Play Ideas

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BridgeWay Family Centre

Have you ever spent money on a new toy for your child, only to discover they just want to play with the box? You’re not the only one! Young children love to play with everyday objects, sometimes even more than their toys—and cardboard boxes are a prime example of that. Boxes make great open-ended toys (meaning they can become anything you imagine) and they are filled with countless opportunities for creating and learning. Here are 6 cardboard box play ideas for your child!

Guessing games can be a lot of fun and are super easy to play at home, outside, and even on video chat! They can be played with one child or multiple children, and can be adapted based on your child’s age and comfort level. Best of all, guessing games are a great way for children to develop their memory/recall skills, practice their problem solving skills, expand vocabulary and practice communicating. Here are 4 simple guessing games for kids!

Scavenger hunts develop memory/recall and problem solving skills. Plus, they're really easy to do at home! Here are four scavenger hunt ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.

Cognitive Skills

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As babies start to creep, crawl, stand, walk, and climb, playing starts to look a little different. From about the ages of 9 to 18 months, babies are exploring their motor abilities in new ways. This Toy Grab activity will challenge their small muscle skills (using hands and fingers to grab the toys and maneuver around the ribbon) and their large muscle skills (sitting up or standing while grabbing the toys).

Exercise and strengthen large muscles with this scribbling activity! Tape a piece of paper on the ground, wall or table. Tape crayons, markers or chalk to a box or paper towel roll – then scribble! In this activity children are: developing large muscle skills, experimenting with drawing/scribbling in new ways, and learning to move in different ways (such as squatting to scribble on the floor or using two hands to scribble with a box).

Large Muscle Skills

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Sensory play is any sort of play that engages the senses⁠—for instance: snapping a rubber band engages the sense of hearing while playing in the sand engages the sense of touch. We often talk about how sensory play is a great learning tool, but did you know that it is also an effective calming technique? Sensory play reduces the stress and anxiety that can lead to meltdowns and changes in behaviour. Try these 7 sensory activities to help your child relieve stress.

Social-Emotional Skills

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Gross motor activities help children stay active, form healthy habits, and develop the large muscle and coordination skills they will need to do things like get dressed by themselves. They are also lots of fun! Try these gross motor activities to get kids moving at home.

Active Play

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A bowl is an open-ended loose part that children can play with and explore in countless ways. Large bowls can become drums or hats or a home for your toy zebra! Small bowls can be blocks to build a tower or a place to sort beads by colour. However your child chooses to play, they are sure to use their imagination! Click this pin for three easy ways to play with bowls.

You may have heard the acronym STEM before – it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM activities encourage children to learn concepts related to these areas by using their curiosity and creativity. Here are 3 simple STEM activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers to try at home!

Ramps are a fun and interactive tool for children to experiment with concepts like cause & effect, velocity, and speed. Ramps can be made out of books, cardboard, pillows and even ironing boards! Check out these fun ramps for infants to preschoolers.

Numeracy Skills

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While we’re at home, books and stories can transport us to new places and take us on fun adventures. In the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joff Numertoff, a little mouse goes on a big adventure through his home that all starts with a cookie. You too can go on an adventure right in your home! If you give your child a box or a spoon or a cup, what will happen next? Here are 3 fun literacy-filled activities to try right in your home.

Families are a child’s first role model and the best teacher to help children develop the skills they will need for their whole lives. This Family Day, grab some toys and objects around your home or snuggle up in a cozy spot, and come together to play and read! Here are some Family Day activities and books that you and your children will love.

Start by placing some objects in a box without your child seeing. Describe one of the objects in the box using descriptive words – “this object is silver, made of metal, and is used to eat soup!” As your child guesses, add more clues until they’ve guessed what it is or until they’re ready to see the object.

Literacy Skills

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Did you know that trees offer great learning opportunities for kids? Next time you're out for a walk try exploring their size, texture and shape. Here are 4 fun ways to play and learn with trees!

Outdoor Play

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Every time your baby reaches from their toes, mimics your facial expressions, or points at your nose they are using their small muscles skills! Small muscles refer to the muscles in our hands, fingers, wrists, and face. Small muscle skills allow us to grab objects, hold a pencil, turn the pages of a book, open containers, and so much more! For babies, using their small muscles takes a lot of focus and practice. Here are 5 activities for babies to practice their small muscle skills!

Want a few minutes to yourself? Here are some easy to set up play ideas that may keep your little one occupied just long enough to finish your coffee while it's still hot!

Small Muscle Skills

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Bring this activity outside to keep cool while enjoying the outdoors! Leave out the soap and your child can use water and a sponge or brush to "paint" the side walk, brick walls, fences, rocks, trees and even themselves. Click to this pin for more sensory play ideas!

Sensory Play

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When children scribble they are developing small and large muscle skills, literacy skills, and language. Holding a marker or crayon to make big scribbles exercises the small muscles in their hands, fingers and wrists. While standing or moving around as they draw exercises the large muscles in their arms, legs and core! These muscles are all important for children to one day write or draw to, communicate (language skills) and tell stories (literacy skills). Here are some ways to scribble & draw!

Scribble fast and slow while listening to music! As the music plays, try scribbling at the same pace. You can even add a "Freeze!" by stopping the music and staying as still as you can before the music starts again.

Are you looking for creative, open-ended, and easy ways to paint with kids? You’re in the right place! Painting can be messy or low mess, and can be adapted for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Here you will find over 30 easy ways to paint with kids!

Art

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A cardboard box is one of the simplest toys you can add to your child’s play! A box is a loose part or an open-ended toy – meaning there are limitless opportunities for children to use their imagination. And when they do, a box becomes: the fastest car in the world, a cozy bed for their dolls, a cave with a big scary bear, a parking garage for toy cars, and a canvas to scribble on! Here are some cardboard box play ideas to try with your child.

Nature is filled with all sorts of toys that seamlessly fit into children's play. A leaf can be used as a paint brush and a pumpkin becomes a canvas! Try adding nature to your child's play even when playing indoors. Here are 5 easy ways to add nature to your child's play.

Loose Parts

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Water Play Ideas for Kids

Does your child love to play with water? Here are some materials to add to their water play! Click for even more sensory play ideas.

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Water Play For Toddlers

Side Walk

Sensory Bag

Water Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Bring this activity outside to keep cool while enjoying the outdoors! Leave out the soap and your child can use water and a sponge or brush to "paint" the side walk, brick walls, fences, rocks, trees and even themselves. Click to this pin for more sensory play ideas!

there are many different types of dishes in the trays and on the table is an empty cupcake pan

Activities For Children

Learning Through Play

Sensory Play

6 Recycled Materials to Add to Your Child’s Play

Why not recycle your plastic bottles and cardboard boxes by using them in play! Here are some fun activities for children using recycled materials.

Simple Activities For Kids

Simple Activities for Kids Using Sticky Paper

Sticky paper can be used in all sorts of interesting ways! You can create a collage using craft supples and loose parts (such as leaves and buttons), throw light-weight materials (like craft pom poms or cotton balls) to see if they stick, or practice sticking and unsticking toys. Children will use their small muscle skills to stick and unstick the materials, while using large muscle skills to reach high and low.

Box Play Ideas

Loose Part

Chip Clips

Social Emotional Development

New Toy

Creative Games

More for Less: How a Cardboard Box is the Best Toy for Kids

Have you ever spent money on a new toy for your child, only to discover they just want to play with the box? You’re not the only one! Young children love to play with everyday objects, sometimes even more than their toys—and cardboard boxes are a prime example of that. A box is a large loose part and an open-ended toy which means it can become anything you imagine and is filled with opportunities for fun and learning.

Scribbling to Music: Fun and simple scribble activity for kids

Scribble fast and slow while listening to music! As the music plays, try scribbling at the same pace. Does your child like the freeze dance? Stop the music while they're scribbling and freeze to change up the activity!

Corner Library

Jennifer Ward

International Literacy Day

Activities in Your Neighbourhood: 3 Fun Ways to Explore Outdoors

Neighbourhoods are rich with learning opportunities; helping your children to learn about community and the role they play in making their community a safe and fun place. The next time you go out for a walk why not try a new way to see the world? Check out these 3 fun ways to explore your neighbourhood using paper towel/toilet paper rolls!

4 Ways to Bring Snow Play Indoors

We’re always looking for new and interesting materials for sensory play, and winter is full of them! Snow and ice offer endless opportunities to build, stack, play, and learn. You can take advantage of the great snow activities that winter has to offer—even when it’s too cold to go outside by bringing the snow indoors! Here are four ways you can set up a snow sensory bin for your children at home.

Sense Of Hearing

Playing In The Sand

Calming Techniques

7 Sensory Activities to Relieve Stress

Sensory play is any sort of play that engages the senses⁠—for instance: snapping a rubber band engages the sense of hearing while playing in the sand engages the sense of touch. Sensory play is an effect calming technique that reduces the stress and anxiety that can lead to meltdowns and changes in bahaviour. Try these 7 sensory activities to help your child relieve stress.

Mess Free Painting Toddlers

30+ Easy Ways to Paint with Kids

Are you looking for creative, open-ended, and easy ways to paint with kids? You’re in the right place! Painting can be messy or low mess, and can be adapted for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. In this article you will find over 30 easy ways to paint with kids!

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Guessing games for kids

Active Play Ideas For Your Baby on the Move!

As babies start to creep, crawl, stand, walk, and climb, playing starts to look a little different. From about the ages of 9 to 18 months, babies are exploring their motor abilities and the world around them in new ways. Here are six active play ideas for your baby on the move!

This contains an image of: Painting with Water! - How Wee Learn

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Two Year Old Gross Motor Activities

Montessori Activities Kindergarten

Painting With Water

Number Learning

Outdoor Activities For Toddlers

Painting with Water! - How Wee Learn

Super Simple

At Home

Canning

Super simple play ideas for children 0 to 6

Looking for play ideas? All of our play ideas can be found at #BridgeWayPlays on Instragram! These ideas are simple to set up, easy to do at home and lots of fun!

three doughnuts on a wooden table with the words best ever play dough recipe

Diy Non Toxic Play Dough

Non Toxic Playdough Recipe

Best Ever No-Cook Play Dough Recipe! - The Imagination Tree

Best Ever No-Cook Play Dough Recipe!

Cookie Crumb Sand

The "sand" in these photos is actually cookie crumbs! Maria or Arrowroot cookies (or a similar type of cookie) mixed in a blender makes a grainy sand. Pour the sand into a tray and add spoons, toys and small bowls/cups or simply use your hands to play!