Play ideas for when everyone is tired

The first United Nations International Play day takes place on 11th June, with this day celebrating the power of play. We know that life with an under-five can be tiring, so we're sharing some ideas for when you're exhausted. 

We’ve included ideas for babies, toddlers, and children but, as always, you know your child best so choose something they’ll love.  

Babies 

Tummy time together 

What to try 

• Lie your baby down on the floor.  
• Lie down facing them and chat and smile.  
• Pause and give your baby time to respond before you say something else.  
• Carry on for as long as your baby is interested.  

Tummy time is hard work for your baby, so if they seem too tired to enjoy it why not try the idea below.  

Time to explore 

What to try 

• Lie or sit your baby on the floor, or hold them in your arms.  
• Get out a couple of favourite toys (or play-safe objects).  
• Sit close by and smile as they look at or hold the object.  

While chatting about what they’re doing is great, sometimes giving your baby time to explore objects without any other sensory input (like your voice) helps them get really involved. 

Sitting close by gives them reassurance you’re there if needed, and an occasional smile or comment might help them keep playing, but you can embrace the quiet for this activity.  

Toddlers 

Rhyme time 

What to try 

• Draw some simple pictures of a few favourite rhymes, for example, a star, sheep or spider.  
• Put the pictures in a bag and ask your toddler to choose one.  
• Sing the rhyme together (or if you’re really tired, ask your toddler to sing to you). 
• If you have older children, this could be a game your toddler plays with an older sibling.  

Big pictures 

What you need 

• A large sheet of paper (the back of an old roll of wallpaper can be good) or an opened out cardboard box 
• Crayons, pencils or pens  

What to try 

• Put the paper on the floor somewhere with space around it.  
• Lie on the floor with your toddler and draw on the paper.  
• Encourage them to make lines and squiggles that go all the way across the paper.  

When your toddler first starts to draw and write they will control the movements from their shoulder – so finding ways to write on a large scale like this is perfect for supporting their confidence and writing skills as well as giving you a chance to lie down.  

Children 

Sleepy stretches 

What to try 

• Find a comfortable place, or use a mat or rug.  
• Play some calming music. 
• Do some stretches together, these could be simple Yoga positions, or just stretching as you lie on the mat.  

When you’ve finished the stretches, you could make this into a game of sleeping lions. Challenge your child to stay still for as long as they can, when they move... they’re out! (And the game can start again!) 

Doctor, doctor 

What to try 

• Suggest you play a game of doctors.  
• You can be the patient, which means you need to rest or lie down! 
• Your child can be the doctor and see if they can suggest what will make you better.  

All our sleep articles in one place 

If you want to know more about the development of sleep, or helping your child get good quality sleep, you’ll find all our articles about it here: Sweet dreams: all our sleep articles in one place.