Blow some bubbles, play in the sink or chose one of the other ten terrific ideas for keeping toddlers and preschoolers busy.

Preschoolers are curious little people who love to explore. Keeping them busy during the day can be a challenge. Here are some ideas that are not only down right fun but educational as well.

Blow Bubbles

Keep bubbles solution on hand as a delightful solution to little people’s boredom. Use a variety of objects as bubble wants – berry baskets, pipe cleaners bent in fun shapes or cookie cutters. Make your own bubble solution to save money.

Let Them PaintGive your preschooler a paint brush and a bucket of water and let her “paint” the porch or sidewalk. They can also paint in the bathtub.

Make a NecklaceLet them string large beads or buttons onto yarn. Tape the end to make it easy to thread. Plastic cording used in camp crafts is perfect for stringing beads. Make sure they are old enough not to put the beads in their mouth.

Scissor Fun

Preschoolers love to cut and paste. Help them cut or precut magazine pictures and let them use a glue stick to glue them into a homemade notebook. Purchase plastic safety scissors designed just for young children to avoid injury.

Make a Person

Trace your child onto a large sheet of butcher paper or newsprint and let him color and draw his clothes, hair and features. Glue on yarn hair, fabric for the clothes or even real shoelaces in the shoes.

Fingerpaint

Let them finger paint with shaving cream on the kitchen table. Another idea that works great in the bathtub and cleans the tile too.

Read a Book

Read to your little one. Children love being read too. Make sure you have baskets of books at their level to enjoy so they can “read” too.

Mess Free PaintingPurchase paint with water books for mess free painting. Just a paintbrush and water and they will spend hours making their own masterpieces. You can find these in any department store.

Milk Jugs & Clothespins

Give them a clean, empty gallon milk jug and some clothespins. Show them how to try and drop them into the top of the milk jug. They will spend hours doing this. Simple and old fashion often works the best.

Water Play

Let them play with water. Fill the dishpan with warm water and let them “wash” lids, toy dished or spoons. Place a rug under the chair at the sink for easy clean up of any leaks or drips.

You can also check out Crafts with toddlers: Easy to Do Craft Ideas for Toddlers