My daughter is nine years old, and it seems like all her peers are busy juggling after-school activities like a teen would a part-time job. I hear my co-workers on the phones with their spouses trying to determine who’s going to take the kids to their activities. I struggle to coordinate schedules with other moms as we try to plan for playdates. Monday’s the kids have soccer, Tuesday it’s dance, Wednesdays are for piano, and Thursdays are for extra math practice. Throw in the hockey tournament all weekend and it’s amazing that anyone can still find the time to breathe.

A lot of parents feel that they’re doing their children a disservice if they’re not exposing them to a number of activities at a young age. “How will they know what they’re like if I don’t have them try?” they’ll say. “We come from a family of basketball players so our child will definitely play travel and town ball.” But this has always made me uncomfortable. I’m all for extracurricular participation if the child is on board, but I really feel that some misguided societal and parental expectations – the belief that being busy in this way is good for a child and more activities equals more benefit – are driving many of these choices for families today.

There are, of course, a lot of valuable lessons that a child can learn through involvement in sports, the arts, or any number of other activities. However, I think that the right amount of involvement for a child is something that has to be individually determined. How much is beneficial? How much is too much? Children have different strengths, varying levels of comfort and anxiety, and I think it’s important to listen to them when making these decisions.

While attending my daughter’s third-grade open house, many of the parents were taken aback when the teacher asked us to limit our children’s extracurricular activities during the school week. This was the first time that someone from our school had ever said these words to parents. I thought that it was an important request, and I was so relieved to hear a teacher stand up for something that I have always believed – that kids need balance. They need time to play and relax. Their lives should not be constantly in motion. I looked around the room when she said this, wondering how her words were being received by the other parents. Would they listen? Did they think she was out of line? Did anyone else feel as relieved as I did?

Children work so hard academically and socially during the school day. So while their lives outside of school should be sprinkled with extracurricular activities, I really believe that they shouldn’t be drowning in them. These activities, especially at the lower levels, should be ones that they enjoy. As they grow older, their skill levels will certainly advance – and pressures to succeed or perform well may build too – but kids are never going to be passionate about an activity if they don’t find it fun! So I think as parents we should make sure our children feel positive about their activities of choice.

At one time, my daughter was doing dance, gymnastics, running, and playing tee-ball. But soon she was exhausted and often complained of not wanting to attend her extracurriculars. We couldn’t even easily determine which activities she actually enjoyed because she seemingly hated all of them. Really, she was just overwhelmed.

And when we stopped to consider how she was spending her time, we realized that she just didn’t have much downtime. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that free play is crucial in the development of a healthy child, and it reaps benefits like conflict resolution and decision-making skills. Many structured activities just don’t allow for the same freedom and creativity that unstructured time does, and I found that I had been undervaluing the importance of unstructured time for my own daughter. It turned out that she only disliked all of those extracurriculars because what she really wanted was time to read with me, or play dolls in her room, or just relax at home.

All families need to navigate this in a way that’s best for them, but what was our solution? We agreed that she should limit herself to one exercise-based activity per season. And, if she wanted to, she could also choose a hands-on activity, like pottery class. But that would be our limit. My daughter, loveable and positive, but sometimes anxious, certainly benefits from involvement in extracurricular activities, but finding some sort of balance was key for us.

It’s important to remember that it’s not a competition. You are not more or less amazing because of the number of activities that your child is involved in. They will not be more or less successful as adults based on the activities they choose at age eight. Sports and other extracurricular activities undoubtedly teach important lessons: teamwork, creativity, compassion, drive. But it’s our job as parents to educate the whole child. So be your child’s number one cheerleader. Be their best coach. Never lose sight of what is important, and always lend an ear to your child’s needs. Our goal as parents is to raise caring, responsible children. How exactly our kids get there – and the extracurriculars they participate in along the way – is trivial.

About the author 

Kristen Havey has been a special education teacher for the past decade and her daughter’s biggest fan for just as long. Kristen runs mountains, trails, and roads in her spare time. She also loves hiking and the ocean. She is a master of multitasking and always hungry for her next adventure.

My daughter used to be involved in quite a lot of extracurricular activities. At one time, she was doing dance, gymnastics, running, and playing tee-ball – and it seemed like all her school-age peers were doing the same. Extracurriculars do provide a ton of benefits for children, so it’s no wonder that many parents want to make sure their kids get involved. But too much is, well, too much.

All children have different strengths, varying levels of comfort and anxiety, and it’s important to listen to them when deciding what’s right for them. When my daughter was busy with all of those activities, she was exhausted and often complained of not wanting to even attend her extracurriculars. We couldn’t even determine which activities she actually enjoyed because she seemingly hated all of them. Really, she was just overwhelmed.

I soon realized that she just didn’t have much downtime and that I had been undervaluing the importance of unstructured time for her. It turned out that she only disliked all of those extracurriculars because what she really wanted was time to read with me, or play dolls in her room, or just relax at home.

All families need to navigate this in a way that’s best for them, but our solution was that she should limit herself to one exercise-based activity per season and, if she wanted to, she could also choose a hands-on activity, like pottery class. But that would be our limit. You have to figure out what’s best for your own child, but the following are some tips that I’ve found beneficial when navigating extracurriculars with own daughter. Finding some sort of balance is key, and here is what works for us:

Start the conversation

Talk to your children. What do they want to play or attend? What do they know about that activity? Why do they want to be involved? Show them videos of sports or activities that they might not be familiar with. Take them to watch a soccer game or try out a pottery class. I personally found that my daughter’s dad and I were suggesting a lot of activities that we had experience with. But my daughter had ideas of her own, and by listening to her, she opened up our eyes to opportunities that we hadn’t even considered.

Buddy up!

Many children are anxious about trying a new activity with a group of kids that they’re unfamiliar with. So if they’re able to check out a new activity with a friend, it can make them feel that much more confident. One familiar face can be a game changer when it comes to taking risks or being comfortable asking questions. I found that my daughter felt a lot more comfortable and a lot less in the spotlight when she signed up for basketball with a friend. She also always had a partner for court drills – no pressure there!

Check in

Ask your children how things are going. What specifically do they like about their activity? What things aren’t going well and why? Frequent check-ins will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your kids are in activities that they want to be in, not activities where they just go through the motions in order to please. How might you know if the activity isn’t working out? You might notice that your child seems distracted during their activity. You might also observe – or your child might tell you – that they are having a lot of trouble keeping up. Often times, kids will even just come out and tell you that they’re not enjoying themselves anymore. But it’s not the end of the world! From lacrosse to coding, there are so many other fun options out there! Observe your child’s strengths. Start a conversation about new desires, then choose something new to try as a team.

Read your child

Have they been sleeping well? Is their homework being completed on time? Check in with teachers. How is your son or daughter doing? There is often a fine line between involved and exhausted. Where does your child fall on this spectrum? If your child seems to be doing too much, you may need to limit or adjust the number of activities that they’re involved with. As a parent, I am always on the run! I definitely need to remind myself that my child is only nine and that her needs and limits are much different than mine.

Lead by example

What are you passionate about? What are you doing to exercise these passions? It’s easier to encourage your children to be involved if they can look to you as an example of someone who is pursuing their own passions. And is there a passion that you and your child share? Maybe you can join a book club together or train for your first race as a team.  My daughter and I run together, and it’s something extremely special that we share.

Find balance

Spoiler alert – this is not a competition! You are not more or less amazing because of the number of activities that your child is involved in. They will not be more or less successful as adults based on the activities they choose at age eight. Sports and other extracurricular activities undoubtedly teach important lessons: teamwork, creativity, compassion, drive. But it’s our job as parents to educate the whole child. So be your child’s number one cheerleader. Be their best coach. Never lose sight of what is important, and always lend an ear to your child’s needs. Our goal as parents is to raise caring, responsible children. How exactly our kids get there – and the extracurriculars they participate in along the way – is trivial.

About the author 

Kristen Havey has been a special education teacher for the past decade and her daughter’s biggest fan for just as long. Kristen runs mountains, trails, and roads in her spare time. She also loves hiking and the ocean. She is a master of multitasking and always hungry for her next adventure.

Does your kid refuse any food that veers off their optimal color pallet? Fill up by just looking at broccoli while mysteriously leaving plenty of room for dessert? (We all need to admit there truly is another compartment when it comes to ice cream.) Do they seem to always get more food on themselves than in their mouth? Refuse to eat if any of the food is touching? Twirl their food into their hair? We’ve heard it all.

We’ve consulted with some Ovia Moms and reflected on our own childhoods. Here are some tried and true mom mealtime hacks for your inspiration (or entertainment).

Play restaurant

Many of us haven’t been going to restaurants much this year, so Ovia moms are bringing the restaurant into their own kitchens. Depending on the number of little ones you have at home and their ages, there are a whole bunch of roles that need to be filled at the “restaurant:” host, server, patron, dishwasher, the list goes on. “Restaurant” can even be a full day affair (those menus don’t write themselves kids)! Assign your little ones parts, maybe even multiple parts for those smaller families (or overachievers); and you’re open for business!

And, as every restaurant-goer knows, there is always one quiet lady sitting in the corner who does not appreciate being bothered. An Ovia mom was recently overheard reminding the waitstaff at her “restaurant” that the quiet lady in the corner should not be consulted on optimal dishwashing technique.

Cover your tracks

Many kids have a special talent for sensing and rejecting the most nutritious foods (we see those picked over greens left on your plate). Mom’s favorite hack? Wrap it up or put it on a stick. Something about those veggies being invisible or in a more fun format really does make them more delicious.

Dinner dancing

Ovia moms report that turning on some music can do wonders to help their little ones get those before-dinner zoomies out. When your infant, toddler, or adult partner is feeling a bit moody, nothing changes the mood more successfully than some happy music. This hack can be used any time. An Ovia Mom recently reported using the dance and music routine to combat her baby’s fear of the blender.

For warmer months and tired moms

When you’re just not feeling like making a complicated meal, take a blanket outside and have yourself a family picnic. There are so many reasons Ovia moms love this hack. Messy hands are no match for grass. And (perhaps most importantly), an extravagant meal would be very strange to bring to a picnic. PB&Js for everyone, limited kitchen time for Mom!

Little helpers

Getting your kiddos in on the cooking can be more trouble than it’s worth — one Ovia mom suspects this is the reason you’ve never once seen an Instagram Live of a family meal. But some foods are easier (and more time-consuming) for little hands. Have your older kids help shuck corn or break off asparagus ends. Not your thing? Ok, onto the next…

Themes

We’ve seen more than a few eyes roll at the idea of themed dinners, but themes can get your kids excited to dress up, decorate the table, even create drawings based on the theme — all of which offer you some extra time to place that order or, if you’re feeling inspired by the theme yourself, cook up something delicious.

One Ovia family throws a regular Jammies & Jewels themed dinner. Cozy, fabulous, and already dressed for bed (admittedly only so long as the mess is minimal). Mom brilliance at its finest (and most efficient).

Need some post dinner inspiration? We love a good pillow fort, but we’re noticing that a lot of forts these days are missing a main character: a sleeping mama bear who can’t be woken up. We know just the right person for the part.

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• 6 hilarious mom beauty hacks
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Your little mover may not be ready to memorize choreography, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start grooving at home. Dancing is a great way for toddlers to express themselves, as well as to engage in physical activity. Here are some fun dancing games to get those little bodies in motion.

• The Hokey Pokey: This classic song and dance is a big hit for young toddlers. Not only is it easy to follow, but it’s also a great learning tool that teaches about parts of the body as well as opposite sides. When they’s dancing, Baby will also work on their motor skills as they balances putting that left foot in and out, then shaking it all about! They might need a little help from you to do some of the more complicated moves – like standing on one foot – but it’s a fun, silly way to build those physical skills.
• Freeze: A catchy song makes following the directions of this dance feel like a game for your toddler. Not only is this a great dance for encouraging Baby to follow directions (you call out when to stop and start), but it will also teach them to move in new ways, to have fun with music, and to control the way their body moves.
• If You’re Happy and You Know It: Hooray for this classic dancing game that incorporates fun dance moves with teaching about body parts, and encouraging language. Your toddler will have a ball clapping their hands, stomping those little feet, and trying to shout, “hooray!” as they follows your lead. This action song will also help Baby concentrate on sequencing.
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: You know this one: eyes and ears and mouth and nose… with these lyrics, you’re teaching Baby several body parts while they wriggles around to the beat. Join them in the dance, and demonstrate by pointing out the body parts you’re singing about as you go. For an enhanced dancing performance? Bring out one of their favorite stuffed animals and ask them to point to where its head, shoulders, etc. are located.

The benefits of dance are vast, and getting your toddler moving early will help them grow in many ways. Following your lead will help them develop socially, and listening to the sequences will build their cognitive skills. As they focuses on the movement, they will continue to develop coordination and balance. Now grab your partner and do-si-do!

Still, living in a city can have its drawbacks. Unlike neighborhoods with quiet cul-de-sacs, cities are densely populated, and most streets are high-traffic areas. This can be a challenge for toddlers who want to get outdoors and learn to do fun stuff, like riding a bike. Even storing a bike in a city apartment is no easy task.

While city life may not offer quiet dirt roads for Baby to pedal down, here are a few locations where they may find some luck in the city.

• Schools: Kids need a safe place to play, and urban schools have done their homework in designating appropriate areas for fun. Try to pick a time before it gets dark, but after the children have gone for the day, to help avoid cars coming and going. The paved schoolyard area can be a great place to practice, and is likely to be fenced in, too.
• Parks: From joggers to dog walkers, and even other cyclists, any urban-dweller knows city parks can get pretty congested. A little research can help you find times when the parks are a bit less populated, and may help you find an area off the path for Baby to practice their cycling skills in. Before too long, they’ll be able to keep up with the grownup riders.
• Driveway: If you’re lucky enough to have a private driveway, there’s no harm in using that for those early lessons. Block off the entrance with cones to make sure no drivers will be turning around, let anyone who might try to use the driveway know what’s going on, and get going up and down the pavement. As Baby gets their bearings, they won’t need much room to ride, so don’t worry if your driveway isn’t very big.
• Neighboring communities: Do Grandma and Grandpa live out in the ‘burbs? Pack up that trike and bring it with you on your next visit! Even if you don’t head there regularly, it will still give Baby a chance to ride, and something different to look forward to each time you go.
• Lessons: In areas where finding space to learn to ride can be tricky, sometimes it’s possible to find lessons for budding bicyclists. Run a quick search for your location to see if anything similar is available. Not only will Baby be able to learn from lessons like these, but they may pick up some riding buddies, too!

Riding a trike – or, one day, a big-kid bike – doesn’t have to be an adventure city kids miss out on – it just may take a little extra effort.

Shifrah CombithsFreelance writer, editor, and blogger

Though many parents want to cook with their children, cooking with kids can all too often turn out like an expectation vs. reality meme. But teaching kids how to cook and the valuable time spent together that it entails isn’t something we should give up on easily. Here are some benefits of making it work and how to make the endeavor not only manageable but enjoyable.  

The joys of cooking with children

Cooking with our children is, at the most basic level, time spent one-on-one (or one-on-two, or whatever the case may be) together. Undistracted, focused time doing something together. This kind of quality time surely strengthens the parent-child bond.  

The fact that this bond is created around cooking isn’t incidental. Much like the love of reading forged at an early age through a child reading bedtime stories on her parents’ laps, associating positive feelings of togetherness and love with the kitchen and cooking can instill a life-long love of cooking. This, in turn, confers the lasting health benefits of home cooking meals, a habit which can span generations.  

Even short-term, cooking together can impact kids’ food choices. Often, when children are involved in food preparation, they are much more likely to branch out and eat things they wouldn’t touch if they were merely placed in front of them.

Cooking together also offers learning opportunities such as reading and following directions, practicing math and accuracy, learning to clean as you go, and cooking techniques.

Preparing to cook with children

A pleasant parent-child cooking session begins before the child is actually helping. Try to choose a kid-friendly, age-appropriate recipe, one that has a few simple steps and easy techniques. If you have more than one child, consider cooking with one child at a time to avoid the children fighting over whose turn it is to do what.

Next, get all the ingredients out so you don’t have to do it while cooking is going on. You can involve your helper in this step. The key is to avoid searching for ingredients while there’s a child near a hot stove or hanging out with a bowl of flour and spoon that’s way too tempting not to play with.

Finally, do prep work that isn’t appropriate for your child to help with, like grating lemon zest with a micro-plane grater or mincing ginger. Put these prepped ingredients in a small bowl in a quasi mise-en-place setup so that your child can be involved start-to-finish as you’re assembling your dish.  

Keeping cooking time fun for everyone

Having a good amount of the prep work done ahead of time cuts down on cooking-time stress and also keeps the shared cooking time from dragging out past the point of pleasantness. In addition, you and your child will be able to focus on the tasks that are fun and safe for kids, such as pouring, stirring, kneading, and pushing the buttons on the mixer or food processor.

Another key ingredient to a successful kid cooking session is consciously maintaining a good attitude. It’s a safe bet that not everything will go perfectly, but letting go of the things that really don’t matter and choosing to laugh over the spills and linger over the dish-washing bubbles makes for happy memories for all.

Forethought and even just a little bit of deliberate preparation can turn cooking with kids from a nice thought into an activity that you’ll be glad to repeat regularly.

About the author:
Shifrah lives in Tallahassee, FL with her husband, four children, two cats, and dog. In the midst of mothering and writing, she enjoys reading, lifestyle photography, sewing, going to the beach, and documenting it all in pocket scrapbooks. She drinks her coffee black. 

• Create a pillow fort or another sort of creative play space – maybe a hideout, a campsite, a spaceship, or a boat – from blankets and pillows, boxes and bins. Just let Baby follow their imagination and see where things lead! When you move into your fort, don’t forget to bring along all the important stuff, like a book and flashlight, some stuffed friends, and any special gear you might need – like a paper towel roll that could serve as a spyglass/telescope/alien finder. Maybe even have your little one pack a special bag of toys for the adventure. Even if the play space ends up a little messy and, oh, in the middle of your living room all day, it will pay off with tons of fun.
• Bake or cook a dish or meal together. Choose a kid-friendly recipe that your little one can help you measure and mix, or even shape and roll. Whether it’s a something that you’ll eat for dinner later or a special occasion cookie, let them really get involved, even if you don’t usually have them get involved in meal prep. Even if there’s a little more mess, a little more sugar, or if it takes longer than it would if you didn’t have Baby acting like your little kitchen helper, it’s a great way to pass the time, build good associations with cooking, and start to practice some basic skills.
• Make snack time special with an indoor picnic. You could snack on something appropriately themed for the cold weather – like hot cocoa or marshmallows with pretzel sticks that have been transformed into snowmen – or even your usual snack time goods. If you lay out a blanket and invite some stuffed animal friends to join you, it will be that much more exciting.
• Craft time! If your usual arts and crafts time involves something simple like crayons and craft dough, this could be the day to take on a more involved project. Break out the extra special craft accessories (like paints, stickers, and pipe cleaners) – or maybe even just raid your paper recycling (to find egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, or cereal boxes), your pantry (to find dried pasta), or your medicine cabinet (to find cotton balls) for supplies – and get crafting! You could pick a project in advance – maybe something with cotton balls inspired by the snowy weather – or be inspired by what you find, like deciding to construct and color some recycled cardboard robots or paint and string some dried pasta necklaces. Prep for a mess – you might want to put down a tarp, a trash bag, or throw a painter’s smock or old t-shirt over your little one – and then let Baby have at it!
• Read snowy weather books or other seasonal stories and talk about them together.
• Speaking of story time, you can also use puppets, stuffed animals, or other toy friends to make up and act out a silly story – maybe have a puppet show or stuffed animal parade. And don’t forget to do silly voices! Baby is sure to be delighted and may even get involved with some silly voices of their own.
• “Hide and Seek” – always entertaining, and no supplies necessary. Depending on how old your little one is, this might involve just a single room and some not-so-secret “hiding,” but it will be fun, regardless.
• Play other games that don’t call for any extra supplies. Games like “Red Light, Green Light,” “Mother, May I?” and “Simon Says” are classics for a reason and get your little one moving without being too wild for inside the house.
• A treasure hunt! Take a favorite stuffed animal or other toy and hide it somewhere in the room. Again, this game will be shaped by just how old Baby is – you might be able to ask them to cover their eyes while counting to ten as you hide the toy, or you might simply count to ten while you hide it and they keeps their eyes open. Then have Baby run and search for the toy. The goal here is play, not tricking them, so you can also describe where you’ve hidden the toy if they gets stumped.
• In a similar vein, you can play a more tactile version of the game “I Spy” where you describe what and where a toy or object is, and then have them find the object in the room.
• If you know other little ones and their caregivers who might also be looking for ways to pass the time indoors on a blustery day, give them a call and see if you can have a playdate. Playmates always make the day go by that much more quickly because they come with built-in fun. And if that’s not possible, you can always spend some time video chatting with friends or family members – maybe Baby can even show off their pillow fort or pasta necklace!
• Have a dance party! Put on some tunes and cut loose. Sometimes this is extra fun if you’re grooving to songs that have a special dance, like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” You can play a favorite set of songs, a favorite album, or put on something brand new and learn a new dance – some ballet to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, perhaps? You can even step it up a notch by pausing the music to play “Freeze Dance!”
• Put together a seasonal sensory bin for Baby to explore, filled with “winter wonderland” items – like cotton balls, pinecones, mittens, and any other (safe!) objects that remind you of the chillier time of year.
• Take out all the toys! (Well… within reason.) If you usually try to keep your little one’s play area relatively tidy, maybe this is a day where you can let Baby take out all their dolls, stuffed animals, and action figures for one great big party. Or gather all their toy instruments together so that they can perform as a one-child orchestra. Or let your little engineer break out all their blocks – Legos and wooden and foam, oh my! – to make one giant block city. This sort of excess usually makes for really memorable and super fun play.
• If all else fails, spring for some movie time. While Baby shouldn’t be getting tons of screen time – and when they does, you’ll want to make sure that you engage with them – on a day like this, showing a movie isn’t so bad, especially if you make it special. Snuggle up under some blankets or hunker down in that pillow fort, grab a snack, and watch a classic or new flick together.

Cold weather doesn’t need to slow you or Baby down, but it can be a great time for a change of pace as you try out some activities you might not do every day!

Language development

Singing together is a great way for parents to encourage toddlers’ growing language skills during these years when they’re old enough that they understand most of what is said to them, but aren’t always strong enough in their own communication to talk back. Singing together is especially good during this time because, for all it teaches, it’s more of a fun activity than a learning experience, and be a great way to work on vocal skills without any pressure. It’s also extremely effective. According to research conducted by Daniel Schön and colleagues, the benefits of singing to kids even outweighs the benefits of plain speech when it comes to language development.

Singing is even used as a speech therapy tool for broken fluency or stuttering – both of which are common during the toddler years. The University of Iowa’s Stuttering Research Lab found out that the smoother voice people use when singing helps to mitigate stuttering. The prolonged words uttered when singing helps, too.  

Calming effect

One chemical that is released by the body during singing is oxytocin. Oxytocin is often familiar to new parents as the hormone that causes contractions and lactation, but it’s also responsible for producing an anti-stress effect. It can also reduce blood pressure, foster growth, and aid in natural healing.

Strengthening the parent-child bond

Probably the most important benefit of singing together is the fact that singing does have a positive impact on both your current and future relationship with your child.  The bonding that happens through singing will make your child feel that you’re giving him or her your full attention, and this will be one of the strongest frameworks for an enduring relationship.

You don’t have to be a professional musician to make this activity count. It’s not about striving to sing perfectly. It’s about enjoying a bonding moment with Baby. And right now, according to Baby, you’re the best singer around.

Source of happiness

It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that! Singing triggers the brain to release those feel-good hormones called endorphins that make both you and Baby happy. In fact, a study revealed that singing releases more endorphins than just listening to a song!

Happy singing!

Sources

• R.I. Dunbar, K. Kaskatis, I. MacDonald, V. Barra. “Performance of music elevates pain threshold and positive affect: implications for the evolutionary function of music.” Evolutionary Psychology. 10(4): 668-702. October 2012. Retrieved July 5 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23089077.
• Daniele Schon, et. al. “Songs as an aid for language acquisition.” Cognition. 106(2): 975-983. February 2008. Retrieved July 5 2017. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027707000868?via%3Dihub.
• “Stuttering Research Lab: FAQs.” Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa. The University of Iowa. Retrieved July 5 2017. https://clas.uiowa.edu/comsci/research/stuttering-research-lab/faqs. 

Just because it’s raining outside doesn’t mean your home need to be taken by storm. Here are some fun indoor activities to help shake those rainy day blues.

• Make it a movie day: Sure, excess amounts of screentime aren’t recommended on a regular basis, but once in a while when the weather is a wash, a movie can be a fun, cozy way to spend a little time. Cue up some classics and snuggle up with lots of snacks – this is a great time to introduce Baby to some of your old favorites, before they is too used to more advanced special effects. And if it’s a movie that keeps Baby’s interest, they won’t even be tempted to get up and make a mess until after the credits roll.
• Build a fort: Grab some old sheets and chairs to build your own tent right in your living room. Pack it full of flashlights, snacks, and lots of other camping goodies to pretend you’re braving the elements. The best part? You won’t need any bug spray!
• Create some art: Painting can be pretty messy, so stock up on coloring books with markers that only write on the special pages within the book. Baby will love being able to color the pictures, and you’ll love your furniture being spared redecoration.
• Read books: There’s nothing tidier, or better for your toddler’s brain development, than reading lots of books together. Let them curl up on your lap and read some of their favorite stories. (Disclaimer: It’s OK if it’s the same book on repeat.)
• Make a collage: With toddler-friendly scissors, let Baby help you go on a photo hunt through old magazines to make a collage. You can make multiple collages with themes like the alphabet, animals, or Baby’s choice. If Baby hasn’t tried this kind of art project before, it might keep them occupied even after they might be ready to take a break from their usual projects.
• Put together a sensory bin: Load up a plastic container full of fun items to pique Baby’s interest. A sensory bin is a general term to describe a collection of substances or activities that engage as many of a toddler’s senses as possible at once. Popular items include pom-poms, plastic animals, and foam letters. Baby can dig for “treasure” as they explores the different feelings of the objects in the bin. You can also help build their vocabulary by talking to them about what they finds.
• Dance the day away: Put on some tunes and get shaking. Being cooped up inside can make for a cranky toddler, as they has lots of energy to burn. Get those wiggles out by dancing away to their favorite songs with them. Maybe you two can even make up a reverse-rain dance to get that sun shining again soon!

Rainy days can be full of just as many adventures as beautiful outdoor days, as long as you and Baby want them to be!

The benefits of outdoor play are immeasurable. There’s nothing like getting out into the fresh air, and being exposed to experiences you won’t find indoors. For toddlers, getting outdoors is also a great way to to get in some physical activity, which is important for using up some of that boundless energy, and for keeping healthy.

However, if Baby is like many toddlers, they may prefer to stay indoors to play. After all, they knows what to expect at home, and has more control over their environment than they would outside. They also knows going outdoors means leaving behind their favorite toys and electronics, which can add to the battle.

Here are some tips for getting turning your resistant toddler into a nature lover in just a few easy steps!

• Plan something fun: To start, plan a fun outdoor adventure for Baby so they will get excited about being outdoors. This could mean a picnic in the park, a trip to the beach, or something else you feel would appeal to their interests. Getting them outside is the first step to enjoying nature, though it may take some convincing.
• Structure it as play: Toddlers often want to stay home because they don’t want to stop playing, so remind Baby that playtime will continue – just in a different location. At the park, you can start by doing something they enjoys at home, like playing with a ball or coloring with chalk instead of crayons.
• Consider comfort: When heading outdoors, make sure you’re ready for the environment. If Baby is too hot or too cold, they may be less likely to give the great outdoors a chance. Preparing for your adventure carefully, whether that means dressing in layers, or just wearing a comfy pair of shoes, can help head off some complaints before they start.
• Be a good role model: If you’re enjoying your time outdoors, Baby will be more likely to follow your lead. Be sure to show them what a good time you’re having, and to talk about what fun you’re next adventure will be, too. Your toddler will feed off your good energy.
• Make it part of your routine: As they becomes more comfortable outdoors, keep up with your outdoor fun by incorporating it into your regular routine. This could mean a morning walk each day, or an afternoon visit to the park each week. The more often you get outdoors, the more Baby will come to enjoy all that nature has in store.

There are a million ways for Baby to enjoy their time outside, and the first step to all of them is getting out the door with them!