Activity Ideas For Toddlers

5 ideas to keep your toddler busy. These screen free activity ideas for toddlers will keep them happy and out of trouble. Have you heard enough Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Octonauts to make you crazy? Or just want some fresh ideas your tot will enjoy? Then keep reading!

Watercolors

Who doesn’t love watercolors? I think you’d be hard pressed to find a toddler who doesn’t enjoy using watercolors. They are washable, easy to clean up, easy to use and very affordable. These reasons make watercolors a great choice to keep your toddler busy. Little children are fascinated by the “magic” of transferring the liquid color to paper. You can pick up a ream of cheap printer paper, use some construction paper or even scrap paper if that’s all you can find. The kids don’t mind. A small jar or cup of water and they’re off painting!

Stickers

Stickers are another easy activity idea to keep your toddler busy. They really enjoy learning how to peel the stickers from the sheets and placing them on paper. And once again, this is a cheap activity. You can find stickers at the dollar store, or anywhere. There are nearly endless sticker designs out there to choose from too.

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic sand is fun to play with. It comes in different colors and some even scented. This is a great activity for when your little ones are past the “eat everything they touch” stage. Place the sand in a tray or shallow container for minimal mess, waste and easy clean up. Some things to add to the sand could be; spoon, small dish, animal figurines, cars/trucks. The sand is definitely a hit in our house!

Popsicle Game

You can make a homemade popsicle toddler activity with a simple paper container like the one above and some popsicle sticks. I have also used oatmeal containers and coffee cans. Simply cut a few slits in the cover of your container the width of the end of the sticks and it’s ready to play with! For a bonus use colored sticks and your toddler can practice their colors while sticking them through the cover.

Water Play

This activity requires a little more supervision than the others, but still is a great busy activity. You’ll need to make sure your toddler doesn’t turn on the faucet, get into the soap, fall off the chair or things of that nature. I set this up by mixing natural dish soap with warm water in a mixing bowl in the sink. I place a large bath towel on the floor right in front of the sink and place a chair on top of the towel (so that the back of the chair is behind her as she plays at the sink). After making sure the area around the sink is clear of soap bottles, dishes, etc. I gather up a few toy animals, cars and measuring cups. Then she can play to her heart’s content, pouring water back and fourth in the cups, washing her animals and cars. She absolutely loves this.

This is by no means an exhausted list but just a few ideas to get you started if you are stuck or just need some fresh inspiration.

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Watercolors

Stickers

Kinetic Sand

Paper Mache Cylinder Containers (Also check your local Hobby Lobby)

Colored Popsicle Sticks

Construction Trucks

Forest Animals Set

Wooden Activity Trays

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups