It’s always a good idea to have several activities that will keep your toddler busy and the longer, the better! Right? Their attention spans are so short so anytime we can find something that they will play with for longer than 15 minutes is great.
But what if you had something that would keep them busy for HOURS?!? Using only 1 household item that you probably already have, you can keep your toddler busy and happy.
Get a spray bottle and fill it with water! That’s it… now let their imagination run wild! Obviously, this is better for outside and one of our goals for the year is more outside time. This was the perfect activity.
Here are some ways they can use the spray bottle:
“Paint” the fence
Now you may need to encourage your toddler in ways to play with his new water bottle. They may need reassurance that it is “okay” to spray the fence or whatever else they are allowed to spray. A wooden fence makes the perfect canvas to spray “paint” and watch the fence darken with the water.
Water flowers or plants
Another way my girl loved using the spray bottle was to water the flowers and the plants.
Wash toy animals or trucks
She loved “washing” her scooter and animals.
Write with sidewalk chalk and spray colors to darken
We had already drawn on the sidewalk the day before, so she loved seeing the colors change when she sprayed it with water.
Once they get the hang of it, the options are endless! And it is a great fine motor activity for building muscles in their little hands.
I would make sure to designate one spray bottle in a specific color and write your little one’s name on it. You want to be sure that they know they are ONLY allowed to use this specific bottle. My girl started to grab the Windex bottle and I had to explain this is the only bottle she can spray with! 🙂
And make sure it is large enough that you don’t have to keep filling it every few minutes. This one is similar to the one we have.
I hope this simple idea will bring you and your toddler lots of fun!
Need more ideas: