Yes, it is preferable to go outside and explore the world, but let’s face it, sometimes it is just too cold or too hot or too tornado warning or you just plain can’t get out of the door because your babe is having a bad day.  Or you are having a bad day! There are days when simply putting a diaper on is the most difficult task. When I want to give him and me a break here are a few of our favorite things to do.

The number 1 favorite thing in our house is oats in a bin. Click here for our full story on that!

 Baseball cards are another favorite. We have so many that we could carpet the entire house. We pour them out onto the floor and dance in them or swim in them.

Crawling through those tunnels is fun, but Jack likes it better when we get in it while standing up. Sometimes I put it over him and make him disappear and then reappear like a magician.

Wagons are for outside only. Not! And what a sweet ride with stuffed friends and favorite shoes.

Here’s another sweet ride.

Stair ball. Jack stands at the top behind the safety gate and my husband stands at the bottom of the stairs. Jack throws the ball over, my husband throws it back and Jack chases it down to start all over again.

Jack likes to empty the silverware drawer. We have 2 drawers. One for the sharp stuff and one for the safe stuff.

Get naked!

Play with DVDs. If you don’t want your DVDs scratched then take them out!

Dance party! Catch it in motion!

Competition to see how messy we can get the house.

Dump truck rides.

Various materials on the floor that all make different sounds. Run on them or drive trucks on them!

My friend and Admin, Kristin, showed us how to ride on a jet ski. Here we are going over some BIG WAVES!

Spin in circles over the world.

Sometimes we just hop in the bath for no reason at all and bring half the kitchen with us.

Have lunch at the window and watch construction.

Let’s face it, my husband will never be in a band. Jack loves strumming the guitar or throwing things into it or standing on it.

Hop in the sink when we get a bit fussy waiting for dinner!

Share your favorite indoor activities in the comments!

Abby Theuring, MSW

Supplies: 2 large containers of Quick Oats, 1 shallow plastic tub or blanket on the floor, toys such as dump trucks or scoopers, etc, 1 or more babies

Let the games begin!

Won’t they put it in their hair? Yes!

Won’t they throw it around the room? Yes!

Won’t they get in it? Yes!

Won’t they eat it? Yes!

Won’t they get covered in oats? Yes!

Won’t my kitchen be a mess? Yes!

**Sweep up, place back in bin and reuse.