Much as I love doing more structured activities with Monkey, to make cards, or pictures or baking, some of my favourite activities are a lot more free play based. Activities I can set up pretty simply and then leave him to it. Watching where his imagination takes me always cracks me up and it’s also great to literally watch him learning as he plays.
Since LM was born and with all of the illness we have struggled with this year, I have gotten a bit lazy with regards to setting up activities, mainly out of fear. Fear of the mess I have to clean up. Fear of how stressed I am going to get dealing with him and the baby at the same time. I have pulled myself together a little though and one day decided to get a job done that has needed to be done for ages, and involve Monkey in a bit of free play at the same time.
The Job? Throwing away the cloud dough from the last time we played with it and washing all the toys that have been sat in it all winter! So I filled a huge tub with soapy water, donned Monkey in his all over waterproof garb (he really doesn’t like being in wet clothes) and asked him to help me clean the toys.To start with he wasn’t hugely enthused and really wanted to play with the cloud dough – but I quickly got rid as I didn’t like to think of the germs that have been ruminating in there over the months since we last played with it! he didn’t want to wash up (in typical contrary toddler style) until I was doing it and then it was “I can do it, I can do it!” at which point I stepped back and left him to it.
Well he had a great time. He did a bit of cleaning of the actual toys, but for the most part he was playing and learning. He especially enjoyed rediscovering some of the toys that had been hidden away in there all these months!
He spent some time scooping water out using his spade..
Learning about the water pouring through the holes in the bottom of his stars…
Then because the tuff spot soon filled with water he did some splashing and then his Ajay too (from Postman Pat) was made to clean up the splashes.
I didn’t want to spoil his fun but I also didn’t particularly want a completely soaked conservatory, so as the sun had come out outside we moved out there where he could splash away to his heart’s content.
I decided he didn’t really need the Tuff Spot anymore as there was water everywhere (and because I was worried what all that jumping would do to the Tuff Spot) but he had even more fun outside, pouring water everywhere, and even down the slide.
I took so many photos of him as he was having so much fun, and to be honest LM was so content watching him the whole time that it was a really stress free playtime and such a happy few hours all round with minimal clean up afterwards too. Great fun play. Doing this kind of thing is one of the things I love most about being a SAHM and I need to be less afraid of what could go wrong and thing about how fun it could be instead.
Ahh he really is looking like he had fun!!
Argh don’t you love the toddler not wanting to do stuff!!!! Nothing like mama doing it to change them round though haha! X
Oh bless him, what a happy little face. These kind of simple things are often the most fun aren’t they? Both my girls love to play with water, even enjoying the most simple things like helping me wash up at the sink! xx
Oh that looks like so much fun – he has such a happy smiley face but who wouldn’t with all that splashing!
Looks like he had so much fun. x
That looks like amazing fun! I love it when they just explore for themselves #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
Lovely photos. Brilliant fun. I agree with you – I love giving them something like this and then letting them get stuck in and imagination run wild. #ToddlerApprovedTuesday. Over from http://www.cookwithtoddlers.com/community
Aw that gorgeous face says it all! Looks as though he’s having so much fun.
I really need to get a tuff spot, so versatile!
Thanks so much for linking to #toddlerapprovedtuesday x
Ah he looks like he’s having a great time! I’ve just washed out our water play area in the garden ready for the nicer weather!
Fabulous, what a great set of photos! He is having such a good time 🙂 #letkidsbekids
Wow looks like your son was having a blast! Both my kids – 19 months and 3 years old LOVE to play with water and I got to bribe them to get out of the bathtub after an hour. I can’t wait until it’s summer in this part of Canada. Thanks for sharing found via Lets Be Kids Linky
That grin! He looks like he is having SO much fun. Well done for conquering the worry that comes with messy play type activities. This looks perfect and it was a great idea to take it outside where he could really splash about. You can never have too many photos !! Ray xx @ lukeosaurusandme.blogspot.co.uk #toddlerapprovedtuesday
I’ve literally just set up some water and tubs in a large bowl for my little girl for when she’s finished her nap but might move it to the tuff tray now. Love water play seems to engage them for so long which is always a bonus and little to clean up like you said 🙂 #LetKidsBeKids
such lovely pics. My son loves bathing his soft toys before we put them into the washer 🙂
#playathometuesdays
I love the picture of him really laughing! washing up toys is great fun, my girls love washing up and cleaning up after an activity with a bowl of soapy water is great they think!! I think it will soon be time to wash the dolls clothes so watch out for that post!!
Thanks lovely it is great fun isn’t it? We definitely will be doing some more of this and I look orward to seeing your post 🙂 xx
Lovely fun simple free play. Looks like Monkey had a fab time, engrossed in exploring the water. I think the thought of the clean up mission is often a lot worse than it actually is.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
You’re totally right and in this case there was barely any clean up which was even better 🙂 xx
I know what you mean about fearing the clean-up part! Free play is actually a lot of fun for kids, especially when you’re too tied up to organize an activity. We do that often. Looks like he did end up having a lot of fun – great idea to use a protective apron.
I love water play activities where the children are helping to clean the toys – genius idea! Good plan on moving outside too!! It looks like he had lots of fun 🙂 Thanks for linking up with #playathometuesdays
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This looks great fun! I tried to comment last week but my phone was having non of it!
#ToddlerApprovedTuesday
I love the idea of cleaning the toys at the same time – I’ll have to try this one! Thanks for sharing on #ToddlerFunFriday