Discover 18 simple at-home activities for toddlers using items you already have. Help your child grow with sensory play, art & movement.
Let's be honest — keeping a toddler happy and busy at home can feel like running a marathon while juggling eggs.
One minute they're fascinated by a cardboard box, and the next they're trying to climb the bookshelf because, well, it's Tuesday.
Whether it's raining outside, you're working from home, or you just need 20 minutes to drink your coffee while it's still warm, having a few simple activities up your sleeve can save the day.
Here's what you won't find in this list: activities that take an hour to set up, require a trip to three different stores, or leave your house looking like a craft store exploded. We get it — you're tired, your toddler has the attention span of a goldfish, and the last thing you need is more stress.
Every activity here uses stuff you probably already have. Most take less than five minutes to set up. And yes, we've included the mess level for each one because we know that matters when you're already behind on laundry.
Watching your toddler discover the world through their senses is pure magic. That look of wonder when they squish something new or the giggles when they splash in water — these are the moments that make toddlerhood so special.
Sensory play helps growing brains make important connections, and it doesn't have to be complicated.
Fill a large mixing bowl or plastic bin with just a few inches of water. Add some measuring cups, a turkey baster, and maybe a few rubber ducks. Set it on a towel on the kitchen floor, and watch your little one become completely absorbed in pouring and splashing.
Want to make it extra special? Add a drop of dish soap for bubbles, or toss in some ice cubes with small toys frozen inside. Your toddler will love "rescuing" them as they melt. The concentration on their face as they work is absolutely priceless.
Pour a bag of dried beans or rice into a plastic tub. Add some cups, spoons, and small toys to hide and find. Your toddler will scoop, pour, and dig with the focus of a tiny archaeologist discovering ancient treasures.
This simple bin can transform into anything — a construction site, a cooking station, or a treasure hunt. Keep it in a container with a lid, and you'll have an instant activity that grows with their imagination.
That bubble wrap from your latest package? It's actually a sensory goldmine. Tape it to the floor and watch your toddler's face light up as they discover the satisfying pop under their feet. They'll walk, jump, and dance across it with pure delight.
You can also tape it to the wall at their height for finger-popping fun. Those tiny fingers get stronger with every pop, and their proud smile when they clear a whole section is everything.
Freeze small toys or pom poms in ice cube trays. Give your toddler a bowl of warm water and a spoon, and watch them become little scientists on a rescue mission. The excitement when they free each treasure is contagious — you might find yourself cheering along.
Pour their favorite cereal into a bin with some cups and spoons.
They'll practice scooping and pouring with intense concentration, and when they pause for a handful of Cheerios, they're learning that play and snacks can go hand in hand. It's amazing how something so simple can hold their attention while building those important motor skills.
Every toddler is an artist waiting to create their next masterpiece!
The joy on their face when they make something — anything — with their own two hands is unforgettable. These art activities let your little Picasso explore their creativity while keeping your walls (mostly) paint-free.
Squeeze a few blobs of paint into a gallon ziplock bag, seal it tight with extra tape, and lay it flat on the table.
Your toddler can push the paint around with their fingers, mixing colors and making patterns without a single drop escaping. They'll be mesmerized watching red and yellow swirl into orange, and you'll love that their masterpiece stays contained.
Tape the bag to a window for a stained-glass effect when the sun shines through. It's like finger painting magic without the cleanup.
Roll out a big piece of paper on the floor and hand over some dot markers. Something about making those satisfying dots brings out the artist in every toddler.
They'll create patterns, make "rain," or just enjoy filling the whole page with colorful circles.
The beautiful thing about dot markers? They dry instantly and rarely bleed through paper. Your toddler gets the satisfaction of making bold marks, and you get artwork that's actually ready to hang on the fridge.
Use painter's tape to create a large square on the wall, then let your toddler go wild with stickers inside that space. They'll love having their own "wall" to decorate, and the painter's tape boundary helps them understand where stickers belong.
When they're done, you can carefully peel the whole thing off and save it as artwork. Or start fresh tomorrow — toddlers never get tired of sticking and re-sticking.
During bath time, spray some shaving cream on the tub walls and add a few drops of food coloring. Your little artist can fingerpaint on the walls and watch their creation wash away when bath time ends. They'll feel like they're doing something wonderfully rebellious, painting on walls with parental permission.
The best part? The tub gets cleaner while they play. It's basically productive art time.
Fill a few cups with water and add food coloring to make primary colors.
Give your toddler an ice cube tray and a medicine dropper or small spoon. Watch their eyes widen as they discover that blue and yellow make green, or red and blue create purple.
This simple science-meets-art activity can keep curious minds busy for ages. They're learning cause and effect, practicing fine motor skills, and feeling like tiny wizards making color magic happen.
Toddlers are tiny bundles of energy with big feelings and even bigger moves.
When they need to burn off that energy (and they always do), these activities turn your living room into an adventure zone. Moving their bodies helps them sleep better, focus longer, and feel happier — and seeing them laugh while they play will brighten your whole day.
Blow up a balloon, hand your toddler a fly swatter, and watch them become a tiny athlete. They'll chase that balloon around with determination, working on hand-eye coordination without even knowing it. The gentle float of the balloon gives them time to line up their shot, building confidence with every hit.
Make it a game by setting up a laundry basket "goal" or see how long you can keep it in the air together. Those giggles when the balloon bonks them on the head? Pure gold.
That roll of blue painter's tape is about to become your new best friend. Create roads for toy cars, hopscotch squares, or a simple line for balance beam walking. Your toddler will treat that tape line like a tightrope, arms out for balance, concentration face fully activated.
Try making shapes and having them jump from square to triangle to circle. Or create a maze they have to follow without stepping off the lines. When you're done, they can help peel it all up — which is oddly satisfying for little fingers.
Those Amazon boxes piling up? They're actually gym equipment in disguise.
Create tunnels to crawl through, boxes to jump over, and stepping stones to hop between. Your toddler will feel like they're on an epic adventure right in your living room.
Let them help design the course — they'll beam with pride as they show you how to navigate their creation. Every time through can be a new adventure: now they're escaping from dragons, now they're rescuing stuffed animals, now they're delivering mail.
Crank up their favorite songs and dance like nobody's watching. When you pause the music, everyone freezes like statues. Your toddler will dissolve into giggles trying to hold their silly pose, and you'll both get your heart rates up.
The beauty of this game? It teaches listening skills and self-control while feeling like pure fun. Plus, there's nothing quite like a toddler's victory dance when they nail a perfect freeze.
Hide a few toys or treats around the room and give simple clues: "Look under something soft" or "Find the spot where we read books." Your toddler becomes a determined detective, and their excitement at each discovery is contagious.
You can theme it to their current obsession — hide toy dinosaurs for a "fossil hunt" or stuffed animals for a "rescue mission." The proud strut when they find everything is absolutely worth the five minutes of hiding prep.
Toddlers are natural scientists — they experiment constantly, testing what happens when they drop their spoon for the tenth time or mix their peas into their yogurt.
These activities channel that curiosity into mind-blowing (toddler-level) discoveries. The wonder in their eyes when they see "magic" happen? That's them falling in love with learning.
Put some baking soda in a shallow dish, give your toddler a small cup of vinegar mixed with food coloring, and watch their mind blow as it fizzes and bubbles. The gasp of surprise, followed by "Again! Again!" will have you buying baking soda in bulk.
Try it in ice cube trays for rainbow volcanoes, or add glitter for extra sparkle. Your little scientist will test different amounts and colors, and make discoveries with each fizzy eruption. They're learning about cause and effect while feeling like tiny wizards.
Fill a bin with water and gather random objects — a toy car, a leaf, a spoon, a cork. Before dropping each item in, ask your toddler what they think will happen. Their predictions get more thoughtful each time, and their surprise when something unexpected happens is priceless.
They'll test everything they can get their hands on, building their understanding of the world one splash at a time. "The rock went down, but the big ball stayed up!" These observations are huge learning moments disguised as play.
Freeze water mixed with food coloring in ice cube trays with popsicle sticks inserted. On a warm day, let your toddler "paint" with these colorful ice cubes on paper or the sidewalk. They'll be fascinated by the colors as they appear and then blend with the melting ice.
The way the colors swirl together, how the ice feels in their hands, the surprise of the paper changing — it's all sensory science magic. Plus, it naturally teaches them about states of matter without a single lecture.
Their artwork becomes more experimental with each melting cube, creating beautiful, unexpected patterns.
Every toddler is beautifully unique.
Some dive headfirst into messy play while others need time to warm up. Some could focus on threading beads for twenty minutes, while others need to move constantly.
That's the wonderful thing about these activities — they can bend and flex to meet your child exactly where they are.
Got a young toddler who still puts everything in their mouth? Swap those dried beans for larger pasta shapes or cereal.
Working with an almost-preschooler who needs more challenge? Add counting to everything — "Can you give the monster five pom poms to eat?" or "Let's make a pattern with our stickers: red, blue, red, blue."
The beauty of simple activities is they grow with your child. That same pom pom push game that entertains a 15-month-old becomes color sorting for a two-year-old and a timed challenge for a three-year-old.
You know your child best — trust your instincts about what they're ready for.
Maybe your little one is sensitive to textures, or loud noises, or needs extra support with motor skills. Every activity here can be modified.
Sensory-sensitive kiddo? Start with dry materials before trying water play.
Need extra motor support? Make the holes bigger, use larger objects, or gently guide their hand while they learn.
Some children need to watch you do an activity before they try it. Others need you to break it into smaller steps. Some need encouragement to get messy, while others need help knowing when to stop. There's no wrong way to play — there's just your child's way.
Got a baby watching from the high chair? Give them a few pom poms to explore (large ones they can't swallow). Have an older child who wants to join? They can be the "teacher" showing the toddler new ways to play or create more elaborate versions alongside them.
Mixed-age play is beautiful. Your toddler learns by watching their older sibling, while big kids develop patience and nurturing skills.
And those moments when they're all laughing together at the balloon floating across the room? That's the stuff family memories are made of.
Play is powerful. It's how children learn, grow, and make sense of their world. But sometimes, little ones need extra support to reach their full potential — and that's okay.
If you've noticed your toddler struggling with any of these activities or have concerns about their development, you're not alone.
Whether it's difficulty with fine motor skills during pom pom play, challenges with sensory activities, or trouble following simple instructions during games, early support can make all the difference.
Sevita's Pediatric Partners uses play-based therapy — just like the activities in this post — to help children build the skills they need for daily life.
From speech and occupational therapy to early intervention services, trained therapists meet each child exactly where they are with compassion and expertise.
Every child deserves to experience the joy of play and the pride of mastering new skills. If your little one could benefit from extra support on their developmental journey, help is available.
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