Ideas to Keep Your Toddler Entertained at Home

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My kid started preschool last month and spent a whopping four half-days there before the school was closed thanks to Covid. With no classmates, playground, parks, or restaurants available, I started piecing together recommendations from other moms and our previous editors to create an environment that was as close to what she'd have at school as possible.

It's so easy to feel frustrated and like your kid is missing out on life when you're stuck at home so having a few activities that you can whip out at any time really helps. But, it's also important to remember that not every day needs to be packed with activities for your kids. You deserve a rest day too and it's equally as important to keep your mental health in check.

COOKING

We stumbled on this one when I purchased a set of those kids' knives and discovered that my daughter absolutely loves the things that she cut up herself. So, since then we started involving her in preparing her own meals. Stuff like helping cut up fruits and veggies, mixing flour, and making juice take way longer when there's a toddler involved, but they learn some essential life skills and absolutely love being a part of the process.

PRO TIP: To help the little ones reach the counter top, the Learning Tower is a parents' favorite. It doubles as a black board and desk.

CLEANING

This also falls under learning daily life skills (one of the activities that her preschool leads kids in). She helps with laundry by putting things in the machine and taking them out and helps with vacuuming the floor and wiping tables.

YOGA

It's never too early to start yoga with them! Cosmic Yoga on Youtube has plenty of videos that are themed around holidays and other things that kids love. The sessions are short and easy enough that even a 2-year-old can follow along.

CRAFTS

We really got into arts and crafts during the last lockdown. Painting became part of our daily activities and we've created so many Christmas cards, trees, gifts, and other stuff. My daughter loves playing with the toys that she made like her Hungry Hungry Capepillar made from an upcycled egg carton and jellyfish that's made from a paper plate. It's great for them to work on their fine motor skills, listen to stories, and just spend some fun time with their kids.

PRO TIP: For those getting into crafts, there's a great WeChat account that you must follow Busy Monkey shares plenty of home activities for young kids. Follow their Official WeChat Account below.

Once you start buying arts and crafts supplies, things add up quick! Get yourself a big container and keep everything organized.

TV (doesn't need to be the enemy)

I hate it when my kid is plopped in front of the TV. I feel like it's a waste of their time and obviously not great for their eyes. But it's inevitable. Sometimes we need a break and TV is the perfect babysitter. Instead of a Paw Patrol marathon, Super Simple Songs on Youtube and iQiYi has become one of our favorites. They're short kids songs paired with adorable animation. Seeing my toddler learn song after song makes it feel like a little TV time isn't too bad after all.

The Bumble Nums is another one that I recently discovered. Humble, Stumble, and Grumble's kitchen adventures are so much fun for foodie kids as they cook together.

Music & Dancing

Never underestimate the power of a living room dance party!

What do you do to entertain your kids at home? Share some ideas with us in the comment section below.

Images: Mina Yan

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