19 Easy Toddler Activities That Won’t Drive You Bonkers (Promise!)
Being a parent means juggling a million things at once. Sometimes, we need great ideas for quick activities to keep our little ones busy while we tackle the endless to-do list. We totally get it – finding ways to entertain toddlers can feel overwhelming when you’re already running on empty and surviving on cold coffee.
These easy toddler activities need minimal prep time and use simple items you probably already have at home, making them perfect for those moments when you need to keep your tiny human engaged. We’ve collected some fun activity ideas that will help develop their skills while giving you a chance to breathe (or maybe even finish that cup of coffee while it’s still warm!).
1) Pom-Pom Sorting Party
Let’s get ready for some colorful fun with this super simple activity that toddlers absolutely love! Pom pom sorting activities help little ones develop important skills while having a blast.
We love using colorful pom-poms, a few small containers, and some kid-safe tongs or tweezers. Don’t worry if you don’t have special tools – your toddler can totally use their fingers too!
Setting up this activity is super easy. Just put out different colored pom-poms in a mixed pile and place empty containers nearby. Let your little one sort the pom-poms by color, size, or whatever way they choose!
Remember to keep an eye on those tiny hands since pom-poms can look tempting to taste. We recommend this activity for toddlers who are past the putting-everything-in-their-mouth stage.
Want to make it even more exciting? Try adding some fun containers like muffin tins or ice cube trays. You can even turn it into a game by calling out colors for your toddler to find!
2) DIY Shape Hunt
A shape scavenger hunt is such a fun way to get your little ones moving and learning at the same time! Shape scavenger hunts make an awesome educational activity that works for toddlers and preschoolers of all ages.
Start by cutting out some basic shapes from colored paper – circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. We like to make them nice and big so they’re easy for tiny hands to grab. Now comes the exciting part – hide these shapes around your house or classroom!
Give your toddler a simple shape worksheet as their guide and watch them dash around searching for matching objects. They’ll be so proud when they find a round clock or a square picture frame that matches their worksheet!
Want to make it even more exciting? Turn it into a game by setting a timer to see how many shapes they can find in 5 minutes. Or assign different colors to each shape for an extra challenge with older kiddos.
Remember to cheer them on and make it super silly – we love doing little victory dances when shapes are found! This activity is perfect for burning energy on rainy days while sneaking in some learning too.
3) Rainbow Pasta Play
Rainbow pasta is one of our favorite toddler activities because it’s so simple to set up and brings huge smiles! Just grab some dry pasta and food coloring, and you’re ready to create magic.
Threading colorful pasta onto pipe cleaners helps little ones develop fine motor skills while having fun. The pipe cleaners are much easier for tiny hands to work with than string or yarn.
We love that you don’t need a ton of materials. One 500g packet of pasta is plenty for multiple play sessions. Let your toddler scoop, pour, and explore to their heart’s content!
Want to kick things up a notch? Try making rainbow spaghetti for an amazing sensory experience. It’s messy but totally worth it to see their excited faces as they squish and play.
Set up a simple sorting game with different colored bowls, or let them practice counting by grouping similar colors together. The possibilities are endless, and we love watching their creativity bloom!
4) Ice Cube Painting Bash
Get ready for the coolest art project ever! We’re about to turn frozen cubes into a colorful masterpiece that will keep your little ones engaged and excited.
Ice cube painting can keep toddlers entertained for up to 20 minutes – which is basically forever in toddler time! The magic happens when paint meets ice, creating unique patterns and swirls.
We love this activity because it’s super simple to set up. Just grab some ice cubes, washable paint, paper, and you’re good to go! Pro tip: stick popsicle sticks in the ice cubes before freezing to make little handles.
Safety first, friends! We always stay close and supervise since ice cubes can be a choking hazard. Plus, watching their amazed faces as the paint freezes on contact is priceless!
Want to make it extra fun? Try using food coloring in your ice cubes before freezing them. When they melt, they’ll create gorgeous watercolor effects that’ll make your tiny artists squeal with joy!
Perfect for those hot summer days when we’re all looking for ways to cool down while getting creative. Just lay out some paper, hand over those painted ice cubes, and watch the magic unfold!
5) Bubble Wrap Stomp
Get ready for some giggly, paint-splattered fun that will have your little ones bouncing with joy! We absolutely love this bubble wrap stomp painting activity because it combines two things toddlers can’t resist – making noise and getting messy.
Here’s our super simple setup: Just wrap some bubble wrap around your kiddo’s feet (secure it with tape), and let them dip their feet in washable paint. Trust us, their eyes will light up at this point!
Roll out a large piece of paper on the floor – we like using butcher paper or an old roll of wrapping paper. Now comes the fun part – let your tiny artist stomp and dance away! Each step creates unique bubble prints and the most adorable squeals of delight.
We love that this activity helps develop gross motor skills while creating amazing artwork. Plus, the sensory experience of feeling the bubbles pop under their feet is absolutely priceless!
Pro tip: Keep some wet wipes handy and maybe do this outside or in the garage if you’re worried about paint spreading. And yes, we totally understand if you want to join in – we won’t tell anyone! 😉
6) Sticky Note Wall Art
Let’s get creative with one of our favorite toddler activities – sticky note wall art! This super simple sensory activity that will keep your little one busy and happy while developing their fine motor skills.
Grab a pack of colorful sticky notes and create a blank canvas on your wall. We love using Post-it notes for creative activities because they’re easy to stick and remove without damaging walls.
Let your toddler go wild placing sticky notes wherever they want! They can make patterns, shapes, or just enjoy the random placement. We find that mixing different colored notes makes this activity even more exciting.
The best part? You can turn this into a learning game too! Ask your kiddo to sort the notes by color or create simple shapes like circles and squares. It’s amazing to watch their little minds work while they’re having fun.
When your tot gets tired of sticking notes on the wall, try moving them to different surfaces like windows or doors. We’ve found that changing locations keeps the activity fresh and exciting.
7) Paper Plate Shakers
We love this super simple musical craft that will keep your little one entertained for hours! Making paper plate shakers is one of our favorite activities because it combines crafting and music-making.
To get started, grab two paper plates, some colorful streamers, scissors, and glue or tape.
You’ll also need dry rice, beans, or pasta to create that awesome shaking sound.
Let your toddler go wild decorating the outside of the plates with stickers, crayons, or markers.
We find that rainbow-colored streamers make these shakers extra fun and festive!
Place a small handful of dried beans between the two plates, then secure the edges with staples.
Make sure to staple them really well so none of the noisemakers escape during playtime!
These DIY instruments are perfect for dance parties, music time, or just making joyful noise.
Our toddlers love shaking them while we sing their favorite songs. Plus, making these shakers helps develop fine and gross motor activities, skills and creativity.
Pro tip: If you want to avoid mess, fill the shakers yourself before letting your little one play with them. Trust us on this one – beans everywhere is not fun to clean up!
8) Cardboard Box Car Race
Let’s turn those empty cardboard boxes into the most epic racing adventure ever! Making a cardboard box car is super simple – grab a box, some tape, and let your creativity run wild.
First, we need to create our raceway. Build a simple ramp using a long piece of cardboard propped up against a chair or couch.
Secure it with tape so it doesn’t wobble.
Now for the fun part – decorating those box cars!
We love using fabric scraps for seats and packing tape to reinforce the edges. Add some paper plate wheels, and boom – you’ve got yourself a racing machine!
Our favorite part is watching the little ones get totally into character as race car drivers.
They make the cutest “vroom vroom” sounds while scooting around in their cardboard creations.
Cardboard boxes are pure magic for playtime.
Your toddler might spend more time playing with the box car than any fancy store-bought toy – and we’re totally here for it!
Pro tip: Keep a few extra boxes handy. These cardboard cars tend to be such a hit that siblings or playdate friends will definitely want in on the action too!
9) Cupcake Liner Flowers
Let’s make something pretty with those colorful cupcake liners hiding in your kitchen drawer! This easy cupcake liner flower craft is perfect for toddlers and makes the cutest spring decorations.
Grab some colorful cupcake liners, green construction paper, and glue. That’s all you need! We love simple crafts that don’t require a trip to the store.
Your little one can practice their fine motor skills by folding the cupcake liners into flower shapes.
Let them scrunch, fold, or leave them flat – there’s no wrong way to make these flowers!
Cut some stems and leaves from the green paper.
We like to help with this part since scissors can be tricky for tiny hands. Then let your busy toddler just go wild with glue and stick everything together.
These flower crafts look super cute on the fridge or windows.
Plus, they make adorable gifts for family members. Our moms always melt when they get handmade flowers from their grandbabies!
Don’t stress if the flowers look a bit messy – that’s part of the fun! We’re all about celebrating creativity and making memories, not perfection.
10) Egg Carton Caterpillars
We absolutely love turning empty egg cartons into the cutest little caterpillars! This classic egg carton craft is perfect for toddlers and brings so much joy to craft time.
Start by cutting your egg carton into a strip of connected cups. We usually use 4-6 cups to make our caterpillar the perfect size for older kids with tiny hands.
Let your little one paint each section in bright, fun colors – don’t worry about the mess!
Add some googly eyes to give your caterpillar a silly face.
You can also use pipe cleaners for antennae and legs.
We’ve found that toddlers love personalizing their caterpillars with different colors and decorations.
This craft is amazing for developing fine motor skills as your toddler paints and adds decorations.
Plus, it’s a great way to reuse those empty egg cartons we all have lying around!
Want to make your craft sticks make it extra special? Try reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” while making your craft. Our kiddos get so excited when they can connect storytime with crafting!
11) Shaving Cream Sensory Bin
Let’s get a little messy with this super fun sensory activity! All you need is some cheap shaving cream and a bin or tray to create an amazing and fun sensory experience for your little one.
Shaving cream sensory bins keep toddlers engaged for such a long time.
We love watching their faces light up as they squish and spread the fluffy cream around!
Want to make it even more exciting? Try adding some water beads to your shaving cream bin for extra sensory fun.
The different textures will blow your little one’s mind!
You can also turn this into a creative building activity by adding foam blocks.
The shaving cream acts like glue to stick them together. How cool is that?
Remember to put down an old sheet or do this activity in the bathtub for easier cleanup.
We promise the mess is totally worth it when you see how much fun your toddler has exploring these new textures!
12) Sponge Tower Balance
We love this super simple activity that keeps toddlers busy and teaches them balance skills at the same time! All you need are a few kitchen sponges in different colors and sizes.
Cut some sponges into smaller pieces and let your little one try stacking them into towers.
The wobbly nature of sponges makes this extra fun and challenging for tiny hands.
We like to make it extra exciting by turning it into a game.
Try challenging your toddler to build the tallest tower they can before it topples over. Count the sponges together as you stack them up!
Using sponges as building blocks is perfect for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Plus, when the towers inevitably fall (and they will!), there’s no loud crash to startle anyone.
Want to add more fun to water table? Try wetting some of the sponges for sensory play.
Just make sure you have towels handy – this can get messy, but that’s part of the joy!
13) Playdough Picnic
Let’s throw the cutest pretend picnic ever with our favorite squishy friend – playdough! We love setting up a special spot on the floor with a blanket to make it feel like a real picnic.
Grab your playdough tools like cookie cutters, plastic knives, and rolling pins.
These will help us create all sorts of yummy pretend foods for our feast.
We can roll out “sandwiches” with different colored playdough layers, make tiny fruits by rolling balls, and even create pretty little “cupcakes” with swirled tops.
Our toddlers go crazy for making playdough cupcakes and decorating them with pretend sprinkles!
Don’t forget to bring some plastic plates and cups to make it feel like a real picnic.
We love watching our little ones serve up their playdough creations and practice sharing with their stuffed animal friends.
This activity is perfect for teaching sharing, building fine motor skills, and encouraging creative play.
Plus, it’s just plain fun to watch their proud faces as they “cook” up a storm!
14) Paintbrush with Water
Let’s talk about one of our absolute favorite toddler activities – painting with water! It’s mess-free, super simple to set up, and keeps those little ones busy for ages.
Grab a cup of water and some paintbrushes – that’s literally all you need!
We love taking this activity outdoors during warmer months.
Your toddler can “paint” on the fence, sidewalk, or patio furniture.
Want to make it even more exciting? Try different tools like rollers, sponges, or even toothbrushes to create fun patterns.
We’ve found that our kiddos get extra excited when we give them a variety of “painting” tools to experiment with.
For indoor fun, colored construction paper makes an amazing canvas.
The water darkens the paper temporarily, creating a magical effect that disappears as it dries.
Just remember to use a small amount of water to avoid soggy paper messes!
This activity is perfect for developing fine motor skills and creativity, plus it’s completely free! We promise your little one will feel like a real artist without any cleanup required.
15) Veggie Print Stamps
Who knew your leftover veggies could be turned into amazing art supplies? This super fun activity is perfect for tiny artists and will keep them busy while making the coolest masterpieces ever!
Making fruit and veggie prints is such a creative way to use up those random produce bits that might otherwise end up in the trash. Plus, we love any excuse to get messy with paint!
Grab some paper, washable paint, and a few fruits or veggies.
Cut them in half to create different shapes – apples make awesome circles, celery stalks create fun flower patterns, and bell peppers make the cutest hearts when cut horizontally.
Let your little one dip the veggie pieces in paint and press them onto paper.
We recommend putting newspaper underneath because things can get pretty messy (but that’s half the fun!).
Want to make it educational too? Ask your toddler to identify which fruit or veggie made each print.
It’s like a fun guessing game mixed with art time!
Remember to let the masterpieces dry flat – hanging them up right away might make the paint run. Then display those beautiful creations proudly on your fridge!
16) Colorful Straw Necklace
Let’s get creative with this super fun and simple necklace craft that your little ones will absolutely love! Making colorful straw necklaces is perfect for developing those tiny finger muscles while creating something beautiful.
Grab some drinking straws and cut them into small pieces.
We love using different colored straws to make the necklaces extra fun and eye-catching!
Your toddler can practice sorting the straw pieces by color before stringing them.
All you need is some string or yarn and those straw pieces.
Watch as your little one threads the straws onto the string – it’s amazing to see their concentration faces as they work on this activity!
This craft is fantastic for parties too!
We’ve found that toddlers absolutely adore making these necklaces and proudly wearing their colorful creations.
Plus, it’s such a budget-friendly activity that keeps them engaged.
Don’t worry if the necklaces aren’t perfect – that’s what makes them special!
The joy on their faces when they finish their masterpiece is worth every scattered straw piece on the floor (and trust us, there will be some!).
17) Chalkboard Rock Doodles
We’re totally obsessed with this super fun activity that combines chalk and rocks for endless creative play!
Grab some sidewalk chalk and a few smooth rocks from your backyard or local park.
Let your little one use the rocks as drawing tools on the chalkboard.
The rocks make different marks and textures than regular chalk – how cool is that?
We love watching their faces light up when they discover they can make dots, squiggles, and all sorts of patterns.
Dip the rocks in water to create an entirely new drawing experience!
The wet rocks interact with the chalk in magical ways, making swirls and streaks that’ll blow your toddler’s mind.
Clean-up is a breeze with this activity. Just wipe the chalkboard clean and store the rocks in a container for next time.
We keep our special “drawing rocks” separate from regular outdoor rocks to avoid confusion.
The best part? This activity helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while letting your little one express their creativity.
Plus, it’s mess-free compared to paint or markers – win-win!
18) Balloon Tennis Match
Balloon tennis is one of our favorite rainy day activities that gets everyone moving and giggling! We love how simple it is to set up and that it works for kids of all ages.
To make your tennis rackets, grab some paper plates and tape them to paint stir sticks or wooden spoons.
We’ve found that this easy DIY setup works perfectly and costs almost nothing.
Blow up a balloon and let the fun begin!
You can play just like regular tennis, hitting the balloon back and forth between players.
Our little ones love trying to keep the balloon from touching the ground – it’s way easier than using a real tennis ball!
For our youngest players, we hang the balloon from a string at their height level.
This makes it super fun for them to practice their hand-eye coordination while feeling successful.
Want to mix things up?
We love having balloon-balancing races across the room using our plate rackets.
Our kiddos also enjoy counting how many times they can hit the balloon up in the air before it falls.
Trust us – this game will have everyone laughing and moving!
19) Nature Collage Creation
Creating nature collages is one of our favorite activities!
We love grabbing a basket and heading outside with our little ones to collect natural materials like leaves, flowers, twigs, and pebbles.
The best part? There’s no wrong way to do this!
Just grab some paper or cardboard as your base, add some kid-friendly glue, and let your toddler go wild arranging their treasures.
We’ve found that nature collages help develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness while getting creative.
Want to make it extra fun?
Try making nature crowns by gluing the found items onto a paper crown base.
Our kiddos feel like woodland royalty when they wear their creations!
We love how this activity gets us outside and teaches our little ones to appreciate nature.
Plus, each collage turns out totally unique – just like our amazing toddlers! And let’s be real – sometimes the most entertaining part is watching them decide which leaf is absolutely perfect for their masterpiece.
How to Make Activities Fun and Engaging
Making toddler activities exciting doesn’t have to be complicated! We’ve discovered some simple ideas and tricks to keep those little ones totally absorbed in playtime – and we’re here to spill all our secrets.
Incorporating Favorite Toys
Let’s be real – our toddlers are obsessed with their favorite toys!
We can make any activity more exciting by bringing their beloved stuffed toy animals or cars into the mix. Simple activities become more engaging when we include their special toys.
Try these fun ideas:
Have their teddy bear “help” with block building
Let toy cars drive through paint for art projects
Make their favorite doll the “teacher” during learning activities
We’ve found that rotating toys in and out of activities keeps things fresh and exciting.
When we bring back a toy that’s been hidden away for a while, it’s like Christmas morning all over again!
Mixing in Music and Dance
Nothing gets those tiny feet moving like some upbeat tunes!
We love adding playdate magic with music to transform regular activities into dance parties.
Some of our fave musical additions:
Cleanup songs to make tidying fun
Movement breaks between activities
Silly dance challenges during craft time
Musical freeze games while practicing skills
We’ve learned that even the simplest activities become way more fun when we add some tunes and wiggle breaks. Plus, those sweet toddler dance moves are literally the cutest thing ever!
Benefits of Easy Activities for Toddlers
Simple activities with toddlers create amazing moments for learning water play and bonding.
The everyday play sessions help shape their growing minds and bodies in fantastic ways!
Encouraging Creativity
Play-based learning activities spark imagination and creative thinking in our little ones.
When we give them simple materials like boxes or blocks, they transform them into magical new worlds!
Art projects don’t need fancy supplies. A few crayons and paper can unleash their inner artist.
We love watching their faces light up with pride when they create something new.
Music and movement activities get those creative juices flowing too.
Dancing, singing silly songs, and making up new rhymes help kids involved them express themselves in fun ways.
Building Motor Skills
Getting our toddlers moving through simple daily activities helps develop their coordination and strength.
Things like climbing, jumping, and running are perfect for those growing muscles!
Fine motor skills develop when we give them activities like:
Stacking blocks
Placing objects in containers
Drawing with chunky crayons
Playing with play dough
Riding bikes and scooters around the yard helps with balance and body control.
We’ve found that these active play sessions tire them out perfectly before naptime!
Simple sorting games and puzzles help develop hand-eye coordination.
Plus, they’re having so much fun they don’t even realize they’re learning!
