101 Best Activities to Do With Your Toddler

We know you are busy so we applaud you for finding the time to bond with your little tike. After all, they are only young once. Cherish these moments before they are asking you for the cell phone that does everything or the little red car that's the real deal. If you're wondering exactly what to do with this time, you've found your answer. Browse below for 101 fun toddler-approved activities!

Outdoors - Quiet Time - Crafts - Critters - From the Comfort of Home

Outdoors

• Go to the playground. You'd be surprised how much fun your toddler on a slide. The playground is a free and fun activity, and if you live anywhere near an elementary school, will not be too much trouble to get to. 
• Pack a picnic. Picnic food is easy to assemble. Your toddler will have fun helping you to gather scrumptious foods to pack in that wicker basket. Once you're done, walk with your toddler to one of your favorite grassy spots and have a feast! Kid's Picnic Recipes will give you ideas for toddler-friendly picnic foods.
• Pick a new walking path. Do you usually walk for exercise? This time, take your toddler along! Pick a path that's new to you and your toddler so it will be adventurous for the both of you. Make sure to keep it safe!
• Go to the pool! There is something about being in the water that every toddler loves. Even if it's not summertime, you can probably find a nearby indoor pool that will suit you and your toddler's fancy. If you're not sure which gym has an aquatic center, try Find Your Y.
• Go to a pond. Some people think of ponds as poor excuses for lakes, but they are a world of fun for your toddler! Go to a pond near you, and teach your toddler how to look for bullfrogs or skip rocks. 
• Play ball! If you used to love playing a particular sport, but you can never find the time to practice it now, teach your toddler! You will have your own fun freshening up on skills while your toddler enjoys learning a new sport and a little more about you.
• Play water guns assassins. This activity is great for a hot day. Load up some water guns and cool off (in the sneakiest way possible) around a grassy area. 
• Collect seashells or rocks. This is a scavenger hunt nature has already provided. Challenge your toddler to find the most beautiful seashells or rocks that he or she can. 
• Play Red Light, Green Light. This is a fun activity that will get your kid moving. Best of all, you don't have to do anything but stand there and shout! If you don't know already, learn how to play here at Wondertime.
• Double trouble. Walk around your neighborhood or the city and have your toddler spot things that come in pairs of two. Set a goal for the number of pairs your toddler should find to keep him or her busy. 
• Make your own carwash. Pull out some old sponges and some soap and have your toddler help you to wash your car. If you don't trust little fingers with your wax job, wash some play cars of your toddler's instead. 
• Go on a nature walk. Go for a walk and have your toddler spot as many animals as he or she can. When you come across evidence that an animal has been where you are standing, have your toddler guess who stepped there, who lives there, or who pooped there! 
• Plant something. Every child loves digging in the dirt! Buy some seeds that your toddler can plant. they'll love seeing something grow over time.  
• Pick from a garden. Visit a community garden or a garden that you have in your backyard, and have your toddler help you to collect the ripe fruits and vegetables. Wash them off, and taste the healthy deliciousness!
• Hula-hoop! Work those obliques and teach your toddler how to hula hoop. Once your toddler masters the hip motion, try two hoops at a time or try having your toddler swing the hoop around his or her arm or neck! Visit How to Do Simple Hula Hoop Tricks for simple hula-hoop tricks.
• Chalk your driveway. Your toddler will love transforming hunks of concrete into beautiful artistic creations. Make sure rain is not in the forecast!

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Quiet Time

• Read your favorite children's story. If you loved a book as a child, chances are that your toddler will love it too. Dig up and dust off your favorite childhood book to read to your toddler. Use different voices for different characters to keep your toddler's attention. 
• Visit a relative. Is your family always complaining that they don't have a recent photo of your toddler? Well, go give them something that is even more meaningful! If your family is within a reasonable distance from you, your toddler will love the idea of an adventurous road trip.  
• Paint your nails. You've probably already noticed that toddlers love every media of art, especially the kind that you're allowed to put on your fingers and toes! Your toddler will love changing the color of your nails from that boring human peach or brown to one that he or she finds vibrant and exhilarating! Make sure you cover the floors!
• Organize Your Closet. This is probably a task that everyone has on his or her to-do list. Why not recruit some help? Review the colors with your toddler and have him or her help you sort your clothes by color. 
• Organize Your Change. Send your toddler on a rescue mission for the change that has been lost under sofa cushions or inside drink holders. Then have your toddler sort them into separate piles. After you're done, buy a treat for your toddler with the money you've recovered!
• Make tooth brushing fun. Turn on the radio while your toddler is brushing his or her teeth and have him or her dance along to an entire song. This way, your toddler will have brushed his or her teeth for an extended time without even realizing it. 
• Go to the library. Have your toddler pick out his or her favorite books and then read them to him or her. Hats make for good costume changes when a different character is speaking!
• Make a home library. Pull some books off the shelves and make your own library. Use a license or credit card to check out some books from your toddler. 
• Watch the clouds. From the comfort of the grass, watch the clouds on a sunny day. Find a certain-shaped cloud, and ask your toddler to search the sky for it. 
• Puzzle flashlight hunt. If he or she has to search for the pieces of a puzzle, your toddler will feel far more accomplished once it is all completed. Learn more information about how to carry out a puzzle flashlight hunt at Puzzle Flashlight Hunt!.
• Make blind contour drawings. Draw things or people around the house without looking down at your sheet of paper and without picking up your pencil. Have your toddler guess what you drew. He or she will have a blast laughing at the squiggles you call art. 
• Make caricatures. Sit down facing your toddler and draw his or her face while he or she draws yours. It will be interesting to find out how you both see each other. 
• Be a language teacher. Teach your toddler to say "hello" or another common word in five different languages. 
• Study the world. Study an atlas or globe with your toddler so that he or she learns about the world that exists even beyond pre-school. You might try pointing out where your toddler's ancestors came from.
• Be a hairstylist. If your toddler's hair is long enough, braid his or her hair. Your toddler will feel handsome in cornrows or like a princess in french braids. How to French Braid will teach you how to make new styles with braids.
• Jump rope. Even if you don't have a jump rope, a cord or rope will also do the trick. 
• Build a fort. All this requires is a  large sheet and something to drape it over. Read a story to your toddler in the fort and pull in some sleeping bags to make for an enjoyable indoor camping experience. 
• Visit a children's hospital. Call up a children's hospital and ask for permission to bring candy or flowers to some of the patients. Your toddler will be enlightened to see kids just like him or her going through a unique life experience.

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Crafts

• Spruce up old t-shirts. Make cool creations from the things lying around in the drawer! A ketchup stain is not a death sentence for a t-shirt. Grab an old t-shirt and have your toddler slap some fabric paint on it to make it into a beautiful piece of artwork! 10 Crafty Things to Do with an Old T-shirt will fill you in on other ideas to put life back into your t-shirts.
• Make a home decoration. Liven up your house without having to put a dent in your wallet. If you and your toddler both participate in making something that you can hang on the wall, you will both be proud and happy for the time you shared together each time you walk past it. Fun Decorating Ideas For Kids Rooms gives you ideas on how you and your toddler can beautify a room.
• Make a greeting card. Have your toddler help you send a message to a friend or a family member who you've been meaning to get in touch with. This person will love the cute and heartfelt card he or she receives. Cardmaking Projects has great ideas for beautiful greeting cards.
• Tie-dye. This is always a fun craft, and your toddler will love the result. Visit Step-By-Step Tie-Dye Projects for instructions on how to tie-dye and ideas for different items to tie-dye.
• Finger paint. Lay some white paper down on table, set out some paints, and go crazy! Your toddler will have a great time seeing his or her handprints in the colors of the rainbow!
• Draw your emotions. You would be surprised what art therapy can do to help a child express themselves. Ask your toddler how he or she is feeling that day, and draw those feelings on paper. You'll be able to learn something about your toddler you might not have known, and your toddler will feel like he or she is being given proper attention.
• Make an outfit for your pet. Why do humans get to have all the fun? Have your toddler help you to make an outfit that will have the neighbor's dog drooling with jealously. Pet Onesies! includes instructions on how to glamorize your pet.
• Make a pillow. Pillows are a relatively easy sewing project that you can do with your toddler because they don't require a lot of intricate stitching. Your toddler can contribute by stuffing the pillow with lots of fluff, and will love to rest his or her head on your creation when naptime rolls around. Sewing Pillows will teach you how kids can help sew pillows.
• Do paper mache. Kids love getting gooey and sticky, so paper mache is perfect for them. The best thing about this craft is that you probably have all of these items around the house. Learn how to properly paper mache by visiting How to Paper Mache.
• Make a bead necklace or bracelet. Your toddler will have fun choosing the best beads from the batch and then stringing them to form homemade jewelry. This activity will teach your toddler to be patient and steady. 
• Make a refrigerator magnet. Each time you travel to the kitchen for your midnight snack, you will be reminded of the quality time you spent with your toddler. Use anything in your art box to make the base, but make sure you have some magnetic tape to slap on the back. 
• Make playdough and sculpt with it. Your toddler will become a miniature Rodin. Visit Playdough Recipe to find out how to make playdough out of interesting things like coffee, Kool Aid or pumpkins!
• Make Oobleck! Dr. Seuss's Bartholomew and the Oobleck is a favorite of many children. Read this book to your child, and then make Ooblecks of your own! You'll be amazed how something can both solidify and ooze! Find the oobleck recipe at Oobleck.
• Make paper bag puppets. All this requires is some paper bags and some markers or crayons. Make puppet friends with your toddler, and perform a show when the rest of the family gets home. 
• Make a mobile out of old CDs. If you have a pile of CDs in your house or car that have been collecting dust, this is a fun craft that will look beautiful once it's complete. Recycle It! gives you a list of other fun things you can do with old CDs.
• Make ornaments. These don't have to be for a Christmas tree. You can make ornaments to dress up a bare tree in the backyard or to hang from a large indoor plant. Either way, your toddler will love making hangable art. Handmade Ornaments for All Occasions gives ideas for any time ornaments.
• Make a nature picture. Pick some pretty leaves or flowers from outdoors and set them under some white pieces of paper. Have your toddler color over them with crayons to make some beautiful nature imprints!
• Make a flag. Study some different countries' flags and have your toddler pick his or her favorite. Once he or she does, then make the flag out of construction paper. 
• Make a musical instrument. Your toddler will have fun making and playing an instrument. If you're feeling up to it, make multiple instruments and form a band! 9 Easy to Make Musical Instruments for Kids provides directions on how to make simple instruments at home.
• Face paint. Buy some face paints and turn your toddler into his or her favorite animal or superhero. Kids Face Painting Ideas provides tips and ideas for face painting.

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Critters

• Go to the zoo. The zoo is an enjoyable and classic day trip for toddlers. Your toddler will love seeing his or her favorite animal in real life for perhaps the first time. Give your toddler some control during the day by letting him or her pick out which animals you'll visit. Visit List of Zoos to find the zoo nearest you.
• Go to the dog park. Even if you don't have a dog, the dog park is always a fun place to see all types of critters (including yours!) romp freely. Your toddler will have a blast petting all the four-legged friends.
• Go to the pet store. The pet store is a great place to see different animals without having to pay admission. Your toddler will adore looking at the puppies, kitties, and fish. Ask a worker about having your toddler hold an animal, and your toddler will be in heaven. Be prepared for your little girl or guy asking to bring a new friend home.
• Visit a farm. Your toddler will love learning what real farmers do in their everyday lives. He or she will also love to see the ducks, pigs, and horses up close and personal. 
• Go fishing. Your toddler will love joining in on this activity, which is usually undertaken by the older members of the family. If you catch something, make sure to throw it back so that your toddler doesn't get upset. At Money Saving Fishing Bait Ideas you'll find bait that you don't have to dig through mud to get your hands on (although your toddler may like doing so!).
• Visit a petting zoo. Your toddler will be ecstatic when he or she is right there amongst all the goats and wooly sheep. However, we can't promise you that you won't hear "BAAAAAAAAHs" coming from the backseat when you're on the way home!
• Walk dogs at the animal shelter. The animal shelter can always use volunteers, and this activity is especially good if you don't have a pet of your own. You will probably have main control of the leash, but your toddler will be happy to walk alongside a needy friend.
• Pretend to be a pet. Your dog might get confused, but your toddler will love it. Get on all fours and walk around the house barking or meowing. Let your toddler brush you or walk you. 
• Play veterinarian. Have your toddler give your pet a medical checkup. If you have a stethoscope, have your toddler listen to your pet's heartbeat. If not, simply have your toddler place his or her ear on your pet's chest. Use these and other suggestions for how to check your pet's health. Learn more at About Dogs.
• Give your pet a makeover. Have your toddler help you paint your pet's toenails, brush your pet, and spray your pet with perfume. Make sure the products are animal friendly.
• Milk a cow. Your toddler will love learning how to do this difficult task. 
• Feed the birds. Have your toddler tear up some pieces of bread, scatter them, and watch the flock come feast! Now you have something to do with all that crust your toddler refuses to eat. 
• Dress up as your toddler's favorite animal. Find furry things around the house to wear and go around the house barking, neighing, roaring, chirping, or growling.

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From the Comfort of Home

• Play dress up. Your toddler will love being swallowed up in the contents of his or her parents' closets! Mix things up by putting pants on your toddler's head or shoes on his or her hands!
• Have a fashion show. Bring out your toddler's inner-model. This activity can be paired with playing dress up. After your toddler has on an outfit that he or she loves, have your toddler strut down a hallway of your house and shoot some photos!
• Your toddler, the stylist. If you're going to be around the house or if you don't mind people seeing you in "costume", have your toddler pick out an outfit that you will wear all day long! He or she will love this opportunity to exercise control.
• Workout. Incorporate your toddler into your workout routine to spend some more time with him or her during the day. Of course, this means slowing it down a bit or giving up some time on the treadmill, but your toddler will feel happy to participate instead of watching you from the sidelines. 
• Organize a play date. Play dates are a wonderful opportunity for your toddler to bond with a friend, but also for you to! Call a friend or co-worker who has a child the same age as yours and plan an activity that would be fun for both kids and adults. 
• Have a pizza party. Have your toddler pick out his or her favorite toppings (you can put them on half the pizza if you don't agree with them), and chill out. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the grease!
• Organize a scavenger hunt. A scavenger hunt can take place anywhere, but if you don't want to leave the comfort of heat or air-conditioning, you can organize one within your home. Kids Scavenger Hunt Ideas will give you ideas for cute kids scavenger hunts. 
• Your toddler, the makeup artist. You might end up looking like a clown, but it will be worth it if you and your toddler have fun! Set out some makeup that you don't mind using up, and let your toddler make you into a masterpiece!
• Swap your clothes! Pretend to be the real life version of Freaky Friday. Visit Clothes Swap for more details.
• Play Knock Knock. Since your child has outgrown peek-a-boo, move on to the next stage. This game will teach your toddler about your relatives. Find out how to play at Knock! Knock!....
• Play supermarket. Set out some food items and have your toddler choose some he or she likes and buy them from you using spare change. Whip up a meal from whatever he or she chooses. Doll strollers make for great shopping carts!
• Sumo wrestle! This activity will require two toddlers of about the same size. Stuff pillows under their shirts and clear an area for them to go at it! Make sure you keep a close eye on them because toddlers can be vicious!
• Have a sock war. Ball up a pile of socks and station behind the couch while your toddler is stationed in front. 
• Be movie stars. Halloween is not the only time for costumes! Pick out some items around your closet and dress up like characters from your toddler's favorite film. 
• Have a balloon party. Surprise your toddler with a room full of balloons. You might be blue in the face after you blow them all up, but at least you'll enjoy watching your toddler's eyes light up when he or she sees and rolls around in them. 
• Play with shaving cream. Clear off an old desk and spray some shaving cream on it. Your toddler will have fun drawing shapes and making designs. 
• Make a stuffed animal family photo. Your toddler's stuffed animals are like family to him or her so why not take a picture to prove it? Make an appealing backdrop, set your toddler and his or her plush friends out nicely, and click. Read more information at Family Portrait with Stuffed Animals activity.
• Have your toddler be the teacher. Your toddler is always learning new things. Let him or her be the one to teach you something for once.
• International feast. Cook up some menu items from around the world. They don't have to be difficult--egg rolls and tortillas with cheese will suffice. Teach your toddler something about the cultures where the foods come from to broaden his or her horizons. 
• Cook a meal. Your toddler will feel really important when he or she is helping you to feed the rest of the family. Choose a kid-friendly recipe from Cooking with Kids.
• Host a doll party. Have your toddler write invitations to all his or her favorite dolls, make some popcorn, and then set up a playlist so your toddler can DJ. Your toddler will love hosting a wild doll party!
• Make an obstacle course. Blindfold your toddler and have him or her go through the course by yelling out directions. Make sure there are no sharp corners!
• Be actors! Practice a skit with your toddler that you will perform later for your family. 
• Be a mummy. If you don't mind wasting a roll or two of toilet paper, have your toddler walk circles around you while wrapping you up like a mummy. Be careful not to fall. Ancient bones aren't stable. 
• Bake cookies. You might want to wait to do this after your toddler has eaten so as not to spoil a meal, but all kids loves warm crumbly sugar in their mouths! Visit Nick Jr. to find fun cookie recipes featuring many of the characters that your toddler probably watches on TV.
• Play hot lava. Scatter chairs and tables (that you don't mind your toddler walking on) about the house, and jump around without touching the floor! 
• Reorganize a room. Your toddler may get bored of the way things look just like everybody else. Move some furniture around your toddler's room to give it a new look. Then surprise your toddler by hanging party decorations so that your toddler will be excited just to spend time at home. 
• Make a music video. If you have a videocamera, record you and your toddler dancing and singing to one of your toddler's favorite songs. Look around the closet for clothing that a mini rockstar might wear. 
• Give tattoo sleeves. No needles involved! Buy a booklet of temporary tattoos and put them on your toddler to make sure that he or she is sufficiently tatted up. Your toddler has probably already acted like a rebel, but now he or she can look like one too!
• Create a mini society. Teach your toddler the value of money by giving him or her fake money and having him or her exchange money to get things of interest in return. 
• Find the footprints. Place footprints around the house, and have your toddler follow them to find a surprise waiting at the end. For more details, visit Footprints Activity.
• Organize a fire drill. Teach your toddler about fire safety and what to do in case of a fire. FireSafety.gov for Kids will teach you what all you need to say.

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