DD2 has a soft cotton square scarf - it's about 60cm x 60cm - in bright gypsy-type colours. She dances with it, it's wings, it's princess dress, it's something to hide under, a blanket for dolly, etc - it entertains her for hours.
In fact it was a handmedown from DD1 who had it when she was about 2 yo - and she played with it just as much, and for years. Best $3 I ever spent at the op shop.
1. DD1 has our washing machine box with a hole cut in the side as a window, she takes all sorts of things in there and hides.
2. a potato and a big bucket of water, was the funniest thing i have ever seen, she spent 2hrs coming and going from this, throwing the potato in the bucket to make the water splash, was in front of MIL who bought her quite a few cheap plastic toys for x-mas and she laughed about how she doesn't play with them
3. Not for everyone but our DOGS... yep she will chase them for ages, if she goes to far they round her up, she follows them into the paddock, spends hours trying to hand feed them.
Messy play. Anything like sand, goop, playdough, slime, water, mud.....all of the messy stuff. Put the kids outside with it and let them loose. Mine will find sticks, leaves, stones, anything laying around to add to it to extend it.
When I cook sometimes, I give the kids some rice and measuring cups/spoons ect to play with. Or flour and water in separate containers for them to mix together. It will keep them entertained for ages! And they learn so much from this sort of play- maths concepts (measuring...), science concepts (wet/dry mixtures...), language (discussing what they're doing...), imaginitive play. And above all else, it is stuff you have in the house and it is non toxic, edible and FUN!!! Yes it is messy, but cleaning is easy when you know how much they gain from it. Plus the kids love to help clean up too!
(BTW, I have recipes for playdough, goop and slime if anyone wants them.)
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