I am certainly beginning to tire of the rain and the lack of outdoor play time….even I have my limits as to how many times a day I can change wet, muddy twins even if they are having fun and I love messy play as regular readers know!
However….the positive spin on this is that I am having to get even more creative with fun ideas that don't entail paint and glue all over the walls inside! I enjoy finding items we already have around the house and turning them into an open ended play activity.
An activity the toddler twosome really seemed to enjoy this week (and I judge that by the fact that they sat and played with it for over 20 minutes with very little input from me!) was Pebble & Ball Basket Play. We went out to the back verandah, listened to the birds, watched the rain come down and played!
Very easy to set up…..I went around the house collecting different baskets they enjoy playing with (all from the op/thrift shop and very, very cheap!) and pulled out a bag of large, flat, smooth decorator pebbles that I had picked up from the discount shop a while back for $2. I put them into a wooden tray, added some ping pong balls and watched to see what the twins would do!
Straight away the toddler twosome started arranging their baskets and adding pebbles and balls…..
Back to work…Ruby discovered they made a great noise when you tapped them together….
Lots of pointing and counting…..
These baskets were the best find in an op shop I have had for a long time….the girls have had such enjoyment from them over the past year and I am always filling them with different items that they like to discover. The beauty is I can change the contents and leave them ready for discovery after a nap time, incorporate them into pretend play, take them away for a while to be discovered with glee a few weeks later, leave them out empty for the girls to fill with their special things of the moment and then cart around for the day or use them to collect the eggs!
Do you enjoy using things you have found in op (thrift) shops or around the house with your children as items of play and discovery? I'd love to hear about your favourite finds!
A Little About Me
Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.
Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.
Looks like a great way to keep them busy for a few hours.
A few hours may be pushing it!!!…but they have been playing with them on and off for days now which is just as good! have a lovely weekend Fiona!
baskets and boxes are the best!! your pictures really tell a fun story!
Cute idea. My son found a single ping pong ball when he was about 2 and it was one of the best toys he ever had! I can’t imagine what he would have done with multiples! Those baskets do look wonderful… we visit a local market and they have similar baskets at the front. My kids love getting their own basket (and then fighting over who gets to carry what!)
What a wonderfully fun and simple idea for toddlers! I’m stopping by from TGIF. Have a wonderful weekend!
Mama Of Many Blessings
http://mamaofmanyblessings.blogspot.com/
Looks like she had a TON of fun! I’d like to invite you to share this with our readers for Fun Stuff Friday @Toys In The Dryer http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/03/fun-stuff-fridays-16.html.
Super cute. Your post inspired me to give my 18 month old just the plastic easter eggs and a basket. Simple fun. We put some objects in some of the eggs to make noises. Much to my sons excitement he found jelly beans from last year in one!!!!
That’s a wonderful idea….i love those plastic eggs but haven’t done much with them as yet!Glad you got some inspiration….and what a score with the jellybeans!!Thanks so much for dropping by!
The simplist things are always the best things! What a wonderful idea you had, and it looks like the girls had a blast. Thanks for linking up to (and hosting) the weekly kids co-op!
Thanks Amanda…this is definitely on our favourites list now!!
My little one loves to put things in bags and baskets and taking them out too. It occupies for her for a long time. Thanks for linking up to fun frugal friday.