For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Toddlers are bundles of energy and curiosity, eager to explore the world around them—or at least mine is!
I’m always trying to nurture my daughter’s creativity and imagination, but I also want (and sometimes need) to keep family fun affordable. The good news is that plenty of budget-friendly activities can delight and entertain your little ones without breaking the bank.
Here’s what’s been working for us:
Take your toddler on a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or a nearby park. Create a list of simple items like a pinecone, a feather, a yellow flower, and more. Grab a paper bag, basket, or any other container you’d like to use for your little explorers to hunt for these treasures while learning about the wonders of nature.
Lately, my daughter’s favorite thing to hunt for is pumpkins in our patch. We’re blessed to have a large empty lot behind our house, and the owners of it graciously allowed us to plant a small pumpkin patch there. Being our first year planting it, we put a wide variety of seeds in the ground–gourds, pumpkins, squash, etc.–to see what would grow. It’s now my daughter’s favorite afternoon activity to go and search in the pumpkin patch to see what we can find.
Create sensory bins using everyday household items like rice, pasta, beans, or water beads. Let your toddlers dig, pour, and explore different textures and colors with their hands. Sensory play not only provides endless entertainment but also fosters their sensory development.
The dollar store is a great place to snag items to make these sensory bins. You can buy small plastic bins there to hold the rice while they play, and when they finish, pop the lid on and store it away for next time.
Unleash your inner storyteller and embark on exciting storytime adventures. Pick your toddlers’ favorite books and bring the stories to life through dramatic readings, funny voices, and interactive play. Encourage their imagination by asking questions and letting them participate in storytelling.
This idea isn’t for everyone–my daughter has only recently started having the patience to sit and read books. Until now, we heavily relied on silly voices to keep her engaged with the book or sticking to look-and-find books. But I have the fondest memories of creative, make-believe stories my dad used to tell me and my sisters when we were kids—some of them still get brought up to this day.
So, if you find yourself in a period of life where your kiddo won’t sit for books or stories, don’t write this idea off forever. Put it away until they have the patience for it, and you may create some of their favorite stories that they will look forward to telling their kids someday.
Skip the name-brand playdough and opt for the uber-cheap 4-pack you can buy at the dollar store, or make your own at home with a simple recipe using flour, salt, water, and food coloring. Your little ones will have a blast molding and shaping their dough creations, sparking their creativity while you save on expensive playdough sets.
We like to use mini cookie cutters with our playdough, and a small piece of leftover PVC pipe serves as a simple rolling pin. We were also gifted one of those wooden kids’ Montessori knives, and it makes a great addition to our playdough time, practicing cutting skills.
Who doesn’t love bubbles? Create a bubble bonanza in your backyard using dish soap, sugar, and water. Blow bubbles with different wands, chase them and let your toddlers pop them to their heart’s content. It’s a magical and inexpensive way to keep them entertained for hours.
If you’re not up for making bubble solution, the dollar store (again) can be a great place to buy some. We’ve found the dollar store bubbles to be some of our favorites–they can land on the grass without popping, making them way more fun for toddlers.
Turn up the music and have a dance party with your fam! Clear a space in the living room, put on their favorite tunes, and let them show off their dance moves. It’s a fantastic way to burn off energy and enjoy some laughter-filled family moments.
Through an odd series of events, we recently found that my toddler loves the song “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears. She loves plenty of other kids’ songs, but she’s generally uninterested when we play non-kid-specific music. “…Baby One More Time,” however, really gets her moving and grooving.
Frugal family fun doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
By engaging in these budget-friendly activities, you can provide endless entertainment and enriching experiences for your toddlers without breaking the bank. From exploring nature to engaging in imaginative play, each activity sparks joy and fosters their development.
Remember, the best moments are often the simplest ones, where the love and laughter you share as a family create lasting memories for you and your little ones. So, let your creativity flow, and cherish these precious times without breaking the bank!
