This January, we have the pleasure of hosting Margaret Grossman, a Psychology Major from Wofford College. Thanks for sharing these fun and functional activities, Margaret!

Happy New Year from MTS Kids! We hope you have had a great start to 2020. The cold weather and rainy days can make it hard to keep your kids entertained. Instead of resorting to screen time, we have compiled a list of 10 indoor activities you can do with your children to keep their minds active!

 

  1. See a live children’s show – The South Carolina Children’s Theatre puts on a bunch of shows in Greenville throughout the year including, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Curious George, Dr. Seuss’s the Cat and the Hat, and Ella Enchanted. Reading the book before seeing the play would be a fun way to prepare for the show.

 

  1. Bake a treat – Find a yummy recipe and get ready to bake in the kitchen. Ask your child to follow the directions of the recipe and go through the measurements and pronunciation of each ingredient. Make a winter themed cupcake, cookie, or hot chocolate!

 

  1. Build an indoor obstacle course – Let some energy out by building an indoor obstacle course from pillows, cushions, and blankets. Have your child follow the directions in order by running, jumping, and crawling their way through the course. Before each part of the course, you can use flashcards to practice words and sounds in order to pass each obstacle.

 

  1. Make your own playdough – Grab a rolling pin and some cookie cutters and let your child’s imagination run wild! Have your child create figures of things that start with letters and sounds they need to practice. Make the experience even more fun by making your playdough from scratch! A homemade playdough recipe can be found here: https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/playdough/play-doh-recipes

 

  1. Simple snowy science experiment – Have your own snow day by designing a snowy science experiment with your child. Your child can practice their s- sounds while making and playing with the fake snow. A fake snow recipe can be found here:https://www.simplemost.com/how-make-2-ingredient-fake-snow/

 

  1. Visit a children’s museum – The Children’s Museum of the Upstate has events for all ages including story time, science labs, and open art studio hours. Let their minds wander when you visit!

 

  1. Make a Snowman Craft– If there isn’t any snow outside, make a mini version of a snowman with household items. Your child can practice their f- and s- sounds by singing Frosty the Snowman. The directions for this craft can be found here: https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/paper-roll-snowman-craft/

 

  1. Visit the local library – Spartanburg County has multiple libraries that have plenty of books and activities for children of all ages. If you can’t make it to the library, you can download books onto your mobile device.

 

  1. Go on a scavenger hunt – If it’s too cold to go outside on a scavenger hunt, look from the window to see what you can find. Make a checklist with items like feathers, sticks, branches, squirrel and snow.

 

  1. Put on a performance – Have your child perform for you their favorite song, movie scene, or book. Dress them up in a costume and pretend they are on stage. Have them practice speaking their lines loud and proud!

 

Bonus idea! Follow @busytoddler on Instagram. She has hundreds of solid, preschool and toddler tested activities for the coldest, gloomiest of day!

Sarah Emory