Let's share our go-to ideas for things to do with toddlers at home...the easier, the better!
If you've discovered any toddler activities that keep your little one happily playing, learning, moving and growing, please share the love with other parents by adding them below!
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Kinetic sand is great for any number of sensory activities for toddlers, but our favorite use by far has been to dump a bunch of it in a large plastic bin with mini trucks. My toddler and preschool boys could sit and dig with their mini trucks for hours! (Maybe not all at once, but they would sit for surprisingly long stretches at a time!)
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Working on a puzzle is a nice, quiet activity for toddlers that also promotes fine motor skill development. Puzzles with larger pieces are best at this age; be sure to start with fewer pieces (24 or less) and get bigger puzzles as they get the hang of it.
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Encourage pretend play. Preparing a meal, taking care of a baby, mowing the lawn...toddlers love to mimic the things they see us do, and that's how they learn about the world around them! It's also a great way for them to develop language skills.
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Simple crafts like crayon leaf rubbings, decorating paper plates, and outlining letters or numbers with stickers are all fun things to do with toddlers at home. So many ways for little hands to create art, learn, and have fun! Great for fine motor skills, too.
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Read together. I love how it gives us a chance to cuddle up and be together without having to chase anyone around. Even my very active boys enjoy it.
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Help with laundry - dumping stuff out is a favorite toddler pastime, so put it to good use and let them help you take clothes in and out of your washing machine and dryer. It keeps me from having to bend down as much, too, so it's a win-win!
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Make your toddler the star of his own video by recording him playing, dancing or being silly - my kids LOVE watching videos of themselves over and over again. Plus, they are always fun to share with Grandma and Grandpa. :)
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Save a cardboard box or two from the recycling bin for your toddler to transform into a rocket ship, a playhouse, a sword and shield, a doll's crib...whatever they can imagine! I highly recommend getting cardboard scissors (to be used by an adult!) if you think this might become a regular thing, as they make it SO much easier to cut shapes out of your cardboard.
