It’s Lockdown number 3 (or is it 5?), and you’re at home with your toddler and needing to entertain and stimulate their growing brain and curiosity.

The following are a few ideas for pre-schoolers aged from 2 upwards. The great news is most of the items you may already have!

1. Wall tunnels

You’ll need:

- Tubes (inner paper towel, toilet paper cardboard etc)

- Masking tape (painter’s tape if you have it)

- Things that fit inside the tubes (hair ties, pom poms etc)

Now tape the tubes to the wall or window and demonstrate putting the things inside.

This helps with fine motor skills. You can also make it more complex as they get older by separating by colours or shapes etc.

2. DIY Tambourine and Maracas

You’ll need:

- Paper plates

- Tape

- Dry good (beans, rice etc)

- markers, glitter etc if you want to decorate the outside of the plates (all optional).

Now put dry goods on a plate and either fold in half or place another plate on top, and tape around all edges so nothing falls out.

The same concept can be done with a see through bottles or containers instead of paper plates.

3. Indoor scavenger hunt

You’ll need:

- Items you can hide

- A list with words or pictures, depending on age. This can be on a piece of paper, chalkboard or white board. There are loads of free printables online.

- Places to hide things!

You can use rhymes, letters of the alphabet, colours, shapes too. Now give your little ones the clues and let them search! If the weather is nice, take it outside too!