Independent Play Ideas for Patio?

NCSW · June 2011

2.5 year old DD likes to play outside on our patio while I work. I'm looking for ideas for what to have out there for her...

The patio is prob 10' x 6', concrete (with those Ikea playmats w/ roads, etc printed on), and covered. Right now she has a small kid table with 2 chairs, her easel, and a couple bouncy balls.

lukaface · June 2011

This might be a little too messy for you, but we got S a sandbox and she can play in it happily by herself for hours.

Mama_v2.0 · June 2011

sidewalk chalk will work, tub full of water (water table) and water friendly toys

kittylove · June 2011

Ditto the water table or sandbox idea. DS loves to water the plants from his water table, keeps him busy for quite a while.

scrapmama2201 · June 2011

Ditto the pps about water play. With the warm weather, you can fill a tub with soap and water and she can wash her toys, dolls, etc.

Have her "paint" fill a bucket with water and give her a brush. You can make the chalk into a powder and mix with water = chalk paint.

You can make her a sensory tub: big tupperware filled with sand, beans or rice. Give her some measuring cups, bowls, cups, etc. Or hide things deep down and have her find them. Once she really gets the hang of it, give her a pair of tongs and have her transfer items from tub to a bowl (you can do this with a bowl of cotton balls as well).

Mrs.K&C · June 2011

Our outside play consists of playhouse (from Craigslist), basketball hoop and ball, water table (HUGE hit), tricycle and cozy coupe car. she isn't at all interested in the car, never has been. And of course it's one of the few pink things we have.