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My son has been too big to sleep in the Pack ‘n Play for some time, but we hold onto it for relatives with babies who come stay with us. I like to come up with fun new games to play with it so it’s not just taking up space!
Mini Ball Pit
Mini Ball Pit is maybe one of my son’s favorite games… and it’s great for gross motor and fine motor skills. At first he just rolls around and laughs and laughs. Then he begs me to play a variation I call “Roller coaster.” I shake the sides and tip him over in all the directions, rolling him around on the soft mesh edges. It’s an intense workout for me, and he can’t get enough of it.
Once I get too tired to keep rolling him around, the game usually devolves into the fine motor component… throwing all of the balls outside of the pit. I crawl around and throw them back in. We love making silly sound effects.
Mini Ball Pit for Teaching Colors & Numbers
For an older toddler or preschooler, you can add some learning to the fun and have your kiddo throw you certain colors and certain numbers of balls. (“Throw me TWO blue balls! Great, now throw me ONE red ball!”) If doing both colors and numbers at the same time is too challenging, just stick with one or the other. (“Throw me a green ball!” and the next time you play, “Throw me 3 balls!”)
Looking for more ways to reuse your Pack ‘n Play for indoor fun? Check out Part 2 and Part 3!
