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The colder months often mean less time outdoors. Even in families like ours where we just try to dress for the weather and play anyway (hello many benefits of being outdoors, even in the cold or when sick!), it’s nice to have things to do with all that child energy. So here is a no-so-extensive list of 16 gifts for Winter toddler energy .
1. Mini Trampoline
Jumping is a great way to expend energy. There are so man ways to jump, and it’s great exercise for bodies big and small. I actually had an adult one with a handle so that we can all jump on it, but the kid only ones are great as well! Tell them to get their jumps out! ALSO, jumping helps flush the lymphatic system which helps immunity. So it doubles as a germ fighter activity! MOM WIN!
2. Indoor Jungle Gym (Swedish Ladder)
I don’t feel like I really have the space for this other than in the basement and we don’t hang out down there much, but I love this thing. I am a big advocate of climbing and hanging. It’s not unusual to see me climbing and hanging on things at the park or in general public. It’s so good for you. I motivate my boys to climb things all the time. So, sorry if you’re the type of mom that freaks out about that…I’m the one telling my kids they need to learn to climb a tree. Heh.
3. Marble Run
We LOVE our marble run. Some times it turns into a game of “where did all the marbles go?” but generally it’s a fun time. I usually just ration their marbles to two a piece. If they lose them then they have to find them to play. That is more energy expending, as well as memory work and detective/observation work. I love multi-tasking activities.
My oldest is getting more and more into CREATING the tracks, and my youngest loves letting the marbles loose and watching them go through the maze.
4. Train/Train Tracks
These are so simple and inexpensive. I love them. It’s something the boys pull out again and again. They create different tracks, sometimes with help and sometimes not, and then jut choo, choo through the day.
5. Indoor Bounce House
This one was sent to me by a lovely friend of mine. My boys have discovered the joy of bounce houses in the past year, so I KNOW they would love it. However, I do not have space for it…maybe their bedroom!??!!? Though I’m pretty sure my husband would roll his eyes HARD at me. I still think this is AWESOME for winter energy. And it’s actually a pretty awesome price.
6. Working Toy Camera
My boys love their cameras. Toy ones, real ones, my expensive ones (eek!). I like how tiny this one is (very tiny, check the photos, some people were not excited about that), so that tiny hands can hold it. Its also slightly better looking than the current V-Tech one we have. I might be biased on encouraging photography with my kids, but it’s a great way to help them be creative and explore their surroundings.
7. MagnaTiles
I’ve said it before, I will say it again, I love these things. So much open ended possibilities. My oldest stacks them up over and over and calls it his “business.” (His brother frequently destroys his business.) He decorates things with them, he’s created busses, air-conditioners (imagination, right?), villages and more. I actually buy the off-brand ones called Picasso, and they seem to work just as well, but for less $$. This type tends to support itself more and allow for larger creations than my also loved MagFormers.
8. Cash Register
Kids love buttons. Kids love money. My oldest is obsessed with change and “treasure” and is getting more and more into numbers and addition/subtraction. This is on his wish list and I can’t wait to play with it. Oh, wait. I mean he will love it. I spent so much time as a kid playing pretend restaurants and pretend work. It’s so funny.
9. Collapsable Tunnel
This thing has lasted way longer in our house than I ever thought it would. My youngest loves crawling through it and attacking it from every direction really. He also enjoys pulling out out of it’s storage spot (under the trampoline) and popping it open. My oldest loves to crawl through it, hid in it, play games in side of it, and pretend to be a monster in it. (Think those tall, skinny, arm flailing blow up creatures that lots of car dealerships use.)
10. Tool Set
What kid doesn’t love to help with tools? The boys ALWAYS want to help use whenever we need to use tools. My oldest constantly asks when he gets to use the power saw. Not for some time bud. But I LOVE encouraging that desire, especially since BOTH my husband and I love to create things and do woodworking (like when we built a 10 foot table last year!).
11. Stepping Stones
The floor is lava!! Anyone remember playing that as a kid? I sure did. I still do sometimes. These could easily be done in a DIY fashion with using pillows, pieces of paper, sturdy boxes, scrap wood, or other household things. Create an obstacle course in your house and watch you kids use energy, their imagination, strengthen their bodies, their coordination, and more. I love these ones in particular because the color scheme makes me happy. They are also available in rainbow colors!
12. Wobble Board
This one is a pricier option, but I love it. You can stand and rock back and forth (even adults!), sit and rock, lay and rock, flip it over and use it as a low chair, or even use it as a bridge or wall in imaginative play. So many options. We have a tendency to use it in spurts, but I love it.
13. Play Kitchen
Soup. My youngest makes the best play soup. He feeds me well. We cook, we clean, we create cupcakes, and more. I love watching them pretend. I enjoy the Ikea kitchens because they are inexpensive and simple. They are also clean looking, so it doesn’t bother me to have them in a common space.
14. Indoor Gymnastics Bar
This one is awesome. Again, I don’t really have the space right now, but I would love it. I love climbing and hanging and the benefits of both. I’m also thinking of getting the boys into kiddie gymnastics to motivate that. So I’m sure there are people out there that would greatly benefit from one of these at home!
15. Kids Table/Sensory Bin (Ikea FLISAT)
Tables are awesome. I’m weird and usually shy away from “normal” kids tables because they are short term and I prefer to promote floor sitting. However, I like this one because the top lifts off and you can place bins in it and it becomes and instant sensory table. Great for standing activities for little ones. Fill it with water, beans, rice, birdseed, water beads, pastas, whatever your heart desires, and let your kid(s) explore!
16. Playhouse (indoor or outdoor!)
I kind of love the idea of having an INDOOR playhouse. I don’t love them outside, because critters, but I love having one inside. This one is $$$, but super cute. I struggle with the idea of having something like this, or just letting the boys continue to take apart the couch each day to create their forts.
Ultimately I love to motivate my kids, and myself, to still go outside as much as possible in the winter months, but there are days where it’s just not a good idea (think super low temps, blizzard conditions, icy everything, or a sick mom or kid doesn’t want to move), and I like having grid ideas to keep them moving. I also like just sitting and reading books, watching the weather, and taking care of the house together.
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