Staying Sane Inside

I'll admit it. We are incredibly lucky… We don't have too many days where we are forced to stay indoors. Southern California has some pretty remarkable weather, and even the "cold" days generally don't require much more than a sweatshirt. So, there aren't many days where we are forced to retreat indoors and stay there. Which is a blessing, considering my child isn't one for staying inside, or sitting still for any length of period.

There are times, however, when indoors is our only option: Early mornings. Evenings. When I'm prepping meals. The occasional rainy day. Those times always prove challenging when it comes to finding creative, fun and educational activities for Marcus.

When we are forced inside (ie. yesterday - thanks rain) I have a limited bag of tricks that can generally keep my little guy stimulated, entertained, and happy.

Sure, we have the toy room full of, well, toys.

But, after a few minutes the novelty of all of that stuff wears off. Plus, Marcus has access to these items all day every day.

Marcus' kitchen and toy foods have proven to be the greatest distraction for Marcus when I'm in the real kitchen. I'll be prepping a meal over the real stove while Marcus creates his own culinary masterpieces.

When we don't have a choice but to stay inside shaking things up tends to be beneficial for both of us. I'm not one for activities that create a lot of hassle and mess. I'm all for those special indoor activities that often require easy clean up, or little to no clean up.

Play-doh. Paint Dabbers. Aquadoodle. Your typical line up, and the makings of my very own Picasso. I've even learned to just let it go when it comes to the Play-doh colors getting all mashed together (oh the horror…) These activities are good for a solid 15-20 minutes, tops. Then it's on to the next thing.

We read every night before bedtime, but most days Marcus can't sit still long enough to get through a book. UNLESS it's something interactive, like High Five (Highlights for toddlers) or Hidden Picture books.

Throw in stickers for the hidden pictures and we are good to go for at least 10 minutes. Fifteen if we're lucky.

These last two we have recently started adding to our indoor rotation. And, I love them. A lot.
Starfall.com

This site. There are not enough high praises. It's free (unless you want to pay for the full version - thanks but no thanks, free 99 for me), and chuck full of educational activities, games and songs. Yesterday, Marcus was playing a math game while I was cleaning up after lunch and I heard him say, "Ten minus seven equals three." Mind. Blown. Some of the activities are as simple as the ABCs, while others are more complex, such as multiplication and division. Obviously I don't want my child glued to a computer all day, but when there are those moments when I need him safely contained and occupied, this is the place I want him to go. Unlike TV shows where he just sits and watches, Starfall.com prompts interaction. If you haven't tried this with your little one(s) I encourage you to check it out. I don't know what it is, but this site just sucks them right in.

The Wii.

When is the last time you pulled out this gaming device? Marcus thinks the bowling is just the greatest thing since sliced bread. Naturally the read deal is my preferred way to play. But, in the evenings when it's too dark to play outside and I want to keep the little guy moving? Bowling it is. In the past week it's been crazy to see how well Marcus' eye-hand coordination with the remote has improved (it was pretty brutal to watch the first few rounds).

Now tell me, what indoor activities do you do with your little(s) to get through those days/times where you just have to stay inside? I'm always looking for new and creative ideas to keep our days full of fun.

Linking up with the lovely Stephanie {{Wife Mommy Me}} for Mom Talk Tuesday.