Activities To Keep Them Occupied

So how exactly do we engage them? What do I do with them when I am working/cooking? How do I play with them actively?

I have made a list of activities suitable for 2 - 4 year olds that not only keep them occupied but also help in their cognitive development, reading, writing, and math skills. Some of these activities are played by the child on their own while others are interactive - which means they need you to be an active part of the activity. Some need minimal interaction from your end.

(Hey, there is no shortcut to giving them time and attention, okay?)

Please keep in mind that every activity needs an adult to be present in the same room as the child. ADULT SUPERVISION IS A MUST. Activities that involve rice/pulses/water should be given with caution, depending on the age and maturity/tendency of the child, as they pose choking hazards.

1. Sensory bin with rice: take a big vessel. Put some rice. Add some scoops and spoons and bowls. I promise you this will keep them engaged for at least 45 mins!

2. Paintbrush and color. Limit the number of colors based on the child's age and understanding level. There are taste-safe/child-safe colors available on Amazon.

3. Sensory bin with pulses: give some bowls, one spoon, and some pulses (rajma, channa, etc - just one kind, at the most 2). Another amazing sensory game that will engage your child for at least 45 mins. I use this during my important meetings ;)

4. Pretend-play with animal figurines. You can make up your own stories or use a storybook.

5. Water-play: a tub, water, some bowls, plus add anything you want to make it more interesting

6. Feed the animals: draw some animals on a carton, make holes where their mouths are supposed to be, Give small objects like pompoms, pulses, etc and ask him/her to feed the animals.

7. Car drop: draw some roads on a carton, make a hole in the center of the carton. Give some toy cars and play car drop.

8. Sorting activities: take any two items (onions and potatoes, pencils and pens, rajma and channa, etc.. whatever you can think of) and give two bowls. Ask them to sort. A very good pre-math activity

9. Matching objects: draw outlines of some objects - toy cars, spoons, forks, bowls - different shapes. Ask the toddler to match the object to the outline.

10. Bathe the animals: give some water in a large bowl and some animal figurines. Ask the toddler to bathe the animals.

11. Hide animals around the house, ask your toddler to find them by giving them clues.

12. Blindfold your kid (or simply ask them to close their eyes - they will most probably cheat, but it's okay!), hand them different objects (toys, stationaries, bowls, spoons, etc) and ask them to identify them.

13. Sort some pairs of socks!

14. Take 3-5 animal figurines, show him. Ask him to close his eyes, hide one animal. He should open his eyes and tell which animal is missing. - a very good memory game.

15. Make animal sounds, he should tell which animal. Or vice versa.

16. Quiz each other - we use this a lot during meal times. Questions like what’s your favorite animal/bird/vegetable/fruit/color/person/friend/planet etc can be asked. Or you can use this method to teach them continents, countries, capitals, states, planets, etc.

17. Clay/Playdough - the best pre-writing activity.

Activities when your child needs to move about:

aka our evening routine during lockdown!

1. Place some objects (like steel glasses or blocks) on the floor. Run around them or hop on them one after the other.

2. Play hopscotch!

3. Chor police - you be the thieves and let your kid be the police and ask them to catch you and put you in jail. Don’t forget to get caught once in a while and be as dramatic as you can!

4. Put on some music and dance.

5. Remember the PT period in school? Do that with your kids - count and exercise. Let him/her be the teacher and ask them to teach you some exercises.

6. Hide and seek around the house.

7. Enact some story (our favorite!).

Hope this helps! Let me know :)