Say bye-bye to bedtime struggles when you let these outdoor toddler activities do the heavy lifting

The first clue that you’re getting close to that most coveted of all parenting coups, the Total Toddler Bedtime Knockout, is the uncontrollable laughter. It comes right after sweaty head territory but before hilarity turns into hysteria. And, if you’ve worn out your toddler from sunup to sundown, you can bypass the hysterical stage of the evening altogether and sail smoothly into bedtime. And when it really comes down to it, isn’t an easy bedtime with a tuckered-out tot every parent’s dream? 

1. Plan a scavenger hunt. Whether you pull a pre-organized list off the internet or create your own, enjoy watching your toddler expend some serious energy while hunting for one item after another.

Our favorite way to wear them out is simple: Number ten squares of paper and take a close-up photo of the area where it’s hidden. These should be recognizable but make them think—sticking out from under doormats with bright patterns, underneath dog bowls, or in dad’s shoe are all good spots. Then let your kid flip through one image at a time on your photo roll as they collects each of the squares of paper. Once they’re all found, they can be traded for a prize (or not).  This works especially well for kids who are non-readers because the photos are easy clues (and what toddler doesn’t know how to work an iPhone)?

2. Play hopscotch. Between drawing the board with chalk on your driveway, numbering the squares, finding the perfect rock and then hopping through a few rounds, this is a solid bet. Try it in the morning when the heat hasn’t set in. They’ll play for longer and burn more energy.

3. Host a bubble dance party. What could be easier than turning on the bubble machine paired with kid-friendly tunes and letting the kids dance, dance, dance the day away. Let them shake their thing or add a freeze dance challenge if they need some extra laughs.

Related: Spotify Playlists for Babies & Toddlers Parents Will Actually Enjoy

4. Make homemade ice cream. I know. Sugar. Kids. Doesn’t seem like the best way to tire them out, right? But with nothing but two Ziploc bags, heavy whipping cream, sugar (or fruit), ice, and rock salt—and the most important ingredient here: elbow grease—you can make it happen. Just place the ice cream ingredients into a smaller bag, then place that bag inside of a larger one that’s filled with ice and a handful of rock salt. Then shake, shake, shake to create their (and your) new favorite treat.

5. Make a mess with shaving cream. Whether you’re inside (stick to the bathroom in this case) or outside, shaving cream is an easy and inexpensive way to have sensory play. Let them paint on their legs, give themselves mustaches or even fill a baby pool with it to squish between their toes. It’s easy to wipe off and wash out in a bathtub.

6. Make bird feeders using peanut butter (or sun butter), pine cones and bird food. Tie a string to the bottom of the pine cone and hang it from a tree that’s easy to see from inside. For older kids, keep a log of every type of bird you see and make a chart of which ones visit most.

7. Play in a mud-kitchen. Even if you don’t have an official mud kitchen, you make make one on the fly. Fill a kiddie swimming pool with a few scoops of dirt, turn on the hose and make mud. Add a couple of construction trucks and you’re on the verge of hours of messy, happy play.

8. Let them build anything they want out of cardboard boxes. To amp up the fun, give them tissue paper, glue and other found objects to decorate.

9. Paint rocks. Turn them into ladybugs, the Earth, hearts, or load them up with abstract designs. Then send your kid(s) out into the yard to find the rocks a perfect home. Or go big by hiding them around the neighborhood. The extra walking should help tucker them out.

10. Play freeze tag. The person who is “it” tries to tag the others. Once you’ve been tagged, you have to stand (frozen in the position you were in when you were tagged) until another “untagged” person can tag you to free you.

11. Fill small, handheld water pistols with diluted non-toxic paint. Let them shoot their pistols at a canvas (or perhaps, a shower curtain) to create awesome abstract art.

12. Have a water balloon fight. Now that it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to get a serious pile of water balloons filled, adding this to your toddler outdoor activities list is easy. Fill ’em up and have fun tossing them at each other or just lobbing them into the yard. Even better? Cleaning up the pieces will tire them out just as much as throwing them did.

13. Freeze small objects (matchbox cars, doll shoes, marbles, keys, etc.) in bowls of ice. Let the bowl sit in a lukewarm bath to loosen the block of ice, then turn it out onto a cookie sheet. Encourage them to be ice archaeologists, chipping away with spoons and forks to reveal what’s frozen inside. This is especially fun to do in the afternoon when it’s too hot to run around but you still need some outdoor activities. A set of gloves will help keep hands from getting too cold.

14. Go on a bike ride. Break out that balance bike and put some miles on it between dinner and bath time. We guarantee an easy bedtime for your little cyclist.

Related: The Best Bath Toys, According to Amazon Parents

15. Wash your car or your dog or their outdoor ride-on toys. Toddlers love a good soap bucket, rag, and hose—not to mention a sense of accomplishment.

16. For the littlest artists, provide cotton balls, a bowl of water, and construction paper for lots of easy and mess-free entertainment. They’ll love dipping the cotton balls into the water, squeezing them out, and making designs. The trick here is to keep them from over-saturating the paper to the point of tearing—which is no fun for anyone.

17. Set up a tent in the back yard, build a “fire pit” and pretend to be on a campout.

18. Create an obstacle course and time them as they complete it. Simple obstacles work best, so look for a tree to race around and back, set up some outdoor pillow cushions to jump over, draw a start and finish line with chalk for tricycle or scooter racing and incorporate climbing and going down a slide in your back yard.

19. Have your little one stay in character when you play a quick game of animal charades. No prep necessary for this easy guessing game. Just pick your favorite animal and go for it. With each successful guess, trade places and start again. Ee-i-ee-i-o!

20. Have a superhero showdown. You might be ducking to avoid Batman’s (imaginary) gadgets and Spidey’s web all afternoon but the nonstop giggle-fest will be worth the effort.

21. Use windows as a creative space. Give your kids brushes and spray bottles, and watch them paint, clear, and paint again. Washing windows was never so much fun. Don’t forget your squeegee.

22. Catch lightning bugs. If you can. Watch them twinkle in a glass jar (remember to poke holes in the lid) filled with grass.

23. Climb, swing, and slide at a local playground. Nothing says “get that energy out” quite like a local playground. Plan to spend an hour at yours before heading home for bath, stories, and lights out.

Yes, CoComelon made the list… but so did Ms. Rachel!

While research indicates that infants and toddlers under 18 months shouldn’t have any screen time, for most parents, especially working parents, that isn’t a reality. Our advice? Ditch the parenting guilt and focus on quality when it comes to screen time. Our list of the best YouTube channels for toddlers highlights those that engage and entertain with fun and educational content (zero unboxing to be found). These channels challenge little minds and also encourage moving little bodies, so, when you do need to utilize a screen, here’s what your toddler should be watching.

The Snack Town All-Stars

Join in on the fun with Banana, Apple, Orange, and, Grape. These animated healthy snacks sing fun songs about eating good foods and there are even soothing lullabies for naptime. One of the most popular videos is Stay Healthy Shake, which encourages kids to get up and move. We love this for the times when you need a quick 15 minutes.

Blippi

With his orange glasses, suspenders, and bowtie, Blippi has taken the toddler world by storm. His educational content teaches young kids about everything from colors to numbers. Blippi’s whimsical and exaggerated mannerisms and the simple-to-follow lessons are brought to life with age-appropriate props and backgrounds. This not only appeals to toddlers but also keeps them engaged and entertained while they are learning.

PBS Kids

With live streams of many PBS kid shows like SUPER WHY, Daniel Tiger, and Rosie’s Rules, the PBS Kids YouTube channel offers educational and engaging content for toddlers. There are also full episodes of the new PBS show Work It Out Wombats, which focuses on computational thinking. The show focuses on three main characters who also happen to be wombat siblings navigating an apartment complex and solving problems along the way.

Sesame Street

This YouTube channel features episodes from the long-running, award-winning children’s show. The compilations and themed content around important holidays and events are not only educational but interactive. Toddlers will love seeing all their favorite Sesame Street characters from Elmo to Grover sing and dance. With over 23 million subscribers, the YouTube channel is as popular as the show many parents grew up with and are now eager to share with their own children. 

Related: Movies for Toddlers That Aren’t Too Scary (and Will Hold Their Attention)

Gabby & Friends 

After revealing a surprise, real-live girl Gabby grabs her stuffed cat and says a few magical words. She then becomes a tiny animated figure who goes on adventures in her amazing dollhouse. Kids can watch full episodes of the Netflix show, Gabby’s Dollhouse on the YouTube channel. They can also enjoy videos of simple crafts, songs, and educational content like learning the colors of the rainbow. Parents can enjoy some special bonding time with their toddlers during the crafting videos because young kids won’t be able to do these by themselves. 

Ms. Rachel Songs for Littles

With over two million subscribers, Ms. Rachel’s soothing and melodious voice provides toddlers with lessons on letters, sounds, and numbers. The preschool teacher was inspired to create her channel after her own son was diagnosed with a speech delay. With a special focus on language development, Miss Rachel focuses on providing kids with an interactive experience they can follow along with. Here puppet sidekicks Herbie and Georgie also grab kids’ attention.

Danny Go!

According to the website, this YouTube channel is geared toward kids from 2-7. With catchy and fun songs like The Dinosaur Dance and Fire and Ice Freeze Dance, Danny Go! encourages kids to get moving by showing them simple dance moves they can easily do. There are a cast of regular characters like Mindy Mango, Tiny Danny, and scientist Pap Pap who provide movement breaks and educational lessons against colorful and engaging backgrounds. 

Related: 40 of the Very Best Books for Toddlers

Super Simple Songs

This YouTube channel with more than 37 million subscribers appeals to toddlers with its simple and classic songs. Many videos feature old-school puppets or animated characters that will entertain and engage kids who will love singing and dancing along. From classic nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty to age-old songs like Skidamarink, this channel will keep your toddler on their toes. 

CoComelon

With musical repetition and bright colors, this channel is perfect for toddlers. The repetition helps them to build their vocabulary and acquire early literacy skills with the use of nursery rhymes and songs. CoComelon also teaches toddlers about colors, and numbers, and provides other important life lessons.

The Learning Station

This channel is fun and educational focusing on everything from early literacy development to social and emotional learning. One of the most popular songs, Herman the Worm, has racked up 117 million views. Kids love the simple melody and silliness factor of the goofy song. 

Related: 41 Giggle-Inducing Jokes for Toddlers

Storyline Online

This literacy program features some of the most popular and entertaining celebrities reading kids’ books. Presented by the SAG-AFTRA foundation, kids will love the lively reading where celebs do a variety of voices and get truly animated. Parents may want to watch alongside their kids to see celebrities from Oprah to Jennifer Garner. In one particularly enticing entry, the late, great Betty White reads Harry the Dirty Dog.

When the rain, rain won’t go away, pull out these things to do on a rainy day

Rainy days are great for splashing in puddles, but eventually you’ll have to come back inside. If you find yourself looking at several hours to fill inside with a toddler, don’t panic. Simply pull out our go-to list of rainy day activities that are always a hit with kids. The best part is that these ideas don’t require a lot of planning and make use of things you probably already have around the house. From building indoor forts to outdoor learning experiences your kids can enjoy (even in the rain), here are 29 things to do on a rainy day with kids.

Rainy Day Activities for Kids & Toddlers

1. Go Swimming: For most parents, the goal is to stay dry on rainy days. Why not do the opposite and go swimming in the bathtub? Throw a swimsuit on your toddler, promise that no one’s hair will be washed, and allow some splashing in the tub.

2. Air Balloon: Keep a few balloons around for a rainy day. When your toddler starts climbing the walls, help them get their energy out by blowing one up and working with them to keep the balloon in the air for as long as possible (also known as “Keepy Uppy” on Bluey). If you want to plan ahead, make things easy on yourself and try a Zuru Bunch O Balloons that are self-sealing and come with a small air pump.

a young girl plays with an indoor fort, a rainy day activities, with a sheet over a bed
iStock

3. Build a Fort: Rain or shine toddlers love forts! Grab a blanket or take the cushions off the couch and build a fort. Crawl inside to read a book or have a secret snack. A Big Blanket that is really big at 10′ by 10′ makes epic forts in seconds but any blanket or sheet can work!

4. Reuse the Recycling: Dig into the recycling bin and pull out anything usable to create a cardboard box and bubble-wrap masterpiece.

5. Handy Handprints: Those toddler hands and feet get so big so quickly! Use your rainy day at home to make some hand-and-foot prints. As a bonus, you can save these to give to grandparents the next time they visit. To add more interest, turn the handprints into dinos, birds, or trees.

6. Make Tracks: Grab a little flour or rice from the pantry and let your toddler drive their Hot Wheels through the “snow” to create some tracks.

7. Shaving Cream Shenanigans: For an inexpensive activity that will keep your little one busy for a long time, break out the shaving cream. Paint with shaving cream on a cookie sheet or on the shower wall. If you are feeling brave, add a few drops of food coloring.

8. Colander Capers: Work on fine motor skills while passing the time on a rainy day. Grab your colander and whatever you have on hand that fits through the holes. Toddlers love watching spaghetti fall through. Pipe cleaners are great for weaving in and out if your toddler is up for a challenge.

9. Lovely Lava: Homemade volcanos never cease to amaze kids. Grab a cup and throw in some baking soda, squirt in a little dish soap, add in some vinegar, and watch the magic unfold! If you have some food coloring on hand, add some red dye to make your volcano even more realistic. Cover your table with newspaper or put your volcano on a baking sheet for easy clean-up.

Related: 13 Adorable Forts for When Inside Play Is a Must

A girl in blue sweater helps load the dishwasher
iStock

10. Pots and Pans: This one isn’t for the faint of heart, but banging on pots and pans always brings toddlers a special kind of joy. Grab some wooden spoons and start a marching band around the living room

11. Launch a Raspberry Attack: Surprise your child by sitting quietly then launching into back-to-back raspberries on their cheeks, feet, and belly. Lots of laughter will ensue!

12. Have a Dance Party: Grab some hairbrushes and queue up the tunes while you and your sidekick sing and dance your hearts out. This is a good one to try just before nap time to tire your little one out.

13. Box Building: Chances are you have a cardboard box sitting around somewhere. Whether it’s a shoebox, an Amazon box, or a refrigerator box, it can be turned into something fabulous. Cut out a couple of flaps and make it into an instant garage for your toddler’s car collection. Or, glue some cut-out triangles on top and make an instant castle.

14. Resist Drawing: Creating a resist drawing is simple but will take some elbow grease. Take any piece of paper and help your toddler cover it with scribbles using every color in the crayon box except black. Then, take the black crayon and completely cover your colorful scribbles. Finally, supervise your child while they use something like a paper clip or sharpened pencil to go over the piece of paper. Only the black crayon on top will disappear revealing the color underneath.

15. Give Their Babies a Bath: It’s possible that your toddler’s dolls and action figures have never had a bath. Fill a large Tupperware container or the sink with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Then, help your toddler bathe their dolls or action figures. This may keep your tot busy for a surprisingly long amount of time and their toys will sparkle at the end!

a boy dumps colorful balls from a white laundry basket during indoor play on a rainy day
iStock

16. Have a Picnic: Rainy days aren’t the obvious time to have a picnic but your children will be delighted to spread out a blanket on the living room floor for a picnic lunch.

17. Reading Marathon: Does your kiddo always ask for one more book? A rainy day trapped inside is the perfect time to say yes to all the books. Grab all of your favorite books and hunker down on the sofa for as long as it takes to get through them all.

18. Hide and Seek: Hide and Seek is a toddler classic. When it’s their turn to hide, add to the fun by making a big deal of not being able to find them. Make sure your hider is within earshot and say things like “Oh no! Grandma is going to be so sad she will never see Jane again!” or “I’m going to have to call Daddy to tell him I lost Sam so he can come home and help me look.” Chances are your toddler will start laughing so hard you will then be able to “find” them.

19. Time to Do the Laundry: Grab the laundry basket and put your toddler inside covered with clothes. Grab a big handful of clothes along with your toddler and pretend to walk to the washing machine to do the laundry. Never put your toddler in the washing machine but you can get close before you realize your mistake in almost washing your toddler with a bunch of dirty socks.

20. Toddler-on-the-Go: Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean your toddler has any less energy than on a sunny day. Ask them to run down the hallway and back while you time them. Then, challenge them to go faster. This is a good activity to try just before naptime to ensure you get a nice, long rainy day break.

21. Crayon sorting: Challenge your little buddy to a color sorting race by taking each color crayon and putting them in a corresponding cup. This is a great opportunity to teach colors and matching while getting your crayon collection organized.

22. Freeze Dance: A spontaneous dance party can be even sillier if you stop the music and make the kids freeze. For even more silliness suggest that your toddler try to stand on one leg or freeze mid-hop.

23. Scavenger Hunt: Hide one of your toddler’s stuffed animals and go on a search throughout the house together. Give clues along the way. Make it a bear hunt or a quest to find a tiger that went missing from the zoo to add a little more interest.

Related: 100 Indoor Activities for Kids (because It’s Cold Outside)

a toddler in a yellow raincoat with a rainbow umbrella squats over a bunch of rubber ducks in a puddle, during rainy days activities
iStock

24. Shadow Tracing: Set up a figure like a dinosaur on a white piece of paper and ask your kids to trace its shadow. If there is any sunlight this can easily be done by setting up near a window. If it’s a very gray and dreary rainy day you can create a shadow by placing a flashlight just behind the toy.

25. Stupendous Socks: A pair of balled-up socks can be used for a surprising number of toddler-friendly games. They are safe to use to play catch in the house. Or, use them to play basketball with a plastic cup or laundry basket hoop. Another fun way to use balled-up socks is to roll them down a hallway and try to knock down superheroes or other small toys. If you find that one pair of socks isn’t working, add another pair or two to the ball.

26. How High Can You Go?: Grab all of your blocks, Magna-Tiles, and anything else that can be stacked up. Start building a tower. Then grab a chair for your tot to stand on and keep going. Build as tall a tower as you can, trying to make it all the way up to the ceiling.

27. Write a Book: Ask your toddler to tell you a story. Write no more than one or two sentences on each page then ask your storyteller to illustrate their work. Once you are done, staple the pages together and give the book a place of pride on your bookshelf.

28. Take a Walk Down Memory Lane: Toddlers usually think they are the center of the universe (and they are probably right)! A rainy day is a perfect time to go through baby pictures and the baby book and tell all the stories about when they were born, relive their first steps, and answer any questions about their first two (or three) years. Once that is over show them other family albums, like a wedding album or family reunions from before they were born, and ask them to try to spot important people like Grandma and their cousins.

29. Create a New World: Whether your child is into dinosaurs, princesses, or superheroes, their imaginary world could probably use an upgrade. Grab some construction paper and crayons and draw a prehistoric scene, a castle, or superhero HQ. Tape it to the wall and you have an instant new storyline ready for your toddler to explore. If you have an empty box lying around go a step farther and make a diorama.

Related: 19 Long-Term Projects for Kids That Will Keep Them Busy

“Alexa, use The Force”

With virtual assistants becoming integrated into our daily lives more and more, it’s no surprise that for some kids, their first word might be “Alexa.” The best part is that there are plenty of Amazon Alexa games and skills that were made just for kids; so they can get in on the voice-activated action, too. Want to launch some serious fun with your home assistant? Here’s our ultimate list of the best Alexa games and skills for kids.

family enjoying alexa games

"Alexa, let's make a story."  

With this new feature, kids can create a story on an Echo Story device. They'll follow a few prompts, and AI will create a story based on answers—the story is different every time; they might befriend an alien or take a magical journey to find powerful gems. There are also illustrations, sound effects, and background music, making this new skill fun at any time of the day. 

"Alexa, start the science quiz." 

These true or false quizzes are perfect for kids that are curious about science. 

"Alexa, start No Way That's True."

This Alexa skill for kids from Nickelodeon will blow your kids' minds as Alexa tests your kid's knowledge about wacky, wild, and just plain weird facts and trivia.

"Alexa, open Story Blanks."

This (noun) will keep your (plural noun) (adjective) for (period of time) on end!

"Alexa, play Headspace, Bedtime Story."

From the makers of Headspace, Headspace Bedtime Story will send your kiddos off to a peaceful dreamland with these guided meditations crafted especially for kids.

"Alexa, open Good Vibes."

Need a pick-me-up? Open the Good Vibes skill to hear three different motivational and inspirational quotes from popular authors and books.

"Alexa, where's Santa?"

Once the holiday season rolls around, your kiddo can track Santa with the help of the NORAD Santa Tracker skill for Alexa.

"Alexa, open Amazon Storytime."

Amazon now offers professionally narrated stories for kids ages 5 to 12. Super helpful if you just need the kids to sit still and chill for a few minutes.

"Alexa, start Kids Court."

Have a sibling or family argument you need to settle right now? The Kids Court Alexa skill takes the kids to court, where they can duke it out within the structure of the U.S. judicial system in a surprisingly fair manner.

"Alexa, ask Silly Things to tell me to do something silly."

If your kid won't listen to you, maybe they'll listen to Alexa. This Alexa skill for kids is certainly worth the entertainment value alone.

"Alexa, moo like a cow."

If you can't get your kid to calm down, maybe the bark of a dog, the squeal of a dolphin, or the roar of a lion will do it. According to the Animal Sounds Alexa skill creator, users can ask to hear the sounds of a "baboon, bear, bobcat, cat, cow, coyote, hippopotamus, lemur, lion, spider, monkey, spider monkey, rooster—and more."

"Alexa, hum something."

Turns out Alexa can hum—and can actually carry a tune.

"Alexa, open Curiosity."

This cool Alexa skill for kids gives users a choice between two topics, asking, "Are you curious about X or Y?" and gives a great overview of the topic in easy-to-understand language. After each topic Alexa will ask if you want to learn more about the topic or learn about something else, keeping those ever-curious young minds satisfied.

kids using an echo to play Alexa games

"Alexa, play Head's Up!"

Now you can play the popular game from The Ellen DeGeneres Show with your Alexa-enabled app. As Alexa gives you clues, try your best to guess from superstars, celebrities, movies, fictional characters, and more.

"Alexa, play Would You Rather for Family."

Ah, the game of impossible choices—now in a totally family-friendly version.

"Alexa, ask Pikachu to talk."

Pokémon fans will love chatting it up with this adorable Electric-type Pokémon. Pika pika!

"Alexa, play Beat the Intro."

It's "Name That Tune" in a whole new format. How quickly can you guess these popular songs—and their artists?

"Alexa, open Lemonade Stand."

The classic simulation game of our childhoods becomes a voice adventure as you try to successfully run your very own lemonade stand. In this never-ending game, you can earn experience badges as you hit milestones pretending to be your very own lemonade stand tycoon.

"Alexa, open Chompers."

If your kid isn't listening to the Chompers podcast every time they brush their teeth, they are missing out!

"Alexa, play Justice League Adventures."

Team up with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and more as you work your way through this choose-your-own-adventure style game and save the day!

"Alexa, open Animal Workout."

Ever wanted to do jumping jacks with a kangaroo? Push-ups with an alligator? This fun workout skill gets kids up and moving.

"Alexa, open Sesame Street."

Your Alexa-enabled device becomes a direct line to Elmo!

"Alexa, start SpongeBob Challenge."

This voice-activated memory game tests your wits as you try to take meal orders at the Krusty Krab from the residents of Bikini Bottom.

little girl using an Amazon Echo to play Alexa games

"Alexa, start Freeze Dance." 

The classic game is an instant way for kids and parents to bond, plus it'll get those bodies moving! 

“Alexa, begin my Jedi lessons.”

Kiddos can get nine Jedi lessons from the comfort of their own home.

“Alexa, use the Force”

Starting May 4th and going until May 31st, young Jedis can experience fun interactions from the Star Wars galaxy.

“Alexa, tell me a Baby Yoda joke.”

Learn all you can about Grogu with questions like “Alexa, talk like Baby Yoda” or “Alexa, how cute is Baby Yoda?”

“Alexa, show me Star Wars movies.”

Alexa is ready to queue up your fave film. You can also ask "Alexa, open Disney+” to watch the new Bad Batch series starting May 4th.

"Alexa," open/launch/start Jurassic World."

In this interactive audio story, listeners will join podcaster Janet Best as she tries to report on the fate of the Isla Nublar dinosaurs before a volcano erupts. Listeners will have to use their survival skills to make the right choices to uncover the story!

"Alexa, print a coloring page/a math worksheet/etc. "

Kids can request Alexa print all kinds of things ranging from coloring pages to math worksheets, thanks to a collaboration between JumpStart Games and Amazon.

"Alexa, play the podcast [name of podcast]."

The family can enjoy plenty of tales and kid-friendly news by asking Alexa to play a podcast. Echo devices use the built-in radio app, TuneIn to play the most recent episodes of your favorite podcasts, and if you want to play a specific episode, all you need to do is use your Alexa app or add a skill such as Stitcher or AnyPod.

"Alexa, start Tricky Genie"

Can you outsmart the genie? Players will be given a short story about someone with a problem; the genie has three sacks, and the solution is in one of them! You get two chances to pick the right one. 

mom and daughter in a room with an Amazon echo

"Alexa, open Speak Spell"

Like the classic '80s spelling toy, kids will be tested on commonly misspelled words. 

"Alexa, start Muggle Harry Potter Trivia"

It's time for all your Potterheads to test their knowledge with this trivia skill on Alexa! Five questions will be asked, how many will they get right?

"Alexa, what's the weather?"

Not sure if they need to put on galoshes or snow boots? Alexa's weather skill has your back. You can also ask about the weather in cities around the world, too.

"Alexa, open the box of cats."

Obviously, no actual box of cats materializes, but you'll hear what happens. Usually, it's cats. But sometimes users will get a surprise...

"Alexa, tell me a knock-knock joke."

Lighten the mood with a joke! Your kids will love interacting with Alexa, and she'll wait for them to say "Who's there?" before spilling the silly punchline. You can also ask "Alexa, tell me a joke," but be prepared for some pretty terrible puns.

"Alexa, launch Guess the Number."

Alexa will "think" of a number between 1 and 100, and your kids have to guess it while she directs them "higher" or "lower."

"Alexa, flip a coin."

Need to quickly settle an argument or a bet? You don't even need to dig for loose change in the couch for this Alexa skill.

"Alexa, how far away is the Moon?"

You can ask Alexa all kinds of scientific facts, from how big the Earth is, to the order of the planets, to how deep the ocean is. You can also ask geographic questions, such as state and world capitals. This is great for when your kids stump you by asking for a random factoid.

"Alexa, play Twenty Questions."

This one is just as much fun for parents as it is for the kiddos. See how smart Alexa really is as she figures out what you're thinking. It's uncanny.

"Alexa, start the spelling game."

Your future Scripps Spelling Bee champion can brush up his or her spelling skills with this fun spelling bee Alexa skill.

"Alexa, open Laugh Box."

Alexa's Laugh Box will play all sorts of giggles, but we think the baby laugh is the best one to get kids laughing, too.

"Alexa, start Zoo Walk."

Not only will Alexa make cool animal noises, but she also invites your curious kiddo to try and guess the animal that makes each sound.

"Alexa, do you want to build a snowman?"

Young Frozen fans will love hearing how Alexa answers this one.

 

"Alexa, open Daily Dinosaur"

Kids with a love for prehistoric beasts will love this Alexa skill for kids; they can opt for a Dinosaur of the Day or opt to select from over 1000 dinos. 

"Alexa, play Jeopardy."

What is, "How to keep my kid occupied while I cook?" for 100, Alexa? You can also ask, "Alexa, play Teen Jeopardy" for your teenage aspiring game show stars.

"Alexa, I love you."

Cons of humanizing artificial intelligence aside, it's good to know your Alexa loves you, too.

"Alexa, open the Magic Door."

This command will cue the eerie sound of a door creaking, which will launch Alexa straight into a choose-your-own-adventure-style story. Your kid will need to keep quiet to hear the story and make quick decisions to keep it going the right way. Note: This one takes about 10 minutes, which makes it a nice wind-down tool after dinner and before bed.

"Alexa, sing 'Happy Birthday.'"

Yes, Alexa can sing you "Happy Birthday" 365 days of the year—366 if your kid is a Leap Year baby. Be warned—once your kids know they can ask this, you might hear Alexa's slightly creepy rendition of birthday greetings when you least expect it.

"Alexa, Flatter Me."

Does your little one need an ego boost? Perfect for tough days, the Flatter Me Alexa skill gives you a little pick-me-up for the awesome job you're doing.

"Alexa, open Bedtime Story."

Alexa will tell a quick (about a minute long!) bedtime story with your child's name in it. Fun fact: It usually ends with something like, "Now it's time for you to go to bed. No, you can't have any more water." Oh, Alexa, you know us!

"Alexa, ask Magic 8-Ball if [insert yes or no question here]."

Did you know Alexa has her very own Magic 8-Ball? No shaking is required.

"Alexa, call [person's name]."

Yes, you can make calls with Alexa—but only to other Alexa users (including users who have Alexa installed on their smartphones). You can also leave messages on other Echos, Dots, or Spots to which you're connected. The Alexa device flashes yellow when there's a message. This is great for saying a quick hello to grandparents if your kiddo has already wrestled your phone away from you.

"Alexa, play [insert child's favorite song here]."

Alexa is, at its heart, a speaker made for music. So let her blast out the Doc McStuffins' theme song if it helps cheer things up. Or, if it's just you who needs the cheering, just make your pick and rock it out, mama! Alexa can play pretty much anything you ask of her, especially if you're an Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited member, which gives you access to Amazon's expansive music library.

"Alexa, ask for a fart."

This is the Amazon Alexa Skill of Ultimate Last Resort. We recommend you only pull out this one when you're really, really desperate. Because once your kids know that Alexa can fart (in multiple ways), they'll be asking for it. All. The. Time.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

The next time you travel by airplane with kids in tow, be sure to prep the carry-on bag (and your mindset) for just about anything—including delays. We came up with a list of entertaining ideas for tiny travelers that are perfect for the airport; having enough snacks is up to you. Read on for 17 activities to keep kids busy until you hear the words “now boarding.”

1. Find the play area. A lot of airports have kid-friendly spaces. If you've got an hour or more to kill, let your little flyers burn off extra energy. Check out our picks for the best airports to be passing through (or stuck in) with kids.

2. Play I spy. This game is one of the best ways to pass time, and an airport is filled with interesting things to spot, so this classic game can potentially take up a lot of time. 

3. Explore the food court. Make it a progressive dinner. Have apps at the first place, the main course at your second stop, and try dessert at a third and final restaurant. 

4. Let the kids unwrap a toy. Something tiny (and wrapped up tight) will keep them occupied. We've got a great list of airplane toys for $10 and under

Brett Sayles via Pexels

5. Watch the planes. Watching planes take off is exciting, and it'll get your budding pilots pumped for their aviation adventures.

6. Make a new pen pal. Families from all over the world pass in and out of airports daily. If you wind up stuck with other folks toting little ones (solidarity, people!), strike up a conversation and maybe exchange info. Who knows how many lasting connections you might make?

7. Strike a (yoga) pose. Downward dog isn't the only animal pose in yoga. You can get little legs moving by doing a few simple stretches right in the waiting lounge. Some airports, such as San Francisco International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, and O'Hare International even have rooms designed for this exact purpose! Find more kid-friendly poses here.

Atlanta International Airport

8. Check out all the artwork at the airport. You didn't have time to hit up the local museum? Well, you're in luck because many airports have rotating exhibits and permanent pieces displayed for everyone's viewing pleasure. If you ask an employee, chances are they will have a map and be able to point you in the right direction.

9. Bust out a busy bag. It's always a good idea to pack a few toys; busy bags are great because you can change them up every time you fly. We love this portable activity kit from Mama. Papa.Bubba because it gives kids so many ways to stay busy, and this LEGO travel set from Fun at Home with Kids promises hours of fun.

10. Go on a scavenger hunt. If you've got paper, a pen and eager kids, then you have what you need for an airport scavenger hunt. It's easy to prep this activity ahead of time, but it's also a cinch to do it on the fly (pun intended!). If you want to leave this idea to the pros, check out this free printable from Playdough to Plato.

ål nik on Unsplash

11. Have a thumb-wrestling tournament. 1, 2, 3, 4... I declare a thumb war! If there's an easier way to pass the time, we haven't found it. You can create brackets, try two-out-of-three, or challenge other travelers. One thing's for sure—there are giggles to be had any way you play.

12. Make a paper fortune teller. Do you remember making paper fortune tellers as a kid? Check out this tutorial, grab paper and a pen, and be on your way to seeing the future (Does it say when the flight will leave?).

13. Create motor skill challenges. Kids don't need too much space to take on motor skill challenges like "stand on one foot," "jump up and down ten times," "touch your toes five times,'' and whatever other ideas you have. If there aren't too many people in your waiting area, consider using your iPhone to play freeze dance, too.

Vladimir Haltakov on Unsplash

14. Take a walk. With moving walkways, food courts, escalators, interesting people and shops filled with goodies, taking a walk through the airport is an easy way to pass the time. It's also a great way to find items on that scavenger hunt list!

15. Challenge your kids to a few (hundred) games of Tic Tac Toe and Hangman. Adding a few more easy pen and paper games to your arsenal is a must.

16. Play flick football. Make your paper football. and divide your family into teams for an epic game or three. If it's been a while since you've flicked a football, check out our play-by-play tutorial right here.

17. Get a mani/pedi. If the situation calls for one-on-one time with your princess, see if the airport has a nail salon on the premises. There's nothing like a little primping before going on vacation or ending your big trip with a bang. 

—Taylor Clifton & Gabby Cullen

 

 

RELATED STORIES:

Fly Zone: 8 Air Travel Hacks That Really Work

20 Small Toys to Bring on the Airplane (for Under $10)

14 Airports That Make Traveling with Kids Easier

The Best Compact Travel Gear to Simplify Your Holiday Trips

 

The season of giving is here, but it’s essential to teach your children gratitude every day. How do we teach such an abstract concept to a developing brain? By incorporating some unexpected and quick practices into our daily routine.

1. Show Your Kids How to Be Grateful
Children may not love to be told what to do, but they do love to mimic everything around them. Instead of instructing your child to be grateful, show them through your actions and words. Thank your children, say please and excuse me when necessary, and talk about your appreciation for when they or other family members do something of note. Incorporate it into a game like “Freeze Dance” to subtly drive the message home. Play some music and have the children dance. Stop the music at different times, and tell the children to “Freeze.” While they are frozen, have the children name what they are thankful for when you point at them, trying not to repeat any answers. Make sure that everyone gets a turn to share one or two things for which they are thankful.

2. Offer to Help
It’s not often we have time to spend the day volunteering, so simple helpful gestures for others are a great way to show children kindness and gratitude. Encourage your child to help you hold open the door for others, ask someone if they need help carrying their groceries and return a wallet left in the parking lot, especially when little eyes are on us. Make sure to narrate your helpfulness and gratitude when your child is with you. “Let’s hold the door open for this lady behind us,” or “wasn’t it nice that this man helped us carrying our dry cleaning to the car?”

3. Stop & Smell the Apple Pie
Have you stopped recently to enjoy the feel of the warm sun on your face or looked closely at the way a leaf flutters softly to the ground? Taking a moment to admire the little things around us, and pointing them out to our children, shows them that nothing is too small to be appreciated.

4. Practice Positivity
Sometimes all it takes is a positive attitude and a smile to make ourselves feel more grateful for our circumstances. It’s possible to teach our children that it’s okay to have a bad day or emotion, and to also help them look at the bright side by being thankful for the good. Playing the silver lining game at dinnertime can help us address the highs and lows of our day so we can appreciate the good stuff. Ask each member of the family to identify his or her best and not-so-best moment of the day to help each other see how the good usually outweighs the bad.

5. Give When You Receive
Being grateful can be difficult when children are over inundated with toys. Occasionally, it’s a good idea to help your child choose toys they no longer want and give those to other children in need. Something like a one-toy-in and one-toy-out policy can empower our children to give to others when a toy is no longer being used.

6. Display a Thankful Board
Children are visual and love seeing their creations and successes hung on the refrigerator or family bulletin board. Create a space for a family gratitude board on which to post notes of appreciation for each other or for things that make them feel grateful, as a regular reminder.

Sometimes all it takes is a couple of subtle routine changes to establish gratitude habits that will help your child’s character development. If you run out of ideas or want to practice other key character traits, head over to Kiddie Academy’s website to download the Character Essentials Activity Book.

Addition Reading Recommendations:  

I’m Feeling Thankful (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), Natalie Shaw

Please, Mr. Panda, Steve Antony

Thanks From the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle

Let’s Be Thankful by P. K. Hallinan,

Look and Be Grateful, Tomie dePaola

The Most Thankful Thing, Lisa McCourt

—Joy Turner, The Kiddie Academy

Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.

Advertisement

Silent night? Not so much… in preparation for the Christmas season, take your crew’s carol singing to new levels with the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine. Here’s how this whimsical machine can create a festive family sing-a-long and memories that’ll last a lifetime:

Prep Your Playlist

Kick off the holiday spirit by asking your family to share their favorite Christmas carols and songs in advance so you can prep your playlist. When it’s party time, connect the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine to an external smart device using wireless Bluetooth® technology and play any song through the built-in speaker. Heads up: you’re about to ensure people of all ages are happy and entertained for hours (a win-win!).

O Come All Ye Rockstars

Grab the corded microphone and spread joy to the world (or at least throughout the living room). Reduce the volume of the vocals to let your own voice take center stage. Worried you can’t carry a tune? There’s pitch correction to enhance singing. So, no excuses!

Break Out the Sweaters

Wardrobe is an important part of any superstar's performance, including a Christmas carol karaoke night. Pull your best over-the-top holiday attire out from storage to get in the festive mood!

Rock around the Christmas Tree

There are tons of cool features to make this season extra celebratory. Kids love dancing to the LED lightshow with Tobi’s fun expressions, built-in songs and beats. And things will certainly get silly by adding different voice effects and sounds. Wind down each performance with a rousing round of applause. To keep the festivities going from anywhere in the room, use the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch (sold separately) as a remote control.

No, It's Not Too Early for Cookies

Those Christmas cookies you love each December? You can make them any day of the year. Or, try one of these tasty new recipes!

Save Your Favorite Tunes

Who knew grandma was a secret superstar? Or that Dad actually knew all the words to Holy Night? The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine lets you save up to nine recordings to make a greatest hits collection for a future listening session.

Have a Dance Off

Not only can the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine get your family singing, but you’ll be dancing all night, too. Play seven interactive games including Freeze Dance, Rap n’ Record, and Laugh Attack.

All you need are 4 AA batteries and an audience to get this party started! (Just remember to share the mic.) Merry Christmas!

Advertisement

Advertisement

Lights, camera, action! Does your kiddo love captivating an audience with elaborate stories, hamming it up at family functions or belting out ballads in the car? Let their creative juices flow with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera and the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine. The cool features on these gadgets make it simple for your filmmaker or rockstar to tap into their creativity and curiosity. Better yet, you won’t ever hear the words, “I’m bored.” (PS: siblings may quickly find themselves as constant supporting actors and backup singers.)

Hollywood, Here We Come

The high-definition Tobi 2 Director’s Camera takes videos, selfies, and photos. A green screen and built-in backgrounds transform kids into anything they dream up—superheroes, news anchors, astronauts and so much more. Other awesome special effects include creating comic book pages, making video stickers and designing stop-motion videos. Proud parent alert: internal editing software elevates videos, movies and photos into masterpieces. No matter what story your child wants to tell, it’s possible with this cool camera. We can almost hear it now, “And the award goes to…”

Super Selfies FTW!

No newsflash here—kids are experts at sneaking into their parents’ phones and taking selfies. But with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera, they can have their own device to make silly expressions and say cheese. The flip-out lens, selfie stick, tripod, auto timer and hilarious face filters take typical selfies up a notch. (Your phone’s photo library will thank you!)

Creative Expression, Made Simple

This digital HD camera is perfect for kids 6+. It features a large 2.4” display, a microSD slot for expanded memory, and rechargeable battery with USB cable for easy charging and downloading. Plus, it’s splashproof (because spills are inevitable with kids!). Before you know it, your kiddo will be deep in the creative process, proudly sharing mini-films that magically transformed their everyday world into a movie set.

Sing On

Is there ever a bad time for karaoke? (Ok, fine… maybe bedtime isn’t exactly ideal). The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine can connect to an external music device using wireless Bluetooth® technology—playing any song through the built-in speaker. You can lower the volume of the vocals so kids' voices can be front and center. (There’s pitch correction for those working on carrying a tune.) Not only is the singing sensational, but there’s an LED lightshow with Tobi’s fun expressions, built-in songs and beats, voice effects and more. Save up to nine recordings to share your favorite tunes with your crew.

Dance Off

The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine inspires superstar singing and dancing. Seven interactive games including Freeze Dance, Rap n’ Record, and Laugh Attack get kids moving and grooving. Consider this practice for when Beyoncé needs some new backup dancers…

Connect to the New Smartwatch

Both of these devices connect to the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch (sold separately), which can be used as a remote control to take pictures and videos with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera or change tracks on the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine

Planning your child’s birthday party can be stressful – the theme, the decorations, the cake, the guest list.

You try to keep the budget in check but sometimes, expenses get away from you. If your husband is anything like mine, you’ll have him chirping in your ear each time you bring home another party supply bag or return a phone call from a vendor (i.e. clown, magician, caterer).

But with years of party-planning experience, I’m here to help with some fun and easy ways to help cut the budget on your child’s next birthday bash.

Ask Family for Help

Who better to ask for help planning your little one’s special day than family? When it comes to eliciting help from your mother, cousins, brothers and the like, you always have the guilt factor on your side! And after all, the party is for your child – can they really say no?

One of the biggest expenses when hosting a party is the food. A great way to get the family involved in the party planning process is to create a potluck-style menu.

Have everyone make their favorite dish or something they’re known for. Maybe your aunt Edna makes a killer mac and cheese or grandma’s meatballs are the hit of every holiday dinner. Ask which family members are willing to cook something. You can always suggest what you’d like them to make, but try not to be overly picky.

You can say something like, “Everyone adores your baked ziti!”. A little flattery goes very far.

When it comes to planning the snack food for your child’s birthday, try shopping at a wholesale food store. There you can buy snacks in bulk – pretzels, chips, and popcorn. Another tip is to purchase the types of snacks you and your children enjoy at home. Of course, you want to make your guests happy, but you can use the leftover goodies in your child’s lunchbox!

Remember that most children’s birthday parties are short and sweet. If you provide snacks in the beginning and cake at the end, you don’t need a whole lot of food in between. Calculate the number of guests you’re expecting and provide enough food for everyone to make one, generous plate. Parents rarely go back for seconds and the kids are often too busy playing to take too many bites.

You can even go as far as to ask a baker in the family to make your child’s birthday cake. With so many adorable ideas online and molds available for purchase, your child will never know their cake was homemade and not store bought.

Make the Invitations and Decorations

Who doesn’t love a good DIY project?

You can save a lot of money when you make your own invitations. This is a great way to get your child involved too. Let them color or write their friend’s names on the invites. It gives them a personal touch and saves you on printing costs.

Online and Facebook invites work too, but are a little more informal. It all depends on who you’re inviting and how you want to present the party.

Some decorations and party supplies you’ll need to buy – balloons, tablecloths, and party hats. But there are some awesome decorations you can make or embellish basic ones to make them really stand out!

Have your child help you color, draw and cut the letters that spell out “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. You can use construction paper, glitter, markers, and stickers. Make each letter unique. Once they’re complete, string them together and you have a fun and original banner for the wall.

If you want to hang something from the ceiling, you can cut strips of construction paper in funky designs and colors. Ribbons can be curled and placed to hang freely from doorways.

Candy is a fan favorite at any child’s party (for the kids least!) You can make a candy tree or use candy necklaces as garlin – by simply cutting the elastic and then tying the pieces together, you have instant (and edible) accents. You can even make your own pinata and fill it with candy.

Get creative with your party decorations. Guests will love and appreciate the originality.

Plan Entertainment

This might be the most fun part of party planning.

If your child’s party is going to be at your home or a hall, you’ll need to provide some form of entertainment – kids running around in circles hyped up on birthday cake and candy (from your pinata or candy tree) is a recipe for disaster.

There are countless party games you can plan that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

Do you have a spoon at home? And some balls? How about a few pillowcases? Lots of household items can be used for relay races!

Kids can balance small balls on spoons, hop in pillow cases or potato sacks and even race with bouncy balls between their knees. These games are sure to provide entertainment, laughs and friendly competition.

Kids love temporary tattoos and most are relatively inexpensive. Stock up on some, call a young adult you know and create a “Tattoo Parlor” at your child’s party. With a little water and a sponge, the kids can pick their favorite designs and wear them for the celebration.

Bring a wireless speaker and your iPod for some musical entertainment! Not only can the kids dance to their favorite songs, but you can play games like freeze dance and musical chairs. Music is a great addition to any party!

Keep it Simple

My last piece of advice for planning your child’s birthday party is to keep it simple. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars to host a party at an elaborate location. If you have the time and space, DIY birthday parties are the best.

All you need is a little creativity and help to plan an inexpensive but memorable birthday bash!

I am a 32 year old mother of a son and wife to an officer. I am honest about both the love and struggle of parenting. I enjoy being active and writing is my passion, second only to my family.