20 Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please use discretion with these activities, especially if your child puts things in their mouth. Always be right next to your child.
If you have a toddler, you KNOW that they constantly keep you on your toes! You already have your hands full and coming up with ideas for keeping them busy is not exactly at the top of your list. What if I told you that I have 20 easy ways for keeping toddlers busy?! These ideas are easy to set up and use supplies you probably already have in your home!
1. Color Matching Game
This game using colorful pom poms
 is perfect for toddlers! You will need to introduce this game to them before just letting them play independently. My toddler plays this game ALL the time. Check out this post for more details.
2. Playdough Playdough is great. I like to put it on a tray or cutting board to contain the mess. I love playdough because kids can be creative and it also builds strength in their hands for fine motor skills. We use homemade playdough, and we especially love our jello playdough. You can find the recipe here.
3. Pipe Cleaners and Colander
Have your toddler stick pipe cleaners in the holes of a colander. This is excellent for practicing fine motor skills!
4. Shape Sorter
I made our own shape sorter using soft shapes from Michaels and an oatmeal container. We get this activity out frequently and keeps my little one occupied for a long time! For more details, see this post.
5. Contact Paper Art Place a piece of clear contact paper
 on the table. Tape the sides down. Then give your toddler materials to stick on there. Check out this post for details.
6. Paint in Bags Place paint in a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Seal the bag, then tape them to a window. Let your toddler move the paint around in the bag using their fingers. (FYI: This activity usually goes pretty quick for my toddler.)
7. Pack ‘n Play
Set up a pack ‘n play and put books and stuffed animals inside. Let them play quietly. This may take some training for them play independently (and quietly!), but if you work with them starting out for just a few minutes playing in there per day, they can work their way up to 20+ minutes.
8. Chunky Puzzles Gather some easy puzzles for your toddler to complete. We use Melissa and Doug Puzzles and they are easy enough for my toddler to do on his own.
9. Pom Poms Through a Tube
I love this activity! Just take a paper towel tube and tape it to the wall. Then have your toddler drop pom pomsthrough it into a bowl. It sounds so simple, but my toddler really loves it! And the best part is how quiet this activity is.
10. Race Cars on Tape
Create a race track using masking tape on the floor. Then let your little one play quietly with cars on the track.
11. Fabric Scrap BoxÂ
Cut up pieces of fabric and place them in an empty wipes container. Have your toddler pull the scraps out and then put them back in. This is great for practicing fine motor skills. For more on this, see this post.
12. Magnets on Fridge
Simply have your toddler stick magnets on the fridge. We use alphabet letters and magnetic pom poms. I really like these foam alphabet letters
.
13. Cotton Balls
Let your child play with cotton balls. They can sort them in an ice cube tray. This is also a very quiet activity. They can also have fun tearing the cotton balls a part, which can get messy!
14. Corner for Toys
Tape off a section of the floor for them to sit in. Also tape a spot where you place a bucket of toys. Have them stay in the taped off section for play time. This may take some training, so start off trying this for a few minutes at a time.
15. Bubble Wrap
Have your toddler pop bubble wrap. This one can get noisy, but if you need a quick activity for your toddler to do, this would be great! Just please make sure you watch them because this can be a choking hazard.
16. Build a Tower
Using cubes or blocks, have them build a tower. These unifix cubes would be great to use. We use this Discovery Toys Pegboard
 to build towers.
17. ColoringÂ
This is a simple activity, but have them color. Sometimes we get our window markers and I let them color on the windows.
18. Pipe Cleaners in a Tube
This is just like #9, but use pipe cleaners
 to put through a paper towel tube. My toddler actually came up with this activity. He loves it!
19. Pipe Cleaner SprinklesÂ
This activity is simply cutting up pipe cleaners (into 2 inch pieces) and have your toddler poke them through the holes in a parmesan container. This is awesome for working on fine motor skills!
20. Sensory Balloon Animals
We made sensory balloon bugs a while back and they are a huge hit. When I want my toddler to play quietly, I get these out and let him play with them. To learn more about them, see this post. Once again, please use discretion with this activity. If your child puts a lot of objects in their mouth, this may not be a good activity for them.
Want more toddler ideas? My new book has over 200 ideas for toddlers! The book will be available on March 27th, but you can preorder it today! Order it on Amazon right here.
Check out some of my favorite resources for toddlers!
The Toddler Journey
Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board
Melissa & Doug 2053 Shapes Knob Wooden PuzzleMelissa & Doug Hide and Seek Farm Wooden Activity Board With Barnyard Animal MagnetsMelissa & Doug Puzzle Storage Rack – Wire Rack Holds 12 Puzzles(Puzzles Not Included)Play-Doh Modeling Compound 10-Pack Case of Colors (Amazon Exclusive), Non-Toxic, Assorted Colors, 2-Ounce CansCaydo 240 Pieces 1 Inch Pom Poms for Hobby Supplies and DIY Creative Crafts Decorations, Assorted ColorsMagnetic Letters and Numbers for Educating Kids in Fun -Educational Alphabet Refrigerator Magnets -82 PiecesDozen Plastic Toy Safari AnimalsDISCOVERY TOYS GIANT PEGBOARD #1562Crayola; Washable Window Markers; Art Tools; 8 Different Colors; Bright, Bold Colors; Works on All Glass SurfacesCreativity Street Chenille Stems/Pipe Cleaners 12 Inch x 6mm 100-Piece, Assorted ColorsSticker Activity ABC: Over 100 Stickers with Coloring Pages (Sticker Activity Fun)Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pads, 3-pk, Animals, Alphabet, Numbers
I just found you on Pinterest. These are such great ideas, and what a great blog! Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to try some of these ideas with my son.
These look like such fun. But how old is your toddler? Mine daughter is 2Y2M and I only think of two of these that she would do. She just puts everything in her mouth and any activity becomes about eating the inedible. She would just chew the pom poms and pipe cleaners to bits, take big bites out of the play-dough, chew the tips off the markers. Tape, she just picks off and chews up. I don’t even want to think of the bubble wrap… I try to ignore it and encourage her, but it becomes frustrating. What would you suggest?
Hi there! My toddler is now 2 years, 3 months. He stopped putting things into his mouth at age 1, so that’s why I feel comfortable doing these activities with him. I definitely do not recommend doing these if your child puts objects into her mouth. I think some children take longer to stop putting things into their mouths. I’m sorry this post probably wasn’t helpful to you! I am not aware of anything you can do to help stop this behavior, I just think it takes time. Both my kids did not do this for very long, so I’m not very helpful! I’m so glad you are a wise mama and know that she is not ready for playing with cotton balls, play dough, bubble wrap, etc…but I can see how that would be frustrating! I’m sure she will outgrow this stage soon!
My son put a bunch in his mouth for awhile. Do I did the parmesan container with hard straws, he chewed them up but I felt safe that he could not swallow them.
My granddaughter is 14 mos old, and puts everything in her mouth too. I am going to buy different colored jello and let her finger paint with it on wax paper or paper plate.
Cool idea!
My lil guy is 17 months old and he still puts everything in his mouth, too! It is very frustrating. I did the Pom Pom in the tube with him and he really enjoyed it. I just made sure I didn’t leave his side and I demonstrated several times what to do. I gave him Popsicle sticks to put in the Parmesan container. My container opens on both sides, one with holes the other without. Again I stayed right by him and he loved this!! Another fun thing he loves is putting ball pit balls in a muffin tin.
Those are good ideas! Yes, its hard when kiddos still put objects in their mouths. I am sure that will pass soon! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Maybe instead of pom poms You could use cheerios, and drop marshmellows into containers and raisens in muffin tins that way it wont matter if they eat them.
Try a latches board! Nothing that they can choke on but great for developing fine motor skills and brain development. I know Melissa and Doug makes a really nice one!
Instead of pom poms in the paper towel tube taped to the wall, try the wooden alphabet blocks with a bowl underneath. It might be noisier but she can’t eat the blocks, just gnaw on them a little. ;3 (You have to make sure that the paper towel tube hasn’t been flattened in any way, though, or the blocks won’t fit. Although, you could give her a wooden spoon to hit them through with the handle if they do.) Popsicle sticks or even baby spoons and forks would work too. Most toddlers will love dropping anything that fits through the tube down it. ;3 Just find an item of the right size that you don’t mind her chewing on. Or, if tape is a problem, you can do the shape sorter can, just use hard objects to sort like the wood blocks or the metal lids to freezer orange juice. A coffee can will give you a wider base too, for the bigger objects. My kid LOVES the noise it makes when she plunks things in. (For her, it’s about the noise.)
I just found this list and have done many, but always love new ideas and reminders. As a reply to those whose kids put things in their mouth (if they do still), a sensory bin with food safe items is good. I have an under the bed storage tub that I keep in the kitchen. You can use cornmeal which acts like sand but it’s okay if they put it in their mouth (and it won’t scratch their eyes if they get it in there), or cereal, or bread crumbs. Cups, scoops, etc for pouring, spoons, etc. Safe for those who put things in their mouth, and exciting and engaging!
Great list! We love the paper towels with Pom-poms. We even tried something new: take three or more tubes and tape them in a zig-zag on the wall (it helps if you cut one end of each on a diagonal to catch the Pom). My little one really loves it when there is a gap so she can see them fall from one tube to the next.
I am way past this stage with my own children and don’t have any prospects on grandchildren, but I am a teacher and always appreciate other’s efforts at instilling the love of learning in children. I especially like the paper towel tube ideas. As your little ones grow out of the initial activity, consider taping three or four tubes covered in colored paper and use colored pompoms. Have your child match the colored pompom with the same colored tube. A couple of different skills will be practiced with this one..
Not so much to occupy them but o take pics with that uncooperative, older infant/young toddler, put a small rolled piece if scotch tape on their hand. As they pic at it and try and figure out how to remove it, you will get some really great inquisitive expressions… Certainly beats a crying or angry one!
I just so your fantastic list of activities for young ones.I can not wait to start play with my son.My one of favourites is sorting shapes but I can not find anywhere small cubes or something similar.Do you know maybe where I can look at them I did try Michaels but they have been sold long time ago?Thank you you are awesome
A wonderful list – thanks so much!! And I was looking for new ways to use empty paper towel rolls.
I absolutely love your blog! I quit my job to babysit my 1 year old granddaughter, Marleigh, when my daughter went back to work. No “job” is better than the time I have with her! I want to teach her as much as I can during our time together and I want learning to be fun. Thank you for your wonderful ideas!
What magnet set did you get your little guy. I want to buy a fun one!
We have this one from Melissa and Doug: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Wooden-Vehicle-Magnets/dp/B00ARV3CKM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383620745&sr=8-2&keywords=melissa+and+doug+magnets
Hope that helps!
Oops I just realized I posted the wrong magnets! I just used alphabet magnets from the dollar store.
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these are really good ideas, it’s not even 8:00 am and I think I need to get some of them going for my little guy. Thanks, hopefully it will be a smoother Monday:)
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Thank you for these ideas. I’m a new mom and used to dealing with older kids. When it comes to my 16 month old, I’m tearing my hair out and he’s attached to me like glue so I can’t get ANYTHING done. These ideas are great. I ran immediately to do the cotton ball one. He played with the ice cube try for a bit and also started to pull the cotton balls apart.