Struggling to keep your little ones entertained when the weather keeps you indoors? Living in Florida, the summer heat can be unbearable, and there are days when it’s simply too hot or humid to go outside. As a parent and teacher, I’ve often faced the challenge of finding fun activities for my kids when the weather keeps us inside. This guide is perfect for parents and caregivers looking for creative ways to keep toddlers and preschoolers engaged indoors. Not only are these activities entertaining, but they also help in developing fine motor skills and fostering creativity. When the weather outside is too extreme, indoor activities become a lifesaver. Here are some tried-and-true favorites from my teaching days that my children and your little ones will love.
Scavenger Hunts: Indoor and Outdoor
I love doing scavenger hunts with my daughter. It allows her to search and be aware of her surroundings while finding the items on the list. Including the words for the scavenger hunt items provides print for her to practice “reading.” She loves finding items and coloring on the paper when she finds an item. I have created several scavenger hunts for indoor and outdoor settings, if the weather permits. Click below to download them for free!
Playdough
I love playdough and how it can help build fine motor skills in toddlers and preschoolers. There is so much you can do with playdough. For example, you can create letters, numbers, or shapes, cut it with playdough scissors, and use your imagination to create different pictures. When we bring out playdough, my three-year-old will spend a good 30 minutes playing with it and I love playing with it as well! Playing with playdough is the perfect way to beat the summer heat and enjoy a fun indoor activity.
Sensory Bins
A simple way to beat the summer heat and stay indoors is by using a sensory bin. Below is a recent sensory bin I created for July using items I found at Dollar Tree. There are many different options you can use for a sensory bin: colored rice, noodles, or water. When creating a sensory bin, you can use anything to scoop or pour, helping your child explore the materials in the bin. Creating budget-friendly activities for my children is my passion. From years of teaching, I’ve learned that good activities do not have to be expensive or elaborate.
Play a Game
We’ve recently started playing games more, and my daughter loves it! She gets one-on-one time with me and learns many skills. On days when it randomly rains in Florida or is too hot, we bring out a game and play for a few minutes together. This time together has deepened our mother-daughter relationship and is providing her with various skills she needs. She’s learning to wait her turn, understand that she won’t always win or get to go first, and develop various cognitive skills. It’s such a nice way to beat the summer heat together!
Glow or Popsicle Bath
I found this idea on Pinterest, and it has been one of the best ways to cool down on hot summer days! The idea is simple: run a bath and put glow sticks in the water. Turn off the lights, and you have a fun little activity that will provide endless fun for several minutes! The same idea works for a popsicle bath. Run a bath and give your child a popsicle to eat while they play! It’s perfect because when they get sticky, the clean-up is easy! My daughter loves both of these special mid-day baths! She requests them often, and it is a good reset during the day or something for us to do to transition from one part of our day to the next. I highly recommend them!
We always love going outside, but sometimes it doesn’t work out with the weather. These easy indoor activities provide fun and different ways to make the day go by faster! Which one is your favorite? Do you have any others you’d like to share?
