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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- 50 toddler activities sorted into four age groups: 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, 2 and 3.
- Most need under 5 minutes of prep and household supplies.
- Use the toilet paper tube test for small parts, and stay within arm's reach during water play.
- A 10-item supply bin covers almost every idea on the list.
In this post58 sections
- How to Use This List of Toddler Activities
- Toddler Activities for 12 to 18 Months
- 1. Lid posting box
- 2. Scarf pull box
- 3. Pool noodle ball ramp
- 4. Water pouring tray
- 5. Pots and pans band
- 6. Peekaboo blanket toys
- 7. Sticky wall
- 8. Bubble chase
- 9. Laundry basket push
- 10. Cup towers
- 11. Board book basket
- 12. Box tunnel
- Toddler Activities for 18 to 24 Months
- 13. Tape rescue
- 14. Sticker lines
- 15. Playdough birthday cake
- 16. Sponge stamping
- 17. Toy car wash
- 18. Color hunt basket
- 19. Couch cushion course
- 20. Water painting
- 21. Lid and container match
- 22. Big block towers
- 23. Sock basketball
- 24. Animal parade
- Toddler Activities for 2 Year Olds
- 25. Muffin tin color sort
- 26. Colander pipe cleaners
- 27. Tape shape hop
- 28. Ice cube play
- 29. Veggie washing
- 30. Dance and freeze
- 31. Sock matching
- 32. Box car drive
- 33. Flashlight animal hunt
- 34. Sink or float tub
- 35. Tape road for cars
- 36. Grocery store pretend
- 37. Window gel clings
- Toddler Activities for 3 Year Olds
- 38. Tong transfer
- 39. Snipping strips
- 40. Nature sort
- 41. Lacing big beads
- 42. Color mixing bags
- 43. Follow-the-leader obstacle course
- 44. Snack counting
- 45. Shaving cream drawing
- 46. Animal walks
- 47. Blanket fort
- 48. Pretend doctor
- 49. Sticker number match
- 50. Mail delivery
- One Small Kit, 50 Toddler Activities
- More Toddler Play Ideas
- FAQ
How to Use This List of Toddler Activities
The activities are grouped by age, but toddlers don't read the labels. If your 2-year-old loves a 12-month idea, keep doing it. If a 3-year-old activity is too hard, try it again next month.
A realistic goal is 5 to 20 minutes of happy play, not an hour. Short attention spans are normal at this age. Set up one idea, sit nearby with your coffee, and let your toddler lead.
Toddler Activities for 12 to 18 Months
Young toddlers learn by dumping, filling, banging and moving. Keep each setup to one simple action they can repeat.
2Scarf pull box
Stuff an empty tissue box with thin play scarves and let your toddler pull them out one by one. Then show them how to push them back in. Ages: 9 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: a tissue box, play scarves.
- Safety: remove the plastic film inside the box, and put scarves away after play.
3Pool noodle ball ramp
Cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise and tape it to the couch as a ramp. Toddlers drop tennis balls in the top and watch them roll into a basket. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: a pool noodle, tape, tennis balls, a basket.
- Safety: use balls bigger than a toilet paper tube opening, never small bouncy balls.
4Water pouring tray
Put an inch of water in a baking tray on a towel with cups, a funnel and a sponge. Pouring and squeezing can keep a young toddler busy for a surprisingly long time. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: medium. Supplies: a baking tray, a towel, cups, a sponge.
- Safety: stay within arm's reach. Toddlers can drown in very little water, so empty the tray as soon as play ends.
5Pots and pans band
Pull out pots, lids and wooden spoons and let your toddler bang away. It's loud, and it's also early music and cause-and-effect play. Ages: 9 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: pots, lids, wooden spoons.
- Safety: use cool pans from the cupboard, never from the stove.
6Peekaboo blanket toys
Hide a favorite toy under a thin blanket, then lift it with a big "There it is!" Soon your toddler will be hiding it for you. Ages: 9 months+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: a thin blanket, a toy.
- Safety: fold the blanket away after play, and keep it out of the crib.
7Sticky wall
Tape contact paper sticky side out on the wall at toddler height. Hand over big paper shapes, fabric scraps or tissue paper to stick on and pull off. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: contact paper, painter's tape, big paper shapes.
- Safety: cut every piece bigger than a toilet paper tube opening.
8Bubble chase
Blow bubbles and let your toddler chase, pop and stomp them. Outdoors or in the kitchen, it's instant gross motor play. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: none. Mess: low. Supplies: bubble solution and wand.
- Safety: grown-ups hold the bubble bottle, since the solution isn't for drinking.
9Laundry basket push
Fill a laundry basket with stuffed animals and let new walkers push it across the room. It builds balance and confidence. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: a laundry basket, soft toys.
- Safety: clear the path of rugs that slide and stay away from stairs.
10Cup towers
Stack plastic cups into a tower for your toddler to knock down. Then help them stack two or three cups on their own. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: plastic cups or stacking cups.
- Safety: no concerns.
11Board book basket
Put five board books in a basket and swap them out each week. Toddlers love turning pages, pointing and hearing the same story again and again. Ages: 9 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: board books, a basket.
- Safety: check for loose pop-up flaps or small attached pieces.
12Box tunnel
Open both ends of a big cardboard box and lay it on its side. Toddlers crawl through, peek out and play peekaboo with you at the other end. Ages: 12 months+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: a large cardboard box, tape.
- Safety: remove staples and packing tape strips before play.
Toddler Activities for 18 to 24 Months
Around 18 months, toddlers get better at using their fingers, copying you and following one-step directions. These ideas add a small challenge.
13Tape rescue
Tape small toys to a baking sheet with strips of painter's tape. Your toddler peels the tape to rescue each one. It's great finger strength work. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: painter's tape, a baking sheet, toys.
- Safety: ball up used tape as you go so it doesn't end up in a mouth.
14Sticker lines
Draw zigzags and curves on paper and let your toddler put dot stickers along the lines. Peeling is the hard part, so lift the edges for them at first. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: paper, marker, dot stickers.
- Safety: sit with them, since toddlers sometimes try to eat stickers.
15Playdough birthday cake
Flatten playdough into a cake and poke in paper straws cut in half as candles. Sing, blow, pull them out and do it again. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: low. Supplies: playdough, paper straws.
- Safety: keep the straws at half length or longer, never small cut pieces, and stay close. Toddlers may taste playdough. Store-bought dough is non-toxic but not food, and salty homemade dough isn't safe to eat in quantity.
16Sponge stamping
Cut kitchen sponges into simple shapes and set out paper plates of washable paint. Toddlers stamp, smear and print. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: high. Supplies: sponges, washable paint, paper.
- Safety: use washable, non-toxic paint and a smock.
17Toy car wash
Fill a shallow bin with soapy water and let toddlers scrub toy cars with a brush and sponge. Do it outside or on a towel. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: medium. Supplies: a shallow bin, mild soap, toy cars, a brush.
- Safety: stay within arm's reach during all water play, and use tear-free soap.
18Color hunt basket
Pick one color and go on a hunt around the house for things that color. Fill a basket and name each item together. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: a basket.
- Safety: skip small items in the hunt.
19Couch cushion course
Pull cushions onto the floor and make a path to climb, crawl and jump across. Burns energy fast on a rainy day. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: couch cushions, pillows.
- Safety: keep the course away from furniture corners and windows.
20Water painting
Give your toddler a bucket of water and a big paintbrush to paint the fence, sidewalk or chalkboard. It disappears, so they can paint again. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: low. Supplies: a bucket, water, a big paintbrush.
- Safety: use a small amount of water and stay close.
21Lid and container match
Set out three or four plastic containers with their lids mixed up. Toddlers figure out which lid fits which container. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: plastic food containers and lids.
- Safety: no concerns.
22Big block towers
Build towers with chunky blocks or empty boxes. Count blocks as you stack and cheer when they fall. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: large blocks or empty boxes.
- Safety: use blocks too big to fit in a mouth.
23Sock basketball
Roll socks into balls and toss them into a laundry basket. Move the basket farther away as they get better. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: socks, a laundry basket.
- Safety: no concerns.
24Animal parade
Line up toy animals and walk them across the room, making each animal's sound. Then let your toddler lead the parade. Ages: 18 months+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: toy animals.
- Safety: use animals bigger than a toilet paper tube opening.
Toddler Activities for 2 Year Olds
Two-year-olds love sorting, pretending and moving their whole body. Expect lots of "me do it" and let them.
25Muffin tin color sort
Put a colored paper circle in each muffin cup and give your toddler jumbo pom poms to match. Add chunky tongs once they get the idea. Ages: 2+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: a muffin tin, colored paper, jumbo pom poms, toddler tongs.
- Safety: use jumbo pom poms (2 inches or larger), count them in and out, and swap for colored balls if your child still mouths things.
26Colander pipe cleaners
Turn a colander upside down and show your toddler how to poke pipe cleaners through the holes. Pulling them out is just as fun. Ages: 2+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: a colander, pipe cleaners.
- Safety: fold over the pipe cleaner ends, since the wire tips can poke.
27Tape shape hop
Make big shapes on the floor with painter's tape. Call out a shape and your toddler jumps into it. Later, call out colors too. Ages: 2+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: painter's tape.
- Safety: use painter's tape so floors stay safe, and keep the hop zone away from furniture.
28Ice cube play
Tip a tray of ice cubes into a bin with spoons and cups. Toddlers scoop, slide and watch them melt. Ages: 2+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: medium. Supplies: ice cubes, a bin, spoons.
- Safety: use large cubes, not crushed ice, and supervise, since small ice chips can be a choking risk.
29Veggie washing
Give your toddler a bowl of water and a scrub brush to wash potatoes or carrots for dinner. Real jobs make toddlers feel proud. Ages: 2+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: medium. Supplies: a bowl of water, a brush, whole vegetables.
- Safety: keep knives and the stove out of the activity.
30Dance and freeze
Play music and freeze when it stops. Toddlers love the surprise, and it's a fun way to practice listening. Ages: 2+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: any music.
- Safety: clear space so no one bumps into furniture.
31Sock matching
Dump clean socks on the bed and match pairs together. It counts as helping with laundry. Ages: 2+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: clean socks.
- Safety: no concerns.
32Box car drive
Tape paper plate wheels to a big box and let your toddler sit inside and "drive." Add a paper plate steering wheel. Ages: 2+. Prep: 10 minutes. Mess: low. Supplies: a big box, paper plates, tape, markers.
- Safety: remove staples, and keep the box on flat floor away from stairs.
33Flashlight animal hunt
Hide stuffed animals around a dim room and hunt for them with a flashlight. Turn the lights back on if your toddler feels nervous. Ages: 2+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: a flashlight, stuffed animals.
- Safety: use a flashlight with a screwed-shut battery door, never one with button batteries.
34Sink or float tub
Fill a bin with water and test objects: a spoon, a sponge, a toy boat, a block. Ask "Will it sink?" before each one. Ages: 2+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: medium. Supplies: a bin of water, safe household objects.
- Safety: stay within arm's reach and empty the bin after play.
35Tape road for cars
Tape a winding road across the floor and drive toy cars along it. Add a block tunnel or a book ramp. Ages: 2+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: painter's tape, toy cars, blocks.
- Safety: pick up tape scraps right away.
36Grocery store pretend
Set out empty boxes and cans from the recycling with a basket. Your toddler shops, you play cashier. Ages: 2+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: empty food boxes, smooth-edged cans, a basket.
- Safety: check cans for sharp edges, or use boxes only.
37Window gel clings
Stick gel clings on a low window and let your toddler move them around. Seasonal sets turn it into a holiday activity too. Ages: 2+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: gel window clings.
- Safety: choose large clings and take them down after play.
Toddler Activities for 3 Year Olds
Three-year-olds can follow two-step directions, use simple tools and stick with a task a bit longer. These activities add tools, counting and pretend play.
38Tong transfer
Move cotton balls from one bowl to another using kitchen tongs. It builds the same hand muscles kids use for scissors and pencils. Ages: 3+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: 2 bowls, cotton balls, kitchen tongs.
- Safety: cotton balls are fine at 3 with supervision, but keep them away from babies.
39Snipping strips
Hand over narrow paper strips and child safety scissors. Each snip makes confetti, and that's the whole goal. Ages: 3+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: low. Supplies: paper strips, blunt-tip child scissors, a tray.
- Safety: sit with them the whole time scissors are out.
40Nature sort
Collect pinecones, leaves and sticks on a walk and sort them into baskets at home. Talk about big and small, rough and smooth. Ages: 3+. Prep: walk time. Mess: low. Supplies: baskets, nature finds.
- Safety: skip berries, mushrooms and small seeds, and wash hands after. Acorns and small pebbles are choking-size, so keep them away from younger siblings.
41Lacing big beads
Thread jumbo wooden beads onto a shoelace or a pipe cleaner. Tie a big knot at one end first. Ages: 3+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: jumbo beads, a shoelace.
- Safety: jumbo beads only, and keep laces short and supervised.
42Color mixing bags
Squeeze two blobs of paint into a zip bag, seal it with tape and stick it on a window. Kids squish the colors together without any mess. Ages: 3+. Prep: 3 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: zip bags, washable paint, tape.
- Safety: tape the zip closed, and supervise so bags don't get chewed.
43Follow-the-leader obstacle course
Set up a simple course: crawl under the table, hop over a pillow, walk the tape line. Give two-step directions as they go. Ages: 3+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: pillows, painter's tape, chairs.
- Safety: keep chairs steady and away from windows.
44Snack counting
Count crackers into a muffin tin, one in the first cup, two in the next. Eat them as you count back down. Ages: 3+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: low. Supplies: crackers, a muffin tin.
- Safety: choose age-appropriate snacks and have kids sit while eating.
45Shaving cream drawing
Spray shaving cream on a tray and let kids draw shapes and letters with a finger. Smooth it and start again. Ages: 3+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: medium. Supplies: shaving cream, a tray.
- Safety: keep hands away from the face, and use unscented cream if skin is sensitive.
46Animal walks
Call out animals and move like them: bear crawl, frog jump, crab walk, flamingo stand. Great for wiggly afternoons. Ages: 3+. Prep: none. Mess: none. Supplies: nothing.
- Safety: clear space and use a rug for softer landings.
47Blanket fort
Drape a blanket over chairs and fill the fort with pillows, books and a flashlight. Read inside together. Ages: 3+. Prep: 5 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: blankets, chairs, pillows.
- Safety: keep heavy items off the top and make sure there's an easy way out.
48Pretend doctor
Bandage teddies with strips of fabric and a toy doctor kit. Pretend play like this helps kids practice words and feelings. Ages: 3+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: stuffed animals, fabric strips, a toy doctor kit.
- Safety: skip real medicine bottles, even empty ones.
49Sticker number match
Write numbers 1 to 5 on paper and have kids add that many stickers next to each number. Ages: 3+. Prep: 2 minutes. Mess: none. Supplies: paper, marker, stickers.
- Safety: no concerns at this age with supervision.
50Mail delivery
Hand over old envelopes and junk mail and let your 3-year-old "deliver" a letter to everyone in the house. Ages: 3+. Prep: 1 minute. Mess: none. Supplies: old envelopes, a bag.
- Safety: check envelopes for staples or plastic windows that tear sharply.
One Small Kit, 50 Toddler Activities
Here's the part most toddler activity lists leave out: you don't need 50 different supply runs. Ten basic items cover almost every idea above, and keeping them in one bin means you can set up an activity in under a minute.
| Supply | Activities it covers | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Painter's tape | Tape rescue, tape shape hop, tape road, sticky wall | About $5 to $10 |
| Muffin tin | Color sort, snack counting | You may own one |
| Jumbo pom poms (2 inch+) | Color sort, tong transfer swap | About $6 to $12 |
| Washable paint | Sponge stamping, color mixing bags | About $10 to $20 |
| Dot stickers | Sticker lines, sticker number match | About $5 to $8 |
| Playdough | Birthday cake, free play | About $5 to $15 |
| Shallow plastic bin | Car wash, ice play, sink or float | About $8 to $15 |
| Play scarves | Scarf pull box, dance and freeze | About $10 to $20 |
| Child safety scissors | Snipping strips | About $4 to $8 |
| Cardboard boxes | Box tunnel, box car, grocery store | Free |
Rotate the bin every week or two. Toys and supplies that disappear for a while feel new when they come back, which is an easy way to get more play out of the same stuff.
Five happy minutes counts. So does doing the same activity every day for a week.
Toddler activity basics
-
Blue painter's tape
About $5 to $10 per roll
The most-used supply on this whole list.
Check price on Amazon for Blue painter's tape -
Jumbo pom poms
About $6 to $12
Sorting and counting. Supervise under 3s.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo pom poms -
Toddler tongs and scoops set
About $10 to $18
Builds hand strength for later scissor and pencil work.
Check price on Amazon for Toddler tongs and scoops set -
Washable toddler paint
About $10 to $20
Wipes off hands, tables and most clothes.
Check price on Amazon for Washable toddler paint -
Dot stickers
About $5 to $8
Cheap fine motor practice in any room.
Check price on Amazon for Dot stickers
More Toddler Play Ideas
Hands-on play is even better with a bin. Our Christmas sensory bins for toddlers list taste-safe fillers by age. Crafty days call for winter crafts for kids or the toddler crafts in our kids Christmas crafts by age. Doing the elf this year? Start with our gentle elf on the shelf ideas for toddlers.
Frequently asked questions
What activities can I do with my toddler at home?
Simple, repeatable play works best: posting lids into a can, tape rescue, sticker lines, water pouring, sock basketball, cushion obstacle courses and sorting by color. Most need only painter's tape, a muffin tin or a cardboard box.
How long should toddler activities last?
Anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes is normal. Toddlers have short attention spans, so set up one activity, let them lead, and switch when they lose interest.
What are good activities for a 1 year old?
One-year-olds love dumping and filling, banging pots, pulling scarves from a tissue box, rolling balls down a ramp and crawling through a box tunnel. Keep every item bigger than a toilet paper tube opening.
What are easy activities for 2 year olds?
Try a muffin tin color sort, tape shape hop, toy car wash, sink or float, dance and freeze, and grocery store pretend play. Two-year-olds love real jobs too, like matching socks or washing vegetables.
How do I keep my toddler busy without screens?
Keep a small bin of basics like painter's tape, stickers, playdough and scarves, and rotate activities every week or two. Sitting nearby while your toddler plays helps them stay with an activity longer.
Are pom poms safe for toddlers?
Small pom poms are a choking risk for children under 3. Use jumbo pom poms at least 2 inches across, supervise closely, count them in and out, and skip them if your child still mouths toys.
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