40 Easy Toddler Activities to Do at Home
Looking for something your toddler can actually do, enjoy, and learn from, without spending hours setting everything up? Toddlers can lose interest in an activity in minutes, so I prefer activities that are simple enough for me to prepare quickly but still give little hands and curious minds something meaningful to explore.
This post is filled with easy, hands-on activities using simple materials you may already have at home. While the activities are designed with 2–3-year-olds in mind, consider your own child’s abilities and comfort level before introducing a new activity. And because toddlers are wonderfully unpredictable, adult supervision is important for every activity.
Related Post: 10 Fun Speech Therapy Activities for Toddler and Preschoolers
Toddler Activities for 1–2 Years
1. Baby-Dot Glue and Paper Squares
Materials:
– White paper
– Colored paper
– Child-safe glue
– Small bowl
– Marker
– Tape
Prep:
Draw several large dots on a sheet of paper using a marker. Tape the paper to the table so it doesn’t slide around. Tear or cut colored paper into large pieces. Place the pieces in a bowl beside the paper. Put a small amount of child-safe glue onto each marked spot.
What will they do?
Use the liquid glue to practice putting baby dots of glue covering each black dot on the white paper. Then pick a colored square to stick onto each glue dot.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor control
– Hand-eye coordination
– Understanding of cause and effect
– Following simple directions
– Early creative exploration
Safety: Use only child-safe, non-toxic materials and supervise closely. Avoid small paper pieces with children who still put objects in their mouths.
2. Tape Peel-Off Game
Materials:
– Painter’s tape or masking tape
– Large toddler-safe toys
– Tray or table
Prep:
Place a few large toys on a clean tray or table. Put short pieces of painter’s tape over parts of the toys, leaving one corner of each piece loose. Don’t make the tape too difficult to remove. The goal is for the child to eventually figure out how to lift and peel it.
What will they do?
Find the loose edge and pull the tape away from the toys.
What will they learn?
– Finger strength
– Fine motor skills
– Hand-eye coordination
– Problem-solving
– Persistence
3. Water Painting
Materials:
– Small bowl
– Water
– Chunky paintbrush
– Cardboard
Prep:
Pour a small amount of water in a bowl and place a piece of cardboard on the floor or table. Give the toddler a chunky brush and show how to dip it into the water.
What will they do?
Brush water across the cardboard. Draw different types of marks long lines, short strokes, circles, or simply random movements.
What will they learn?
– Early pre-writing skills
– Hand control
– Cause and effect
– Observation
– Vocabulary
Related Post: 25 Fun Sensory Activities for Toddlers
4. Block Building
Materials:
– Large blocks
– Open floor space
Prep:
Place a small number of large blocks on the floor.
What will they do?
Stack the blocks on top of one another. Knock the blocks down and build it again.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor skills
– Hand-eye coordination
– Spatial awareness
– Balance
– Cause and effect
– Early problem-solving
5. Cushion Walking Path
Materials:
– Firm cushions or pillows
– Clear floor space
Prep:
Place a few cushions on the floor leaving enough space between them for safe movement. Keep everything low to the ground and remove nearby objects that could cause trips or falls.
What will they do?
Walk from one cushion to another.
What will they learn?
– Balance
– Gross motor skills
– Coordination
– Body awareness
– Listening skills
6. Object Sorting
Materials:
– Large and small baskets
– Household objects or toys in different sizes
Prep:
Choose several objects that have an obvious size difference. Place everything together in one pile and label the baskets verbally as big and small.
What will they do?
Putting the large object into the big basket and the small object into the small basket.
What will they learn?
– Size comparison
– Sorting
– Categorization
– Vocabulary
– Early mathematical thinking
7. Bowl-to-Bowl Transfer
Materials:
– Two large bowls
– Toddler-safe objects
Prep:
Place several objects into one bowl and leave the second bowl empty. Plastic cups, blocks, or other age-appropriate objects can work.
What will they do?
Pick object from the bowl and transfer it into the empty bowl.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor control
– Hand-eye coordination
– Concentration
– Following directions
– Early quantity concepts
8. Toy Washing
Materials:
– Shallow basin
– Small amount of water
– Sponge or washcloth
– Large washable toys
Prep:
Place a small amount of water into a shallow basin. Add a few washable toys beside it and provide a sponge or washcloth.
What will they do?
Use the sponge and water to wash the toys, then dry them off.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor skills
– Vocabulary
– Cause and effect
– Sequencing
– Pretend play
– Hand control
Safety: Keep the water shallow and stay within arm’s reach throughout the activity.
9. Large Shape Matching
Materials:
– Cardboard or paper
– Marker
– Scissors
Prep:
Draw large circles, squares, triangles, and other simple shapes on paper or cardboard.
Cut out two of each shape to have matching pairs.
What will they do?
Take one set of shape and place them on the matching piece.
What will they learn?
– Shape recognition
– Matching
– Visual discrimination
– Early math skills
– Vocabulary
10. Follow-the-Line
Materials:
– Painter’s tape
– Clear floor space
Prep:
Place a strip of tape along the floor to create a straight line. Once your toddler gets comfortable, you can make the line curve gently.
What will they do?
Follow the tape line and walk on it.
What will they learn?
– Balance
– Coordination
– Visual tracking
– Spatial awareness
– Listening
Related Post: Easy Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers
11. Music Stop-and-Go
Materials:
– Music
Prep:
Choose their favorite song and create a safe space where they can move safely.
What will they do?
Dance, clap, march, or sway.
What will they learn?
– Listening skills
– Gross motor skills
– Body awareness
– Imitation
– Early self-control
12.Texture Treasure Basket
Materials:
– Basket
– Several safe household objects
Prep:
Place a few objects with different textures, shapes, and weights into the basket.
What will they do?
Touch, examine, and put the object back. They can even play with the object.
What will they learn?
– Sensory exploration
– Vocabulary
– Attention
– Object exploration
– Independent play
13. Cardboard Box Hide-and-Find
Materials:
– Sturdy cardboard box
– Favorite toy
Prep:
Place the toy inside the box while the child watches. Make sure the box has no staples, sharp edges, or loose pieces.
What will they do?
Look inside the box and find the right toy.
What will they learn?
– Object permanence
– Memory
– Problem-solving
– Language
– Attention
14. Big Paper Scribbling
Materials:
– Large sheet of paper
– Chunky crayons
– Tape
Prep:
Tape the paper securely to a table or floor so it doesn’t move while the child is drawing.
What will they do?
Scribble, draw or write freely with the crayons.
What will they learn?
– Pre-writing skills
– Grip strength
– Hand control
– Creativity
– Visual-motor coordination
15. Pretend Phone Call
Materials:
– Toy phone or safe pretend phone
Prep:
Give the child a toy phone or another safe object specifically used for pretend play.
What will they do?
Copy you, make sounds, or simply hold the phone.
What will they learn?
– Language
– Turn-taking
– Listening
– Imitation
– Social communication
Toddler Activities for 2–3 Years
16. Color Sorting
Materials:
– Objects in different colors
– Two or more large containers
Prep:
Mix the objects together. Place a container beside each color group.
What will they do?
Put objects with the same color together.
What will they learn?
– Color recognition
– Sorting
– Comparison
– Categorization
– Early math skills
17. Sticker Road
Materials:
– Large safe stickers
– Paper
– Crayons
Prep:
Draw a simple road across a large sheet of paper. Leave enough space around the road for stickers and drawings.
What will they do?
Place stickers along the road and draw on the paper.
What will they learn?
-Fine motor skills
– Hand-eye coordination
– Creativity
– Spatial awareness
– Pre-writing skills
18. Number Hunt
Materials:
– Paper
– Marker
– Tape
Prep:
Write numbers 1–5 on separate pieces of paper and tape the numbers on the table or floor.
What will they do?
Find a number and count the number.
What will they learn?
– Number recognition
– Counting
– Memory
– Listening
– One-to-one correspondence
19. Playdough Treasure Hunt
Materials:
– Playdough
– Large age-appropriate objects
Prep:
Partially hide several large objects inside the playdough.
What will they do?
Squeeze, pull, flatten, and manipulate the playdough to find the hidden objects.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor strength
– Sensory exploration
– Problem-solving
– Hand coordination
– Vocabulary
20. Pretend Grocery Store
Materials:
– Small basket
– Clean empty food containers
– Table or low surface
Prep:
Arrange clean, empty containers on a low surface as a pretend grocery store. Place a basket nearby and encourage the child to pretend to shop.
What will they learn?
– Language
– Imaginative play
– Counting
– Memory
– Social interaction
– Sequencing
21. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Materials:
– Safe household objects
– Basket
Prep:
Choose several objects that can be found safely around the house.
What will they do?
Find the objects and place it inside the basket.
What will they learn?
– Observation
– Vocabulary
– Categorization
– Listening
– Problem-solving
22. Paper-Tearing Collage
Materials:
– Colored paper
– Large sheet of paper
– Child-safe glue
Prep:
Give the child several pieces of colored paper. Demonstrate how to tear the paper into smaller pieces.
What will they do?
Tear, arrange, and glue pieces of paper onto the larger sheet.
What will they learn?
– Hand strength
– Fine motor skills
– Creativity
– Decision-making
– Hand-eye coordination
23. Toy Rescue From Ice
Materials:
– Small toy
– Freezer-safe container
– Water
– Towel or tray
Prep:
The night before, or in the morning, fill an ice cube tray with small toy and water and then place in the freezer for the next day or later that afternoon. Once the toys are frozen, pop the ice cubes out into a storage bin, and set out some scoops, shovels, and a muffin tin for sorting.
What will they do?
Scoop and dump frozen toys and sort them into different sections of a muffin tin, or transfer the colorful cubes into a separate bowl or container. You can add a small bowl of plastic spray bottles filled with warm water to try and “rescue” the toys (or defrost the ice cubes).
What will they learn?
– Observation
– Cause and effect
– Temperature vocabulary
– Early science concepts
24. Sock Matching
Materials:
– Several pairs of clean socks
Prep:
Mix several pairs of socks together.
What will they do?
Find socks that look alike and place each pair together.
What will they learn?
– Matching
– Visual discrimination
– Categorization
– Concentration
– Independence
This can eventually become a small way for children to participate in laundry.
25. Pouring Practice
Materials:
– Two sturdy plastic cups
– Small amount of water
– Tray
Prep:
Place two cups on a tray. Add a small amount of water to one cup.
What will they do?
Pour the water from one cup into another.
What will they learn?
– Hand control
– Coordination
– Concentration
– Cause and effect
– Practical life skills
26. Shape Hunt Around the House
Materials:
– Paper
– Marker
Prep:
Draw several basic shapes on a piece of paper: circle, square, triangle, and rectangle.
What will they do?
Walk around the house looking for objects that resemble the shapes.
What will they learn?
– Shape recognition
– Observation
– Vocabulary
– Comparison
– Early geometry
27. Count the Toys
Materials:
– 5–10 large toys
Prep:
Place several toys in a group on the floor.
What will they do?
Count each toy while touching it.
What will they learn?
– Counting
– One-to-one correspondence
– Quantity
– Number vocabulary
– Early subtraction
28. Lego Tower Match
Materials:
– lego tower cards
– legos
Set out legos with matching colors. If you have legos that don’t match the colors, you could easily draw your own.
What will they do?
Use the legos to build towers that match the towers on the cards.
What will they learn?
– color identification
– color matching
– following directions
– fine motor skills
– problem-solving skills
29. Homemade Matching Cards
Materials:
– Cardboard or index cards
– Marker
Prep:
Draw simple pictures in pairs, such as: apples, balls, houses or stars.
What will they do?
Mix the cards together and find matching pictures.
What will they learn?
– Memory
– Matching
– Visual discrimination
– Vocabulary
– Concentration
30. Nature Sorting Tray
Materials:
– Large leaves
– Large sticks
– Other safe natural objects
– Tray
Prep:
Collect several safe natural objects together. Check each item carefully before allowing the child to handle it.
What will they do?
Sort the objects by size, shape, or type.
What will they learn?
– Observation
– Sorting
– Comparison
– Vocabulary
– Early science
31. Follow-the-Directions Game
Materials:
– Several familiar toys
– Basket or container
Prep:
Place a few toys around the room.
What will they do?
Pick the toys and put it in the basket.
What will they learn?
– Listening
– Memory
– Following directions
– Position words
– Language comprehension
32. Color Hunt
Materials:
– No materials required
Prep:
Choose any color they can find in the house.
What will they do?
Walk around the house looking for objects of that color.
What will they learn?
– Color recognition
– Observation
– Vocabulary
– Categorization
33. Pretend Doctor’s Office
Materials:
– Stuffed animals
– Toy medical kit
– Small blanket
Prep:
Arrange a few stuffed animals as pretend patients.
What will they do?
Examine the stuffed animals, cover them with a blanket, pretend to give them medicine, or tell them to rest.
What will they learn?
– Imaginative play
– Language
– Empathy
– Social skills
– Sequencing
34. Feed the Animal
Materials:
– Cardboard box or sturdy container
– Marker
– Safe pretend food items
Prep:
Draw an animal face on the container and create a large opening for the mouth.
What will they do?
Feed the animal with the pretend food.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor skills
– Counting
– Following directions
– Imaginative play
– Vocabulary
35. Color Drop
Materials:
– Colored objects
– Large containers
– Colored paper
Prep:
Place a different color of paper beside each container. Mix the objects together.
What will they do?
Pick up one object at a time and place it into the container with the matching color.
What will they learn?
– Color matching
– Sorting
– Fine motor skills
– Visual discrimination
– Concentration
Gross Motor Activities for Toddlers
36. Indoor Obstacle Course
Materials:
– Cushions
– Pillows
– Painter’s tape
– Open floor space
Prep:
Create a simple path: Walk around a cushion → step over a pillow → follow the tape → return to the beginning.
What will they do?
Follow the course and repeat it several times.
What will they learn?
– Gross motor skills
– Balance
– Coordination
– Body awareness
– Following directions
37. Animal Walks
Materials:
- No material needed.
Prep:
Clear an enough space for movement.
What will they do?
Call out an animal and demonstrate how it moves.
What will they learn?
– Gross motor coordination
– Body awareness
– Imagination
– Listening
– Vocabulary
38. Balloon Tap
Materials:
– Balloon
Prep:
Inflate one balloon and remove sharp objects from the surrounding area.
What will they do?
Tap the balloon and watch where it moves.
What will they learn?
– Hand-eye coordination
– Visual tracking
– Gross motor skills
– Reaction time
39. Tape Jumping Lines
Materials:
– Painter’s tape
Prep:
Place several strips of tape across the floor, leaving space between each line.
What will they do?
Step or jump over the lines.
What will they learn?
– Balance
– Coordination
– Gross motor skills
– Spatial awareness
40. Freeze Dance
Materials:
– Music
Prep:
Choose a song with a clear rhythm.
What will they do?
Dance while the music plays and pause when the music stops.
What will they learn?
– Listening
– Rhythm
– Body control
– Balance
– Self-regulation
Creative, Sensory & Pretend Play
41. Playdough Bakery
Materials:
– Playdough
– Rolling pin
– Large cookie cutters
– Plate
Prep:
Place the playdough and tools on a tray. Set out a plate for the pretend baked goods.
What will they do?
Roll the playdough, cut shapes, place them on the plate, and pretend to serve them.
What will they learn?
– Fine motor strength
– Imaginative play
– Vocabulary
– Sequencing
– Social interaction
42. Cardboard Box House
Materials:
– Large cardboard box
– Crayons
– Small blanket
Prep:
Use a clean, sturdy box with no sharp edges, staples, or loose pieces.
What will they do?
Decorate the outside, place a blanket inside, or use the box as a pretend house.
What will they learn?
– Imagination
– Creativity
– Language
– Spatial awareness
– Pretend play
43. Pretend Kitchen
Materials:
– Large plastic cups
– Plastic bowls
– Large wooden spoon
– Pretend food
Prep:
Arrange the materials on a low, safe surface.
What will they do?
Pretend to cook, stir, pour, serve, and prepare food.
What will they learn?
– Imaginative play
– Vocabulary
– Sequencing
– Social interaction
– Fine motor skills
44. Sensory Bag
Materials:
– Strong sealable sensory bag
– Safe sensory filling
– pieces of soft material
– Tape
Prep:
Place the materials inside the bag and seal it securely. Reinforce the seal with tape and inspect the bag before each use.
What will they do?
Press, squeeze, push, and move the contents around inside the bag.
What will they learn?
– Sensory exploration
– Finger strength
– Fine motor control
– Visual tracking
– Cause and effect
Safety: Remove the bag immediately if it leaks, tears, or the child attempts to open or bite it.
45. Story Basket
Materials:
– Favorite story book
– Objects or stuffed animals related to the story
Prep:
Place the book and related objects into a basket.
What will they do?
Use the objects to act out simple parts of the story.
What will they learn?
– Vocabulary
– Story comprehension
– Memory
– Imagination
– Communication
46. Sock Puppet Play
Materials:
– Clean socks
– Marker
Prep:
Create simple faces on the socks using a marker.
What will they do?
Use the puppets to create a simple conversation or story.
What will they learn?
– Language
– Conversation
– Imagination
– Emotional expression
– Social interaction
47. Sink-or-Float Experiment
Materials:
– Shallow container of water
– Toys
Prep:
Fill a shallow container with a small amount of water. Place several toys beside it.
What will they do?
Place each toy into the water, and watch it float.
What will they learn?
– Prediction
– Observation
– Comparison
– Cause and effect
– Early science concepts
