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Keeping Toddlers Busy During Quarantine: All they need is YOU

Perspective from a Full-time Caregiver

By Monica Sanchez ~ Owner, Kiddie Cove NC April 26, 2020

So, you've scoured Pinterest to find perfect ideas for your toddlers. But the truth is:  All your toddler needs is you 😊  

Play is how your children are doing their best learning. Let your little one take the lead in play scenarios and don’t be afraid to go all-in: be silly and get invested in their play with them.  Ask open-ended questions to keep the play going and to help your child communicate.  

Children work through real-world scenarios while they play, so if you can get them talking, they may bring up issues in the world like COVID-19, or not being at school, and it can serve as a way to talk through these issues with your little one to help them make sense.




With that said, here are a few low-prep ways to help your children have fun during quarantine: 

  • Wash toys/paint in the tub
  • Make potions on a nature walk
  • Baking soda and vinegar reactions
  • Toilet paper roll marble runs

Feel like winning the QMOTY (quarantine mother of the year) award? Here are a few ways to get a little EXTRA with your kiddos:

  • Theme nights: dress up, make a themed dinner, and have a movie to go with it
  • Have a household spirit week, including crazy hair day, team’s day, dress-up day, etc. 
  • Create your own quarantine family tradition, maybe movie Monday where the whole family watches movies with popcorn and snacks, or Fiesta Friday, maybe throw in a margarita or two 😉


This is a time where we have all been granted a little more time with our families, we are here to offer any ideas to make this time with your little ones productive and stress-free!   If you have questions or need ideas for activities, shoot me a message and I’d be happy to tailor something to the materials you have on hand and your child’s age

About Kiddie Cove

At Kiddie Cove we offer short term child care for up to 4 hours.  We accept children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old.  Our staff is CPR/First Aid trained and undergo a thorough background check.   We offer planned activities, as well as free play to help children develop academically as well as socially and emotionally. 

We ARE open during this COVID-19 Pandemic and available for you to utilize for child care if you are an essential worker or even if you just need to drop the kid while grocery shopping. We take extra precautions with temperature checks and extra hand-washing; we've upgraded our air filtration system and are meticulous with cleaning - and always have been! 

And, once this stay-home order is over, we will resume our regular programs including our TK program and parents' nights out.