Toddlers have an endless supply of energy; they can also get bored with their toys quickly. Why not enlist their help in making games they can play. These may not last more than one or two uses, but that’s okay; the materials are basically free, (recycled products) and making it is half the fun.
Toddler Air Hockey
Supplies needed:
- Poster board
- Crayons
- Tape
- Ball (tin foil crumbled up makes a nice light weight ball)
- Wooden spoon
- Let your toddler decorate the air hockey field. You can start by drawing the basic layout, or just let them make an abstract version.
- Fold the sides of the box up about two or three inches all around.
- Place the ball inside and let the toddler whack it around in on the playing field.
- Make this educational by drawing large numbers, blocks of color, shapes or letters on the board. After your child hits the ball, call out the object the ball landed on.
Toddler Skee ball
I have lost plenty of money racking up coupons at indoor party centers over the years. Keeping younger children occupied while big brother enjoys his friend’s birthday party can be expensive! Make your own skee ball game to play at home. You can make it just because, set it up during parties or play dates, or just have the family compete for fun.
Supplies needed:
- Big box (diaper box works well)
- Plastic cottage cheese containers (or large yogurt containers)
- Utility knife
- Plastic eggs or small balls
- Place the three containers on top of the box. Trace around the base of each container.
- Cut the marked holes with a utility knife. Cut slightly larger so the container can be pushed about halfway inside the box.
- Label the containers with post-it notes; one, two and three.
- Lean the box against the wall. Let your child toss an egg.
- Hang a chart near the game and keep score to make it more challenging.
Toddler Foosball
My kids are drawn to foosball tables. They may not be able to see into the table to know what is going on, but that doesn’t stop them from trying to win!
Supplies needed:
- Scissors
- Tape
- Large box lid, box, or poster board with sides taped up
- Wooden spoons or spatulas
- Aluminum foil
- Paper and crayons
- Soccer images (optional)
- Glue soccer images to the bottom of the box lid if desired. A piece of green construction paper also works just fine, but not required to play if you do not have it.
- Cut slits on either side of the box lid to insert the wooden spoon or spatulas.
- Draw and cut out two soccer players. Tape to the end of the spoon or spatula. You can find images online, or just sketch out the player. Be sure they are wearing different colored jerseys!
- Cut holes on either end to serve as goals, or just draw goals in the inside.
- Drop a small aluminum foil ball in the box and bat the ball to move it around.
- Be dramatic and shout, “Goal!” when you score. Play it up and your toddler will enjoy the game even more.
