Table top activity ideas

[smurfette]

Hi


I some days have 8 kids in the afternoon, 4 after schoolies , two babies and two toddlers aged
2 and 3. The babies are generally eating sleeping or crawling around the floor when the big ones are doing their homework but I would like to keep the toddlers busy with something they can do themselves. Some days I put out jigsaws or colouring or play doh, anything else anyone can suggest?

[littlecheeks]

i find toddlers like to do anything messy! painting, glueing and sticking, glitter, stickers, moon sand, bashing containers with tins wooden spoons etc, building blocks, magic maze

[RuthJ]

Mine love threading beads

[smurfette]

Mine love threading beads

Do you think a just two year old
Would manage this? Just would like something not too messy as I simply wouldn't have time to clean it up after .,
Magic maize is also a good idea!

[jadavi]

What is magic maize?

[Daisy1956]

My two year old loves threading, we use pasta, cut up art straws, foam beads, wooden beads and shapes, cotton reels,big buttons and hula hoops, we thread onto laces, pipe cleaners, straws , strawberry licorice laces. Everytime we do threading we use something different, keeps little occupied for ages

[The Juggler]

we do all our messy play on the higher kitchen table so on my low table we always have our smallworld set out - so farm, zoo, bob the builder, castles, space - much easier than it being all over the floor - LOL!

[miffy]

What about dried pasta or cereal with cups, bowls, scoops etc?

Miffy xx

[smurfette]

What about dried pasta or cereal with cups, bowls, scoops etc?

Miffy xx

Thanks this was a hit! Thanks for other ideas all will utilise them!

[lisa1968]

mine love 'dry' messy play-rice,pasta,leaves and twigs,cereal etc and we add scoops,cups,spoons and small world play as well as duplo bricks,cars etc.
Quicker and easier to clean up!