** Our research group has not accepted any monetary incentives for our recommendations
Sometimes the best toys are everyday objects in your home. Who knew toddlers could find an empty laundry bin so exciting?
Simple play:
Drop toys into the bin. Hint: This activity can be a great substitution for kids that like to throw toys around the room.
Sit your child in the bin and cover them with balls or other toys. Have them pop out and scare you!
Sit them in the bin and sing “Row Row Row Your Boat” while you tip the bucket back and forth.
Sit your child in the bin and give them a push so they slide down the hall.
Turn the bin upside-down, put your child underneath, and play “peek a boo.” Then put the bucket over your head and you take turns popping out.
Combination play:
Turn the bin on its side and practice soccer skills by kicking toys into the “net.”
Drop toys into the bin, shake them around, or toss them up in the air and catch them again, and then dump them out.
Place the bin upside-down and have animals or cars climb over it like a big hill.
Imaginary play:
Pretend the bin is a car and have your child drive somewhere. Remember to model all the little steps like pretending to open the door, putting on a pretend seat belt, starting the car, and honking the horn. You can also add in a modified game of red light/ green light where the child has to pretend to stop the car every time you call out a “red light!”
Pretend the bin is a boat and your child is going on a fishing trip. You can give them a wooden spoon as a paddle and use a colander as a net. You can even start with an art project where you cut out toy fish and have your child decorate them so they have something to catch on their trip!
Get the toy here.
