52 Things to Do With Toddlers at Home

Alexandra F. said:  And whenever possible, use a video app like Zoom, FaceTime or Skype so your toddler can see Grandma face to face! If everyone has time, consider playing a game during your video chat like 20 Questions, Headbanz or Simon Says. Or, have a special virtual read aloud of a favorite picture book.

Alexandra F. said:  This is a great age to introduce simple puzzles. Puzzles with larger pieces are best for little hands, and 24 pieces or even up to 50 pieces will be enough to keep toddlers busy without too much frustration!

Alexandra F. said:  Your toddler is probably starting to learn some simple songs, so turn on your favorite album of kids music and sing along!

Alexandra F. said:  I’m not even joking. I mean, you won’t get all those hours at once, but it’s incredible how long the scooping, excavating, digging and dumping will hold their attention - especially if your toddler loves trucks!

Alexandra F. said:  Then knock it down! Use Duplos, blocks, Magna Tiles, cups - anything your toddler can stack, then knock over.

Alexandra F. said:  This is a great way to help your toddler build her vocabulary, and even sneak in some color recognition and counting practice! Set them on a hunt to find and gather objects they will recognize, such as three yellow Legos, five blocks, a red apple, a pillow, and two blue socks. Another fun variation is to draw pictures of different objects on individual post-it notes and hide each note. I make a "map" of the hidden items by drawing them all on a single post-it/paper, which my toddler loves.

Alexandra F. said:  Those shape sorter toys are great but you don’t need special toys for a fun sorting activity for toddlers - just sort any toys you have at home by color or shape. You’ll be surprised by how long this holds a toddler’s attention. It's great for developing fine motor skills, too! Of course, be sure to keep a close eye if you use any small objects that could end up inside a curious toddler’s mouth.

Alexandra F. said:  I don't think there is anything in the world more exciting for toddlers than bubbles. Chasing these magical floating spheres around and popping them is the height of fun! Bubbles are most fun outside, but can also work inside depending on your space and flooring - and comfort level with getting a little soap on the carpet and furniture. And, if you go through bubble solution as quickly as we do in our house, consider making your own - it's another fun and easy activity to do together!

Alexandra F. said:  Sure, toddlers can't do much real cooking yet, but that doesn't mean they don't love to help where they can! One of my 2-year-old's favorite activities is to measure, scoop and dump ingredients when I am cooking or baking. Mixing spices is his specialty, so he often helps prepare the taco seasoning when we make salsa chicken.

Alexandra F. said:  This is a perfect toddler activity for springtime that involves plenty of scooping and pouring. Have your toddler scoop soil into any small containers (we use yogurt cups with holes poked at the bottom for drainage). Place a few seeds inside, cover them with more soil, then water. Keep your seedlings inside near a window for sunlight. Use a bin or box to contain the mess, water them regularly, and watch them grow! Once your seedlings are ready you can transfer them to your garden or a larger container.

Alexandra F. said:  Boogie down to your favorite kid-friendly tunes. Your toddler will definitely still be dancing long after you’re ready to sit down!

Alexandra F. said:  Go beyond Candyland and explore any of these other fun board games for toddlers. Or, consider tweaking other games you love for your littlest player. Our 2-year-old loves playing a simplified version of Headbanz with the rest of the family, and his favorite game of all is Double Shutter, which has been perfect for helping to promote his number recognition and counting skills.

Alexandra F. said:  Toy instruments are great for this age group, but you don't really need them for your toddler to make his own music. Some pots, pans, and wooden spoons will do just as well, and there are plenty of easy tutorials for homemade instruments that are perfect for this age group.

Alexandra F. said:  Hide your toddler’s toys around the house for her to find. We also love hiding toys in our pile of kinetic sand and using our mini trucks to find and dig them out. A fun twist on this game is to hide pieces from the same puzzle, then put the puzzle together when all the pieces have been found.

Alexandra F. said:  Toddlers love to splash, pour and play with water. A water table is great when the weather is warm and the kids can splash outside, but if you are ok with a little mess some bowls and plastic cups inside will do just as well. Lay a big towel or two out on your kitchen floor to try and contain the mess, but a change of clothes will probably be inevitable! Or, explore other creative ideas for playing with your water table, indoors and out!