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Another DIY play mat

MATERIALS:

  • Large sheet of paper
  • Desktop protector
  • Markers or crayons

We hadn’t made a play mat in a while, so it was the perfect activity for our first day home without relatives to help entertain yesterday. Johnny got this car/boat/plane set from a friend as a big brother gift, so we made a town to go with it. I accidentally cut the paper a little bigger than the mat. We’ll either cut it down for future play or let this one wear out and make the next one fit.

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The kids pulled out the peg dolls Emma decorated to use as townspeople.

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I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the day went caring for three children on my own. The kids are maybe starting to feel better, and I think that helped. They both ate properly for the first time since Lily was born, and that went a long way towards the day going well.

See other play mats we’ve made here.

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

13 thoughts on “Another DIY play mat”

  1. It looks fun! I like your other play mats too. I'd like to make a playmat for sunnyboy with a map of our street and local area/landmarks.

    Oh, I like Green Mamma's idea for an outside 'playmat' too. :)

  2. You have some awesome ideas!

    I'm glad things are going well with three… I've found it takes a little bit!

  3. @Green Mamma – I love the idea of a play mat on asphalt for trikes and bikes, that sounds like great fun!

  4. We create a play mat on the asphalt outside our house . . . my husband and daughter draw a "race course" or map like the one your kiddos drew; then my daughter and her neighborhood friends ride their trikes and bikes or run through the course . . . you can Xs for places where the kids have to stop and hop or walk real slow. It's been one of our favorite outside activities to do this summer and so easy too.

  5. Wow, I really love this play mat idea. I made a road for my son out of matte board but the desktop protector idea is fantastic. I see an IKEA trip in my future.

  6. What a great idea!! I love how simple it is, and yet they really seem to be enjoying their new play mat. :-)

  7. I'm glad everyone is starting to feel better. Cool mat.. I like that they got out the dolls to be the "townspeople."

  8. Raising a Happy Child

    Good luck settling down to caring for three by yourselves. I hope that the kids will all cooperate. The town is a neat idea. Anna has the same set of water toys, and I think she is kind of tired of them in the bath. It's worth trying to repurpose them :)

  9. You have the best ideas! I'm glad things are going smoothly with three. It scares me just thinking about it :)

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