I’m Trapped: Indoor Toddler Activities

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Creative indoor toddler activities for whenever you’re stuck inside the house on chilly days!

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Snow Day!

I’m Trapped: Indoor Toddler Activities

I’m not going to lie, being stuck inside with my overly exuberant three year old because of the cold weather has not been fun. It’s one thing if you live in the suburbs and playing outside is, well…, an option. But, being stuck in a New York City apartment with a young child due to weather is not an ideal situation.

I know, I can hear my own mother now, “But you have all those museums, the park, the aquarium…” The truth is, all those activities are easier said than done, and often require both my husband and I to be there. Not to mention planning and packing drinks, snacks, and traveling on the subway. Sometimes, its just easier to stay indoors. But then, staying indoors requires some creativity on my part to keep my little man occupied and out of trouble.

Our favorite indoor toddler activities

I thought that I would share some of my favorite indoor toddler activities that have been keeping us buys when it’s too cold to go outside to play. I know how hard it is to be trapped indoors with toddler who just want to run and play, so I hope these help add some fun to your day!

Movie Day- Whenever I plan an indoors movie day activity with my little guy, I try to make it as special as possible. We typically plan on screening a movie that isn’t a part of our current collection so that he is excited, focused, and ready to sit still for two hours. I also try to plan a special treat to go with the movie as well. My little guy is a sucker for popcorn, but we have been trying it with a different twist by using these great popcorn seasonings.

Indoor Camping Adventure- We recently purchased Branden a great indoor tent that was both cheap and easy to store when not in use. On snowy days, we set up the tent and have Branden fill it with toys, books, pillows, and sleeping bag. He brings in his stuffed animals and pretends that he is on a camping adventure–complete with s’mores, made over the stove, of course!

Martha Stewart Mama- Branden has been really into helping me cook and bake lately, so I try my best to take advantage of that whenever it is too cold to go outside. We often plan out a recipe to make together ahead of time so that I can run to the store the night before to gather all the ingredients, but I always keep cookie or cake mix in the house just in case! This is also a great time for me to educate Branden about healthy eating habits, as he sees all the different ingredients going into what we are making.

Crafting- It’s always fun and productive to have a craft day. I try to keep construction paper and crayons within reach at all times because Branden loves to color and write his letters, but sometimes its fun to buy things that give crafting a new twist. Whenever I have this idea in mind, I try to pick up things such as pom poms, glitter, glue sticks, etc. Anything to make it more of a project for my little guy, so that he can stay occupied and doesn’t lose interest after ten minutes.

Build a Toddler busy box – I created this fun idea to keep my toddler entertained so that I can work from home and it’s been a lifesaver! You can check out my original post here or if you’re feeling a little extra, here’s the educational spin that I gave it recently so that they’re learning as they play.

Treasure Hunt- Living in NYC means that there is a 99 cent store on just about every block. Therefore, whenever I am planning a treasure hunt for my little man, I make sure that I stop there. I tend to pick up a couple of cheap toys or snacks that I know Branden will be excited about, and then create a special treasure hunt catered to topics that peak his interest.

Squeaky Clean- Branden is at that age where he follows me around and loves to help me do everything–even clean! Therefore, on days spent indoors, I take advantage of that and have him help me with household projects such as unloading the laundry, organizing, and dusting. I think that this phase in his life will probably end soon, especially during the teenage years, so I will take it while I can!

Tubby Time- There is something about pretending that the bathtub is a swimming pool that gets my little man excited. Whenever there is nothing to do outdoors, I let Branden get dressed in his bathing suit, fill the bathtub a little bit deeper and splash around.