16 Toddler Indoor Activities That’ll Save Your Sanity on Rainy Days

Raise your hand if you’ve ever run out of ideas on what to do with a busy toddler when you’re stuck inside or stuck indoors—we’ve all been there, right?

Keeping energetic little ones busy inside with activities for toddlers can feel impossible some days, but we can also make it about quality time while ’ve totally got your back.

Whether it’s raining, snowing, or just “nope” weather, we need a stash of indoor activities for toddlers ready to save the day.

We put together this list of fun and easy indoor activities because, let’s be honest, none of us can handle hearing “I’m bored” one more time before lunch.

These picks are super doable, mess is totally allowed, and yes, you can stay in your sweatpants.

1) Pom Pom Sorting with Shaker Cups

Okay, let’s talk about a total lifesaver: pom pom sorting with shaker cups—such great ideas for indoor fun!

We grab some colorful pom poms and a few plastic cups, and boom, instant activity!

The kiddos shake, sort, and drop to their hearts’ content.

Sorting colors and sizes keeps little hands busy.

Plus, it’s a sneaky way to help those fine motor skills shine—just like in this pom pom color sorting tray.

It gets wild, but at least it’s a happy mess and so much fun !

2) DIY Playdough and Cookie Cutter Fun

Let’s be real—playdough can save the day when the weather or our moods are, well, less than sunny, while also helping them develop fine motor skills .

We just make a quick batch (seriously, it takes minutes), hand out some cookie cutters according to the child’s age , and suddenly the kitchen table is the place to be.

Our toddlers squish and roll to work those little hands.

The shapes they cut out are hilarious, weird, or honestly kinda awesome.

We can even try fun ideas like making salt dough ornaments too, like in this cookie cutter activity.

Clean up? Let’s just say…the vacuum is our best friend.

3) Indoor Dance Party Challenge

Let’s crank up the music and turn our living room into a mini dance floor.

We pick our toddler’s favorite tunes and let loose with fun play ideas —no fancy moves needed, just pure silliness.

If we want to mix it up, try stopping the music and playing freeze dance.

Anyone else love waving scarves or shaking a shaker cup while dancing?

It’s an instant hit with our toddlers and lets everyone burn off some energy.

For more ideas, check out these indoor dance party tips.

4) Build a Tunnel Tent Fort

Let’s grab all the old blankets, chairs, every couch cushion we own, and a cardboard box—because it’s tunnel tent fort time.

We love seeing the kiddos crawl through a homemade tunnel that’s somehow both epic and falling apart.

If you don’t want a big mess, pop-up tunnel tents from places like Amazon’s play tunnels are total lifesavers.

It’s wild how a simple tunnel can keep our kids giggling for ages!

5) Kinetic Sand Construction Zone

Okay, can we talk about how much our kids love any excuse to play with trucks?

Let’s grab some brown kinetic sand and small toys, like construction vehicles—dump trucks, cranes, whatever we’ve got.

We just pour the sand in a bin, toss in the vehicles, and let the little ones build, dig, and smash things up.

It seriously keeps them busy and gives us a slight break.

Find cool kinetic sand construction sets if you want all the bells and whistles!

6) Animal Tape Rescue Game

Okay, let’s talk about the Animal Tape Rescue Game—seriously, it’s a lifesaver on those “what do we even DO today?” kinda afternoons.

We grab some toy animals and tape them down to a table, chair, or even the floor.

The goal? Let our toddlers peel the tape off and save those little animals!

It’s super simple and keeps our little ones busy while working on their fine motor skills.

Plus, all you need is tape and toys lying around.

Peek at this Animal Tape Rescue activity for more ideas.

7) Sticky Tape Art for Tiny Hands

We all know toddlers love to get their hands on, well, everything!

Sticky tape art is such a win because it keeps them busy with almost zero mess.

Let’s grab some painter’s tape and make shapes, zigzags, or even crazy roads right on the table.

Our little ones can stick down paper, pom-poms, or whatever craft bits we’ve got lying around.

Not only is this fun, but it seriously helps with their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination too.

Need more ideas? Check out these easy ways to make sticky tape art for fine motor skills at home!

8) Popsicle Stick Painting

Okay, friends, it’s time to grab those popsicle sticks hiding in the back of our kitchen drawer!

Let’s paint, swirl, and splash some color without any rules.

Popsicle stick painting is pure creative freedom, and yes, it’s totally fine if we end up with hands covered in more paint than the sticks.

We can use brushes, sponges, or just our fingers.

Easy setup, barely any cleanup, and our toddlers will seriously love seeing what wild art they can whip up.

Need even more inspiration? Check out these popsicle stick painting ideas for toddlers.

9) Paper Ball Shootout Target Practice

Okay, who knew a piece of paper could bring out our inner athletes?

All we do is scrunch up some paper balls and set up cups or buckets as targets.

We grab the paper balls, take aim, and try to score big points by tossing them into the targets.

If you want to mix things up, check out this creative paper ball game idea for even more fun.

10) Noodle Sensory Bin Exploration

Okay, let’s talk about how noodles can totally save our sanity on a rainy day, and keep the kids occupied .

We just dump some dry pasta in a bin, add scoops, spoons, or cups, and let the kids explore.

We love how this activity works with regular or colored pasta—rainbow noodles, and a sprinkle of baking soda yone?

Want to level up? Try all the fun pasta shapes because yes, alphabet macaroni is a mood.

It’s easy to clean up, too, which means no stress for us!

11) Balance Board Adventures

Let’s grab a balance board and let our toddlers work out all those wiggles. These boards are perfect for playing pretend—one minute it’s a wobble bridge, next it’s a superhero ramp, and then suddenly, it’s a pirate ship!

We love how balance boards help our little ones burn off energy and sneak in some physical activity. If you want more creative ideas, check out some engaging toddler activities with balance boards on this TikTok video.

Trust us, it’s basically a playground staple in our living rooms.

12) Bubble Foam Trucks Race

Let’s get those toy trucks zooming through bubble foam—because who doesn’t love a good, soapy mess?

We just whip up some easy bubble foam, pour it in a bin, and line up those trucks for a bubbly race. Our kids love driving their mini dump trucks and diggers through the fluffy foam.

It’s a super simple sensory activity that’s like a car wash and a racetrack rolled into one. Want step-by-step tips? Check out this bubble foam truck activity idea!

13) Rainbow Rice Sensory Play

Okay, have you tried rainbow rice yet? It’s like magic for younger toddlers and honestly, we love it too.

We just throw some colored rice in a bin and let the littles dig, scoop, and pour to their hearts’ content. It’s so easy to make—just food coloring, rice, and a little patience while it dries.

Find simple how-tos in this rainbow rice sensory bin guide. Don’t be surprised if this becomes one of our go-to rainy day activities!

14) Pikler Triangle Gym Time

Let’s be real—the Pikler Triangle is the MVP of indoor climbing. We can set it up in the living room and let our wild toddlers go to town.

They’ll climb, slide, and invent games we never even thought of, including different shapes for more fun all while building serious gross motor skills. The best part? It’s fun, but still keeps everyone safe inside.

Looking for new ways to use it? Check out these creative Pikler Triangle ideas for extra inspo when the usual climb gets old.

15) Card Sorting with Colorful Cards

Grab those playing cards hiding in our junk drawer and let’s make them stars of the show!

We can spread out those playing cards and have our toddlers sort by color, suit, or number. This simple card sorting activity is actually a sneaky way to boost matching skills and number sense.

Plus, it keeps little hands busy—which is always a win for us! If we want to step it up, check out this easy card sorting game for toddlers for some inspo.

16) Collage Making with Scrap Paper

Okay, this one is a lifesaver for those rainy (or let’s be real, lazy) days.

We grab some old magazines, colorful scraps, or even yesterday’s mail, and let the kids snip, tear, and glue everything into wild, beautiful collages.

It’s creative, super low-stress, and somehow keeps them busy for ages. We love how these scrap paper collages give our tiny tornadoes a way to make art from random stuff.

Bonus: zero perfection required!

Why Indoor Activities Rock for Toddlers

Let’s be real—toddlers have energy for days, and sometimes we just need to keep them happy and learning through early childhood education by having them read stories without anyone (including us) climbing the walls.

Indoor activities aren’t just about passing time; they help our little ones grow smarter and closer to us while keeping things fun.

Building Bonds Through Play

First up, playing together indoors is a total win for connection. When we’re stacking blocks, tossing soft balls, or working on puzzles together, we’re not just keeping our toddlers busy—we’re really showing up in the moment.

There’s so much magic in those shared giggles and “look what I did!” moments. We get to see how our kids solve problems and cheer them on when they try new things.

Just a simple game of matching shapes or creating an indoor obstacle course can turn into the funniest memory (yes, we can count “furniture parkour” as bonding).

If we take the time to actually play and listen, we show our toddlers that their ideas and efforts matter. That’s a pretty great feeling for everyone.

Encouraging Creativity and Imagination

Let’s talk about creativity. Indoors, we have a chance to turn ordinary stuff into adventure, adding some extra fun along the way .

Our living room becomes a jungle, a spaceship, or even a magical art studio with just a few toys or blankets. Toddlers love exploring and making things up as they go—so why not let them?

Simple activities like building with blocks, making our own play dough, or having a puppet show help kids use their brains in new ways. We can even set up a mini scavenger hunt or create “rainstorms” using pots and utensils.

When we give our little ones the tools to experiment, fail, and try again, we’re helping their imaginations grow stronger. Bonus: their wild stories and silly ideas are pretty much the best entertainment around.

Tips For Keeping Your Sanity During Indoor Play

Let’s get real—indoor play can go from fun to wild in 0.3 seconds. Sometimes we need a few tricks to keep the peace (and our minds intact) while our kiddos bounce off every surface.

Setting Up for (Kinda) Organized Chaos

We love a good system, even if it’s held together by half-used stickers and hope.

Here’s what helps us keep things manageable:

Create zones: Set up one area for blocks, another for drawing, and maybe a blanket fort in the corner, along with some fun activity ideas . That way, the messy art doesn’t invade block city.

Rotate toys: Instead of dumping every toy onto the floor, keep a few out and stash the rest. When things get stale, swap them. It’s like giving your toddler a brand new toy run.

Use bins or baskets: Label them with pictures or colors so our toddlers actually know where things go. Cleanup is faster (and let’s be honest, a little less painful).

Creating routines for breaks, snack times, or even a quick clean-up dance party with some pipe cleaners can go a long way—plus, movement breaks help burn energy.

Looking for more ways to keep things structured but not stuffy? Check out these great indoor activity ideas for toddlers.

Embracing Mess With Grace (And Maybe a Mop)

Some days, the living room looks like five tornadoes just blew through. It’s wild, but honestly, mess is just part of the deal when kids are exploring and making stuff.

We toss old shower curtains or towels under painting and water play and keep the recycling bin close . It saves the floor from total disaster—well, most of the time.

Cleaning stuff stays close by: wipes, cloths, a tiny vacuum. We’ve sung the clean-up song way too many times, but hey, it helps.

Not every project needs to look Pinterest-perfect. Sometimes, the best memories come from those ridiculous, slippery finger-paint afternoons or toppled block towers.

When things just feel like too much, we crank up the music and have a toddler dance break. That counts as cleaning and, honestly, a little bit of self-care too. For more ideas, here’s a handy list of simple ways to relax indoors with a toddler.