Tired of playing pretend?

Totally get it.

Playing with toys can be tiring for adults. It's been a long time since we played pretend and often our kids want us to play in very specific ways. If you're desperate to stop having to play the baby sister in dolly's tea party - try one of these instead (pssst. save this list for later, it will come handy!)

Toy-Free Activities for Kids (That Adults Can Actually Enjoy)

1️⃣ Put some tunes on and start a dance party 💃
Introduce them to your guilty pleasures, pull some shapes or even do aerobics together.

2️⃣ Bake. Anything.
The internet is swimming in easy 3-ingredient recipes - perfect for getting kids involved in food prep and making something for their lunch box.

3️⃣ Make a fort
Grab sheets, blankets, clothes horses or whatever you’ve got lying around.

4️⃣ Housework (but make it fun)
Go slow, give them a spray bottle or tools they don’t usually get to touch, and pretend you really need their help.

5️⃣ Go for a walk and collect nature
Gather leaves, sticks and flowers to make a picture - or let them find and take photos of things using your phone.

6️⃣ Garden together
Pull weeds, plant herbs, or smother peanut butter and seeds on pine cones to make bird feeders.

7️⃣ Have a picnic
Prep food together, then sit on a mat indoors, in a fort, or outside. A simple change of scenery works magic.

8️⃣ Build an obstacle course
Use sofa cushions, chairs, hard-back books and mattresses to create a path across the house.

9️⃣ Get fixing
Use real tools to tighten screws or grab tape to repair damaged books.

🔟 Make a collage
Get out paper, old magazines, scissors and a glue stick (make sure you get involved too!)

Why are these activities a good idea?

👌Remember - the language learning comes from you joining in, using new vocabulary (related to the task) and engaging your child in turn taking interactions. You're the BEST person to support your child's language to develop, you just need to know the tricks. 

🤷🏼♀️What have I forgotten?? Comment your fave go-to activity to do with your child.

Watch the full reel here