Questions? Call us today! (929)-777-3113

SCHEDULE A TOUR
A teddy bear sits in an indoor tent.

Hi there, parents! This week's blog continues on our Toy Suggestion List. But these suggestions will be tailored to indoor play at home. So, let’s talk about toys for indoor play  for hot summer days that don’t take up TOO much space. 

It’s mid-July, when that midsummer rut starts to creep into our lives. It might be a bit more difficult to feel motivated to come up with new fun activities. The heat is reaching a point where the mornings and evenings are more ideal for outdoor play. So how do we fill our afternoons? If the plan is to stay home, we’ve got to keep those kiddos entertained. 

Lots of Possibilities

My first suggestion is a set I initially purchased for my son when he was not even two yet.  He turned three in April, and we’ve gotten so much use out of it. I can only imagine he will use this toy more and more as he gets older.

What is it? Stepping stones! 

These are stackable, so they don’t take up a ton of space and the options are practically endless. For the really little guys, they can just practice stepping up and down and stepping from one stone to the next. The set that I bought my son also has balance beam pieces, which also are stackable! 

My little guy recently started a gymnastics class at our local rec center, and he loves creating his own little obstacle courses at home that mirror what he does at gymnastics each week. 

Older kiddos can use the stepping stones for playing “the floor is lava.”

Loving the idea of an obstacle course? Add in a tunnel. Kiddos love racing through the tunnel as fast as they can go. Parents, you can come up with ideas for older kiddos to use the stepping stones, encouraging them to come up with their own games! 

Indoor Camping

Another idea that is great for getting those little minds turning is an indoor tent. In my house we refer to it as a fort. This was a gift my son received from a family member for his second birthday, and we are still getting so much use out of it.

To describe it with more detail, we are talking about a canvas tent that is held up by four long wooden dowels. In the moment, it does take up a bit of room. But the great thing is that you can pull the dowels together and shove it in a closet when you’re done! 

The one we have came with little twinkle star lights and has a little window. This is great for pretend play, an indoor slumber party or a pretend camping trip. 

This is also great if you do have the space for using it for a ‘“calming corner” that I discussed in another post, if you are interested in learning more about those! 

Endless Creativity

Another idea for keeping your little one entertained on those super hot summer days: Magnetiles! I know, I know, we’ve all heard the hype around the Magnetiles. However, they are so wonderful at getting a kiddo’s brain gears turning, using their creativity to come up with different structures to create. 

My mom bought my little gremlin his first set of Mangetiles. She, knowing our concerns around space, decided to also purchase a handy dandy Magnetile container. The sides zip so that when they are all unzipped, it turns into a magnetic board that my son can build on top of! When he's done playing, we just push them all to the center and zip up the sides. Quick and easy!

Side note: They do make little tin containers of mini magnetiles that are great for when you are out at a restaurant or event where your little one needs to stay put and entertained. 

There you have it! My favorite indoor toys that will last you years and years and hopefully not take up too much room inside your home.

What are your little one’s favorite indoor toys? Until next time. 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Happy little African American boy in a pumpkin patch in autumn,

Hi, parents, and happy October! I’m so happy to celebrate my favorite season of the year. It's that time of year for fall fun with little ones. Here are some autumn- and Halloween-themed suggestions to keep your little one entertained.

As always, we are keeping these as simple as can be. Let’s get started! 

Squishy Fun

First is an activity that is great for our really tiny humans. If you plan to carve pumpkins, don’t throw away the guts of the pumpkin.

Instead, toss them in a gallon zip lock bag to create a super simple and squishy sensory activity for those 12-24-month-olds.

This way they are still involved in the pumpkin carving, but in a safe way. And this allows us parents to really focus on our own pumpkins, am I right? 

Pumpkin Washing

Another idea for our little littles is a pumpkin washing station. To keep it really simple, go for smaller pumpkins. You’ll need to grab a container, fill it with warm soapy water, and make sure there you’re set up in an area that is protected from the splashing or is OK to get wet.

Our three- and four-year-olds can really get involved in the activity by washing everyone’s pumpkins before the carving begins! 

With larger pumpkins, skip placing them in water. Instead, just give your little one a couple of washcloths and some warm soapy water. This way they can wipe down all the pumpkins, and get them nice and clean for carving. But you don’t have to find a giant tote to fill with water either. 

Sensory Bin

Another easy peasy sensory activity for our littles ones is a fall-themed sensory bin.

You could use multicolored dry pasta, pinecones, smooth acorns, or even some leaves. There is basically no mess when it comes to this activity since everything is pretty large and we parents love to hear that.

Give this one a try and let me know how it goes and how long your kiddo stayed engaged in the activity. 

Hunting for Decorations

This next one, I just did with my kiddo over the past weekend, and we had such a good time. I realized, I didn’t have any Autumn or Halloween decorations for our house! As such a huge fan of this time of year, that did not sit right with me. Lack of storage space keeps me from holding onto a lot of decorations, other than those we have for Christamas. 

So, I asked my kiddo if he wanted to go to the thrift store to pick out some decorations. Surprise, surprise, his response was “NOW?” It just so happened we had a few free hours before I had to go to work. So, I said “Sure!” and we were off. 

We headed over to our local Goodwill. I really tried to let him pick out the things he thought would be cute for our little home. He found some pumpkin string lights (LOVE), tealight candle holders (one black cat, a pumpkin, and a little ghost), a wooden pumpkin door hanger, and the cutest little stuffed pumpkin with a black top hat and black and white striped arms and legs. They are absolutely perfect.

Extra tip: Bring something to donate to the thrift store. Most thrift stores offer a coupon for making a donation. So not only was everything pretty cheap in the first place, we also got 20% off! We spent a total of only $10. And we had a great time doing it. 

But, the fun didn’t stop there. We still get to go home and decorate with our super fun finds. 

There you have it, friends! Easy peasy autumn activities to incorporate when you’ve got the time.

I hope they are just as much fun for you as they were for me. Let me know how it goes!

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.



Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.