I spoke with a mom last weekend who has two young daughters, three years and 14-months-old. She said her children seem bored playing with the same toys every day and believes that boredom is the cause of a lot of their irritability. I feel for this mom and for her daughters! These are new and challenging times we’re living in and I think many of us are suffering from the “same old, same old” each day.

A play space that provided hours of pleasure a couple of months ago, may now benefit from a few adjustments. It’s a good idea to follow a “less is more” rule of thumb. Too many toys can make it more difficult for your child to engage deeply with any one toy. So, now may be a good time to put away some toys and rotate a few of them back in whenever your toddler needs a change.

You can also give toys a sense of newness by setting them out differently.

A big, empty yogurt container may have held links and chains yesterday but today, a small stuffed animal can peek out of the top. The metal canning or wooden rings that are usually loose in a basket or colander can be tied together with a ribbon or string. Small wooden or plastic animal figures can appear in surprising places, inside a jar or on top of a block.

An empty shoe box with found treasures like photos, greeting cards, a retired cell phone, remote or zippered pouch, can provide a sense of wonder and surprise.

Your kitchen cupboards may hold hidden gems too: plastic or metal measuring spoons and cups, pots with lids, Tupperware containers, and empty plastic jars and bottles – without their caps, of course.

With minimum effort, you can create fun activities with a few simple materials:

Wrapping Paper Roll Luge: Materials: Empty wrapping paper roll, tape, small cars. Depending on the size of the roll, cut a 1/4 to 1/3 strip down the length of the roll. You want the opening to be big enough that your child can launch a small car down the roll but not so big that the roll no longer holds its shape. Prop up the roll against a chair or sofa and secure it with tape to help it stay in place.

Ramp: Materials: Cardboard, packing or other strong tape, balls, cars, lightweight blocks or something to knock down. Make a ramp from a piece of cardboard and prop it up against a chair or sofa. Secure it with tape to help it stay in place. Your toddler can roll cars or balls down the ramp and discover which one goes the farthest. An older toddler may want to set up a few lightweight blocks for the balls or cars to knock down.

Bubble Wrap: Materials: bubble wrap, tape. If you have a long piece of bubble wrap, use tape to secure it to the floor or rug. Your toddler can walk or crawl on the bubble wrap until the last bubble’s popped. Even a small piece of bubble wrap can be fun! Note: check to be sure that whatever tape you’re using won’t damage your floors.

Tents/Forts: Materials: Sheets, blankets, pillows, “chip clips” or binder clips. Sheets and blankets hung over and secured to tables and chairs make cozy forts. Add some pillows for extra coziness.

For more ideas, sign up for my 25 Indoor Toddler Activities.