How do you amuse an almost 2yo on rainy day?

DS1 (23 months) has been home for the past week with an ear infection and cold (missing his usual 2 days in daycare plus mum's group), so he's starting to get cabin fever ... but at least he's been able to go outside and play now and then.

But ... the rain has well and truly set in today in Brissie. And I need some ideas on amusing DS indoors.
He will play with his toys on and off and he likes to have books read to him, but he's not really interested in colouring in, a bit young for dress ups and if I let him help me cook he'd have flour or similar from one end of the house to the other! And I don't have craft type stuff to make things (albeit I have glue and sticky tape :dance:). I don't really want DS1 watching TV all day (well, he'll watch it for a few mins and then get bored - he'd rather be active) and I'm coughing and spluttering a bit too, so while I'm happy to read to him, I'd rather not have to do it ALL day.

Would love some tried and true ideas from mums of other toddlers as to how to keep them entertained indoors for a while.

Cheers, Andie

my kids love to pretend to do cooking- get the pots and pans out of the cupboard and they pretend to cook. Fill up the sink with water and let him wash all the plastic dishes.
Build a cubby out of sheets and blankets.
Make fairy bread, cut out with star cutters
Playdough- so easy to make, the best recipe is on the cream of tatare box
My kids love to 'clean' so I usually spray my back sliding door and kitchen cupboards with wather and let them clean them down with a sponge
Make and fly paper aeroplanes

Good luck- we are a bit the same, on about day 5 of a heat wave in Perth, and everybody is soooooooo over it.

DD isn't that old yet but when my brothers were younger we did the following:

* Play doh (one of the BB girls sent me a recipe to make, i can forward on)
* Cubby House out of the couch, washing baskets & sheets - throw in measuring cups, wooden spoons etc and they play HOUSE
* Wooden blocks if you have them - we used to have competitions to see who could build higher
* Magic potions - my brothers get clear containers, food dye, herbs etc and pretend to mix magic potions, it can be a little messy but keeps them occupied.

Sorry prob no help... hope someone has some great ideas.

We are the same. I haven't been anywhere for a fortnight. Thankfully my brother and his GF have been here, otherwise I would've gone insane by now..

helping put clothes away (or sorting them).
making then playing with playdough (but our DD spends a lot of time helping cook).
building with blocks

We also do crafts and painting (I got a box together after last time I was stuck in this position. You can build it up cheaply at Crazy Clarks and similar stores)..

Thanks guys - I have fond memories of play dough from when I was young :lol:. Looks like I need to make some - can you make it without cream of tatare ... I don't have any in the cupboard?! I guess without it, it's plain "dough" not "play dough" ;).

He's fascinated by the computer. Perhaps I should just let him loose - he has a "thing" for the mouse! Looks like mummy better get her butt off the computer.

Thanks for the help, any other mummies want to share their ideas?

one thing I do for my ds on rainy days is get some pantry items from the cupboard (packets of pasta, noodles, small tins spaghetti etc), one of my washing baskets (uses it as a trolley) and a few green shopping bags and ds plays shops. The first time I did this he played ALL DAY, he loved it, esp when mummy would repack the 'shelves' (the coffee table and floor lol) and he could go shopping all over again :)

play dough is a definate must.

how about making pasta for dinner together? my ds had so much fun the other day when we made home made pasta :)

ummm folding clothes or playing with the pegs is a hit with ds too.

thats all i can think of right now. hope it helps

Cubby houses is a big hit in our place!

Other things we do:
- floor picnics with all the stuffed toys
- playdough, making it and then playing with it
- cleaning with wipes, the girls love this!
- help with hanging out the washing-
- craft if you have paper, sticky tape and sissors you can make all sorts of things, like hats, planes, etc
- counting money - supervised of course!
- sorting out the toys into colours shapes sizes
- music with pots and pans and a spoon
- cooking cakes, muffins, slices etc
- playing with tupperware!
- ooh the food pantry shopping is a great idea!
- tv
- music, dancing to the music!
- showing them all old photos they really enjoy that.


thats all I can think of now!