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If you’re on Facebook, a friend of mine started a group called Fun Resources During Corona (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3680105392030644/?ref=share). Everyone with small kids that I’ve invited to it has found it really helpful.
Search for water beads on amazon
This. And sensory bins where you can switch out things like water beads or kinetic sand
My kids love stuff that isn’t for kids. Like a cardboard box or a mixing bowl full of corn kernels. Set up a bunch of small (non breakable) bowls and containers. Fill about half of them with things like dry beans, corn kernels, and dry pasta. Provide spoons, chopsticks and other utensils. Show them that they can pour and redistribute the containers how ever they want. Kids that age just like to physically manipulate things. Second the kinetic sand idea. Give them kinetic sand with random items (especially, again, non-kid things) to “hide” in the sand.
We do indoor water play in the bathtub, naked or swimsuit. I just fill random containers with warm water. My 4yo would play for like an hour. We also do an indoor car wash—I put towels on the table, fill small container with soaped water, one with clean, and get out all the toy cars we have. They scrub them with old bottle brushes and sponges then line them up when done.
Nothing is holding their attention! Also we’ve done sidewalk chalk and bubbles and we have a sandbox.
Also magna tiles. Mine are also really into puzzles. We had them before the pandemic though- might have to wait for them now.
1000% magnatiles. And get a ton - they’re pricey, but so worth it to get hours worth of independent play!
Coming back to add- I assume you already have basic Legos? Those are a perennial fav of mine. The duplos
Gears Gears Gears by Learning Resources are a new hit with my 5/3 year olds.
I'd also add to this to rotate the visibility of the toys. I'll change off putting the legos, magnatiles, puzzles, playdoh in the closet to increase the novelty when I bring it out again. Works like a charm.
Mine are into these
I remember those!!!
Turn sandbox into water table.
Kinetic Sand. Quiet. I have a 3+ and 2+ year old - I make them share and the build worlds (and argue to negotiate sharing). But it is a slow-play and if you play an album they get ‘lost’ for :30 to an hour.
https://www.target.com/p/kinetic-sand-folding-sandbox/-/A-52140559?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Toys%2BShopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Toys&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9021727&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&ds_rl=1246978&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImuOdkOr_6AIVQv_jBx18oA4hEAQYASABEgJNovD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
*less cleanup than play doh or water