Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend or daycare worker it's your responsibility to keep toddlers entertained. Your interaction with the little ones helps to stimulate their development. Raising a child could be costly. The items sold in stores to supposedly "stimulate a child's development" are overpriced.
Back in the day those items didn't exist and the baby boomers seem to be quite successful.
They didn't need Baby Einstein to nurture their imagination. A wooden spoon and a bowl were enough to teach them they were rock star kids. I've researched a list of 50 fun activities, free ideas to entertain toddlers. If you have any additional ones please add them to the comment section for other parents to find useful.
In addition some ideas require that you click on the link for step-by-step instructions or additional details. Have fun making memories with your children.
- Blow bubbles, lots of them. Have a bubblicious time chasing, popping and blowing them. Make your own homemade bubbles!
- Clap to nursery rhymes. Keep it old school with Miss Mary Mack.
- Have a staring contest. No blinking. End the contest with an arm wrestle. Of course your toddler will win.
- The next time you are at the pediatrician ask for some extra latex gloves and make hand puppets. Blow them up and draw faces on them using a permanent marker (parents task).
- Start a garden. Plant seeds in a container or in the ground. Their expression is priceless when growth begins.
- Take a stroll around the neighborhood and pick flowers or weeds. Be one with nature. Talk about the changes of seasons.
- Visit a local grocery store and teach them about the many fruits and vegetables that they should be eating.
- Have a bucket of chalk and create artistic works of art on the sidewalk. Write "Have a Nice Day" to neighbors and passerbys. Your message will brighten someone's day until the next rain washes it away.
- Bake a cake, cookies, cupcakes. Have your toddlers use their hands to decorate with icing. I didn't say they had to be edible, they are more for fun.
- I have a collection of 2" rubber balls. I place about 8-10 in my hands and drop them mid-air at once. My granddaughter and I rush around to see who could retrieve the most balls first.
- Make paper airplanes! Using a single piece of paper your toddler could become a pilot.
- Use washable markers to draw on outside toys. Use a sponge or the garden hose for clean up.
- Sweat farts. Dad lays on a tile floor with a sweaty back, when they lift up their back it makes a squeaky sound. My grandtwins laugh out loud!
- Have them turn on the vacuum cleaner and watch them scream with fear at the noise. My son-in-law is a bit devious, but his girls adore him.
- Play hide and seek. Instructional video is available, just click here.
- Build an indoor tent. Place a large sheet or blanket over four chairs and they could use their imagination for the rest.
- Peek-a-boo is a classic favorite for all to enjoy.
- Take some stale bread to the local park and feed the ducks, swans, seagulls...etc. We have a family of ducks who walk around our neighborhood and they appreciate the snacks.
- Have a dance party. Have your video camera ready to record the droopy diapers bouncing up and down to beat of the tunes!
- Stock up on Body Paints and have a colorful bubble bath!
- Play Duck, Duck Goose! It's still one of my favorite games even as a grandmother. If you aren't sure how to play, just click here.
- Have a pinata party! Fill the pinata with useful toddler toys. Have your toddler and friends break it open, with a little help from an adult.
- Make some oobleck! Using 2 cups of cornstarch to 1 cup of water and mixing well. The concept of creating this fascinating project will be well remembered by your toddlers.
- Mimic animal sounds together.
- Install the free iTunes app Talking Tom Cat. The cat repeats everything the child says. Adults will enjoy it also, It's one of my favorite apps
- Use voice animations while reading books. Your toddlers will think you are a genius!
- Visit animals at a pet store. Consider how excited the lonely pets will be and it will teach your toddler how to show love to a furried friend.
- Create your own version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey...Pin the Diaper on the Baby!
- While working on a puzzle together, hide the final piece...yet make it accessible for your toddler to find, their expression is priceless. It's like they won the lotto!
- Recite a make believe story together. You say the first line, toddler the next line and so on...until one of you falls asleep or becomes a published author!
- Using household items such as pillows, chairs and boxes (etc) construct an obstacle course. This is your time to shine parents. Use your imagination and score some points.
- On a cloudy, yet sunshine filled day...grab a blanket and toss it on the lawn. It's time for "I Spy Clouds". Each of you take turns on telling each other what the clouds resemble. You might see a giraffe, a truck, a doll or even spaghetti and meatballs.How about "Guess Which Hand?"
- Place a small toy in the palm of your hand and have your toddler guess which hand is the correct one. I tease around a bit with this game, but it's so much more fun. You'll understand once you try it.
- Make your own fingerpaint. Squirt some corn syrup onto a plate. Add a dash of food coloring. Mix together and you have homemade fingerpaint. It's sticky, but cheap and easy.
- How about the old school plastic bowl and wooden spoon? You never know your toddler could become the next world famous drummer due to your influence. Earplugs are available at your nearest retail store.
- Play tug-of-war using your dogs pull toy. You should probably sit down to play this and be sure there is a pillow behind your toddler just in case they pull too hard. Ouch!
- Visit a Chuck E. Cheese and be a kid again! If you don't have a Chuck E. Cheese nearby visit the website and have a blast!
- Make your own homemade playdough! There are tons of recipes and most of the items are probably already in your pantry!
- How about a magic trick? These tricks were created for grandparents, but parents could play also. All you need is a pencil, deck of cards and a salt shaker!
- Play dress up! Have a tote filled with costumes and assorted clothing. Dress up dad as a princess and mom as a prince. Role playing is always interesting and amusing.
- Explore your creative side and have your toddler beam with pride when you create a collage together. Using tissue paper or cottons balls you could create a masterpiece!
- Explore your creative side making homemade facepaint. Basic ingredients needed are cornstarch, cold cream and food coloring,
- Make funny faces and laugh until you can't laugh anymore, then laugh some more!
- Create your own version of the iTunes app Paper Toss! All you need is a small trash can and a scrunched up piece of paper. Imagine your toddler's delight when they score a shot!
- Make "hidden veggie" smoothies. It's perfect for the picky tots who won't eat their veggies!
- Play "Flashlight Fun!" Dim the lights. Have a lightweight flashlight available for your toddler and one for you. Hide objects around a room and using the flashlights guide your toddler to the hiding spot. Using you are hot, warm or cold as the guide words. Use your flashlight if your tiny tot begins to get a bit frustrated.
- How about playing "Big Bugs!" Using a plastic magnifying glass explore the outdoors and watch in amazement as your toddlers expression changes when an ant is magnified 100x.
- Have a tea party. Tea time teaches a toddler sharing, offering and to be gracious. Have finger sandwiches available.
- Count fingers, toes, crayons...familiarize your tiny tot with numbers.
- Most households have a family pet. Whether it's a dog, cat, fish or turtle. Have your toddler help with the care of the pet whether by feeding, petting or bathing it. Make it family fun time.