Preschooler Play: No Batteries Included

I've been thinking of ways to make our lives a little simpler. And I've realized that sometimes the hardest thing in minimizing tv and video game time is coming up with fresh ideas. The weather here is still far too chilly to be outside for long, so we have to find ways to entertain ourselves indoors.

Here's a few of the things we have done to keep busy and have fun:

1. Read: a book, a magazine, anything.
2. Grab some crayons & color
3. Build with Legos
4. Play with a box-it can become a rocket, a car, a cave
5. Tell stories
6. Play dress-up
7. Count something, count everything
8. Have a picnic, indoors or out
9. Bake and decorate cookies or cupcakes
   
10. Make a card for someone special just because
11. Write a letter
12. Play “I Spy”
13. Make fossils
14. Make homemade clay
15. Create fun and edible necklaces
16. Create your own sand art
17. Play with playdough
18. Play ball-roll it, kick it, throw it
19. Play “Simon Says”
20. Sing a song
21. Finger paint
22. Play in a sandbox, or with rice or birdseed inside
23. Let them dig through a glob of shaving cream, or run cars through it
24. Make a treasure hunt for them to follow
25. Race cars
26. Make slime
27. Make your own music
28. Dance
29. Build a fort
30. Create your own pretend store
31. Play with or make puppets
32. Make an obstacle course
33. Play sink or float in a tub of water
34. Make masks from paper plates
35. Sorting games, using anything
36. Paint with string
37. Play with flash cards
38. Play bean bag toss
39. Play memory or matching games
40. Just talk!

What's your favorite thing to do with your kids?