Inside days. You know those days. The day it’s raining (or in my case, it’s too hot outside) or the car has broken down and you’re stuck inside with one or two young kids and are completely unprepared. You’ve run out of bought activities from Kmart and will start climbing the walls if you hear ‘My name is Peppa Pig’ one more time. Those days.

Fear not, there are a load of ways to keep both you and the kids happy with just your regular household items. Just think a little outside the box.

• Dining Table Fort

Turn your regular old dining table into hours of fun by simply draping a few large sheets over the top so they hang over the sides. Scatter a few cushions underneath and declare it a Castle. Or a Pirates Lair. Have morning tea squashed in underneath with the kiddies and they’ll think it’s Christmas time. With any luck you might be able to hide them under there while you enjoy a hot cuppa too!

• Masking Tape Roads.

Using masking tape, create a road all over the lounge room, going up the couch, over the rug and down the TV cabinet. My 4 year old boy will spend hours with his cars driving and driving all over these. They’re always a winner.

• Washing Basket Play

Did you know your washing basket can magically become a pirate ship, with just the addition of a broom stick and an old sheet? Or a canoe in the Amazon. Or a Princesses Bed, overflowing with pillows and scarves. Our washing basket is frequently a toy box too, where my almost two year old gathers up her ‘for now’ favourites and will pile them and herself in there and sit playing for a good half an hour.

• Couch Cushion Jumping.

Best way to spend an afternoon. I’ll pull all the cousins off our two couches and the kids will go mad jumping and running over them. There’s a win win here – the kids get worn out and my cushions get plumped up and feel all nice and full again. Total win in my book!

• Shaving Cream Painting

I love this activity because it can be (mostly) contained. Dump a load of cheap shaving cream in a big container at the table, drop a few blobs of food colouring on and give the kids a paint brush each, telling them to swirl it through. When it looks sufficiently swirled, pop a piece of paper on top and print the colours onto it by peeling it off, waiting a minute before scraping the excess cream off. Great for birthday present wrapping!

There’s my Top 5 Inside activities for Toddlers. Playing inside these Summer holidays doesn’t have to be limited to what you’ve bought, look at what you already have!

I’m Daneyl, I’m a wife, mother, blogger and opera singer (but only when I’m in the shower). You can find me in the kitchen, at the piano or on Instagram (@thestrandsofme). I love chocolate, reading and learning how to be a parent to my two gorgeous cherubs. Check out my blog at www.thestrandsofme.com