Sensory Bins
Your typical sensory bin… but snowy! Use all your usual fillers and tools but add a few scoops of snow from outside. It’s a great way to let kids have fun playing with the snow without actually having to be out in the cold. If you plan to use rice or beans in your sensory bin, just keep in mind that you’ll probably have to throw that batch out after it gets wet from the snow.
Animal Rescue
Find some of your toddler’s small plastic animal toys (or any small plastic toy) and some masking or painter’s tape. Tape them to a craft table, the floor, or the wall. Then, give your toddler a mission: rescue all the animals! You can crisscross several pieces to make it tougher for older kids, or leave it simple for younger toddlers.
Tape “Obstacle” Courses
Tape to the rescue once again. Place lines of painter’s tape on the floor throughout the house and have the kids run along the lines. Leave gaps for them to jump over, swirls for them to spin around in, and – if they can recognize shapes and follow instructions – place a few extra “shape challenges” on your course like jumping up and down in triangles and crawling over any squares. Older toddlers will probably love creating their own courses too, so hand over that roll of tape if you’re brave enough and see what they come up with.
Shaving Cream
This is another messy one that will require a space that is ideal for clean up. To make it easier, use a tray or bin to help contain the shaving cream to one area as best as possible. For a play activity, use toy cars or trucks. The cars can drive around the shaving cream leaving tire tracks, or your child can make their own track through the shaving cream and have the cars follow a certain path. For an educational activity, have your child write their numbers and letters in the shaving cream. They will be having so much fun, they won’t even look at it as learning! If your child is sensitive to sensory stimulation on their hands, have them use a paintbrush instead.
Living Room Fort
Who doesn’t love a good fort? They are inviting, relaxing, and allow for sensory regulation in all children (and adults!). This is number one on the list because it can keep your kiddos entertained in one space for hours, giving you some time to attend to necessary chores around the house. All you need are blankets to hang on the furniture, pillows for maximum comfort inside the fort, and independent play activities such as blocks, books, or puzzles. Your child will love having an enclosed space that is quiet and calming, but beware; you may not see them for the whole day!
Bath Time Fun
Who says you can’t take three baths in one day? Seriously though, water play is often a magical “reset” button for a grumpy toddler, so fill up the bathtub and add a few new elements to make it extra fun. This can be as simple as letting them wear their swimsuits for indoor “swimming” or running a bubble bath. To add some novelty, add plastic toys that are safe for the tub but aren’t usually bath toys or any bathtub paint or crayons you have on hand. We love the ideas of using the large, toddler size plastic building blocks in the tub to build floating structures!
Snow Baking
Pack hard snow onto a cookie sheet and use different shapes of cookie cutters to create snow cookies. Move the “cookies” onto a second cookie pan and pretend-bake for as long as your child’s imagination feels it should take to make the perfect treat. Decorate the cookies with bits of twigs, berries, or any other items kids discover near their baking area. This fun activity is a crowd-pleaser among many different age groups.
Make Hot Cocoa
Use the premade packets or whip up your own recipe. Let your kids get creative by adding sprinkles, chocolate chips, marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint sticks, crushed Oreos, or whatever toppings you have on hand.
Make Snow Art
What is the most fun thing to do in snow when you’re in an artistic mood? Make snow art! Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring to create colorful designs in the snow. It’s like painting on a giant white canvas.