I like Pinterest. Just like I enjoy going on a shopping website, filling up my cart and then leaving the page. I just like the idea that I could if I wanted to, but have chosen not to. At least that’s what I tell myself.
After pages and pages of well organized “pins” on how to make a delicious-easy-family-meal-everyone-including-the-toddler-will-lick-off-the-plate-that-is-nutritious and low in sodium alongside creative bath activities to inspire your toddler to looooove getting that hard won dirt from their crevices, I just started using my own brain. I came up with a fun game of my own where I didn’t have to buy water beads, ivory soap or baking soda.
We are so lucky to have a local dairy still in business in our area that delivers their fresh milk to your door every week in glass bottles. I love, love, love them! Thank you Calder Dairy in Carleton, MI (I swear I have a point). The glass bottles are returned weekly, but the caps are not. So, of course I wash and save them. All of those hours on Pinterest weren’t totally wasted, see?! I also have a few plastic wash bins from the dollar store because my child looooves pouring water. Well, that’s what he calls it. It could be called spilling, spitting or even spraying water by an onlooker, but, those are just semantics. I am trying to delete reduce screen time (rather abysmally) so I try to have tasks games readily available that B can engage in.
Here is my little game! My crappy handwriting and black magic marker in all its’ glory! I used a ping pong ball (ummm, no I don’t have a ping pong table but I have been known to play a mean game of b___r pong) and B loves throwing things as well, so I thought it would be a hit… I was correct!!
Points to consider:
1. If you get hit with a ping pong ball it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as getting hit with a golf ball.
2. You could write any thing (letters, draw shapes, colored dots or put pictures of family) on the bottom of any tray/bin with tape.
3. The fun part is throwing the ball and trying to “score” (which is what we yell when B sinks one).
He’s learning how to recognize numbers up to twenty. The white and pink are divided into odd and even numbers although that is something we have yet to start talking about, I was being ambitious.
What games have you and your toddler created?
Detroit Family Fun 
Great game! We play Lyle Saurus. It’s based on hide and seek, but you add in a marco polo element. The seeker says “Lyle” and the hider then has to answer “Saurus.” It’s pretty silly, makes us laugh, and we can play many rounds of it in only 5 or 10 minutes. My daughter adapted this from a Dinosaur Train episode, and no one can agree what the first word was. Lyle cracks everybody up because we all know it’s wrong, and my son’s best friend is named Lyle.
That is SO cute!! Your kids will be laughing and playing that with their little ones one day and it will be so special because it will be something you created together, a special “just us” moment carried on.
And no supplies to store (where??), no cleanup, and no one loses an eye. These days I don’t ask for more than that! 🙂
Those are some compelling reasons to make this (or some version of it) our families next favorite game!
Be our guest. 🙂
I made up one for monkey that involved scooping flour with measuring cups from one bowl, pouring into the sifter, and sifting into the second bowl. He isn’t yet 2 so loved it but eats the flour lol
Yes, B loooves scooping and pouring! Did you do the flour activity inside or outside ?
I set his little table and chairs up in the kitchen and usually I’m cooking at the same time. It’s messy yes but the floor is tile so I’m all good with that!