I am a stay at home mom to two young children. Sometimes, THE DAYS ARE LONG! And I find myself wondering what we are going to do all day. Especially on those days where the kids are up early and fighting already. Here is a list of things that we do during the day to keep the kids busy and entertained.
Outside Play
We love going to the park, playground, running trails, nature trails, etc. If we go to one of these places, we usually go in the morning after breakfast. That way, when we get back home we eat lunch and then it’s nap time and after nap time, daddy is almost home!
My girls are 5 and 2. So they are at an age where they can ride scooters and bikes. The parks that we go to have paved trails, so we usually take the “vehicles” with us and allow the girls to ride them! They absolutely love it and it keeps them entertained for a while. It’s a great way for the whole family to get exercise because while they ride their stuff, I can walk alongside them on the trail. Or run, when they start going too fast haha.
We are also blessed when we go to my parents house because they have a huge driveway. So the girls love to spend time outside riding their bikes and scooters there. What I’m trying to say with this is, you don’t always have to visit a park or playground for outside play! I also feel that it is important to note that bikes and scooters do not have to be expensive or brand new. We found the girls’ scooters at the thrift store, still in good condition, for $6! SO keep that in mind when reading this.
Local Library
We love our local library! It is a place that we share very fond memories. All of the different libraries throughout our city have toddler times, baby times, story times, lego times, etc. So just check your local library schedule and find out what works for you and your family! Our library has toddler time on Wednesday mornings at 11:15, so we make a whole morning out of it. We usually get to the library right when it opens, around 10am. We are fortunate that our library has a playground right next to it. So the girls play on the playground and we eat snacks for about an hour. We then go to toddler time, where they read stories, sing songs, play games, and do a craft. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. After toddler time, the girls love to play games on the kids computers in the library kids section and pick out books. Last week, we even had a picnic lunch before heading home for nap time! Have fun, be creative, and make lasting memories with your kids at your local library, FOR FREE!
Local Play Groups
It is inevitable that a local play group is meeting in your area, probably every day of the week. You just have to find them! We meet almost every week with a play and learn group offered through our public library. This is different than the toddler time at our local library. The play and learn groups meet at local parks throughout the city and offer many activities ranging from sensory play, imaginative play, coloring, using fine motor skills, etc. It is awesome and my girls love it! It keeps them busy and they get to make new friends every week.
Something else we do on occasion is attend free forest school. This is a group that meets up at a local park to explore nature trails and allow kids to play free from distraction. It is so much fun to see the girls using their imaginations, outside, with no toys.
Check your local Facebook groups, ask your other mommy friends, search online and I am positive you will find groups to meet up with in your area!
I hope these quick and easy activities spark some new ideas for you to try and explore with your kids. Most of all, I hope you get to make and enjoy lasting memories with your little ones. The days are long but the years are short.
These are all great ideas! I’m a SAHM as well and the days are really long sometimes. I’m going to check in my town to see if any other moms want to meet at the park or something. That way our kids can play and we can hopefully chat as well <3
Yes! It helps so much when you can hang out with other moms while the kids play!
We have a local mommies’ group in our area through Meetup.com that I used to belong to (my kids have “aged out” of it, but I still go to their mommies’ book club sometimes) – that used to be a great resource for us for playdates. And a lot of churches have groups for young mamas, too; our church just started a MOPS chapter (Mothers of Preschoolers) affiliated with our church-based preschool, which is where my daughters both went. These are all great excuses to get littles out of the house and get to meet/hangout with other mamas, too!
This is timely. After limiting their screen time and gadget use, it has been truly a struggle to find activities for my boys to keep them busy. Thus, I am just so happy to read your post. Thank you for sharing these wonderful ideas.
I’m glad you could find it useful 😊😊
I love these ideas, perfect for the little ones!!
Thank you 😊🧡
I still remember all the fun I had playing outdoors, and visiting the library! You’re right about lasting memories, for sure!
I hope my girls remember these times, I know I will for sure 🧡
I have a toddler and the library is a life saver, especially when it’s too cold to go outside. This is a great list.
Yes, we love the library!
I remember all these things when I was a young child. Love these ideas.
Thank you!
These are all great ideas and I love how none of them include screen time!
We try to limit it as much as we can during the week!
I definitely loved to play outside as a kid
Me too! Some of my best memories are playing with my cousins in my grandmas backyard for hours 🧡
I’m looking forward to warmer weather so that my kids can go outside more!
Yes, we are so excited for Spring to be outside even more!!
The local library is STILL my kiddos favorite place to go. These are great suggestions.
we absolutely LOVE the library! Can’t get enough of it!
We love going outside, as long as it’s not raining too hard and I don’t need my winter parka 🙂 Great way to get kids out of funky moods, too!
Yes, we’ve been having great weather in Texas so we are enjoying lots of time outside. Once summer hits though it will be only mornings and evenings we can be outside 🙁
I don’t have any kids but am in awe of you moms!
thank you!
I think outside play is one of the best ways for me to keep my little ones busy! They love it and it keeps them out of the house where they make messes, lol. Of course, in the winter time our local library is a better option. Great ideas!
Yes, keeps them so busy and you’re right. keeps the house cleaner!
The library was a life saver when my kids were little and we still visit it at least weekly now. There are so many free programs for toddlers and preschoolers that we took advantage of.
yes, we love toddler time and go every week!
We love our local library and feel fortunate that it’s only a half mile away from our home. Since the kids were young I’ve taken them there to peruse through books and attend their storytelling events.
we LOVE our library and take full advantage of it too!
I don’t have kids but my husband and I love getting outside with our dogs whenever we are bored! Bike rides, neighborhood walks or even just sitting on our patio!
we LOVE being outside too, there’s just something about it that relaxes you and puts your mind at ease!
I am always looking for new ideas to keep my children busy. This is so helpful! Thank you.
thanks for reading!
My kids could spend ages outside. I love seeing them get fresh air and be creative, using their imaginations and getting exercise too. These are great ideas especially for younger kids.
Yes, being outside is sometimes like magic for my kids!
I love these ideas!! I haven’t ventured out into the playgroup realm yet. I might have to check it out!
works wonders sometimes 🙂
Like you, we love our libraries too. Actually, they are building another one close to us and we can’t wait for it to open! Our local libraries offer many activities for kids too, especially during summertime.
perfect place to hang out during summertime!
Playing outside is the best! I swear I’m a better parent when the weather is nice. Everything is so much easier and creating memories while having fun is effortless.
Yes! 😆so true! I feel better as a parent too!
I’m thinking of looking into local play groups. It will foster the socialization aspect and that way, my son is used to meeting other children.
Yes, definitely helps with the socialization!
We love our trips to the library. The kids love walking around picking their books out. (And it is educational :-p)
Yes, for sure!
I love taking my kids to the library.
It is so fun! We love it!
Since school is almost out here in the Philippines, your post really timely. As early as now, I am thinking of tips on how to keep my little ones busy. Thank you for sharing these brilliant ideas.
Great ideas! We love going to our local library as well.
One of my daughter’s favourite things to do at the moment is “paint” the outside of the house. A paintbrush & a cup of water and she is set!
Ahhh! Such a good idea! We will have to try that!
These are all great ideas. I can’t wait to try these out with my little one.
I’m glad you found them useful!
We have a 2 & 3yr old and absolutely love going to libraries. Most have a sing or reading group every day and they are free ; ))
Great ideas! Letting the kids run around outside is always the best way to get all of their energy out!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
Great ideas! I love the library, we just signed up for updates from our local library for their fun events and its changed our life!