6 Super Fun Activities for Quarantining with Your Tiny Tot

Just as we seem to be coming out of this long, two-year pandemic, something happens and suddenly we’re right back in the thick of it. Fortunately, this provides us with many different ways of coping with quarantine and self-isolation. If you’re still searching for ideas, or you’ve recently added a cuddly new addition to your family, here are six great ways to keep them (and yourself) busy and entertained when they're bored.

Sensory Bin

If you’re not already using one, sensory bins are a great way to grow your child’s sense of wonder and imagination, while also helping to develop their fine cognitive and motor skills. Also, they’re just good, clean fun.

Setting up a simple sensory bin is easy! All you need is:

• A large plastic bin or tray
• A filler. Dried beans, pasta or rice work well here.
• A number of different sensory objects. Think: a hard toy, a soft toy, something rubbery, something doughy, spoons and scoops—have fun with it! 

Then, simply place all these objects in your bin and let your child go to town! 

Arts and Crafts

Of course, there are plenty of fun arts and crafts activities you can do with your little one and many of the things you’d need you likely already have in your home.

You can make your own playdough, homemade finger-paints, tie-dye baby wipes and so much more. Browse around a Pinterest board and find some fun activities you and your little one can get creative with! 

Tour a Museum, Virtually

After arts and crafts, you might notice your baby is a budding Rembrandt. And, let’s be honest, it’s never too early to get your baby on track to becoming an art or natural history aficionado.

Unfortunately, with the way travel is, and with timed ticketing, getting to a museum can be a little more difficult than it used to be. Luckily, since the start of the pandemic, a number of world-class museums now offer virtual tours. Right now, the British Museum, The National Museum of Natural History, The Met, and the Louvre—among a number of others—are all offering a virtual gallery or tour.

Have fun with it! Put on something nice, get your little one a snazzy outfit and go on a short, virtual museum trip. And just think, you won’t have to spend all day on your feet! 

Water Play

Splash time doesn’t always have to mean bath time. Doing water play with your baby is a fun sensory-focused activity that’s easy to set up and (relatively) easy to clean. While we recommend setting this activity up outside, it might be a little more difficult when the weather is still cold. For now, somewhere you don’t mind, bringing the mop through should suffice.

Depending on how little your baby is will depend on what type of water play they’ll most benefit from. If they’re twelve months or under, fill their high chair tray with water, have them squeeze sponges and show them the simple majesty of bubble blowing! If they’re older, start introducing the concepts of sinking and floating with a variety of objects. When it gets warmer, get that sprinkler set up for them to run through. Whatever floats their boat!

Get Some Fresh Air

Even if you’re isolated, that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside and get some fresh air. For one, you could take a nice relaxing walk with baby around your neighborhood. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, take a short hike with your little one. Just remember, if you’re headed out to make sure they’re prepared for the elements and bundled up just as much, if not more, as you are.

Keep in (Socially-distant) Touch

If there’s one good thing that has come out of the last two years, we’ve all gotten a little more tech-savvy. Most, of us have become Zoom or Google Hangout masters and can effortlessly set up a video chat with dozens of family members and friends with a click of the cursor.

If you and baby are stuck back in your house or apartment and feeling out-of-touch, don’t be! Call up aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, other mommies and daddies and have a virtual play date! Your little one is sure to enjoy seeing their friends, even if it’s behind a screen for now.