What are the best activities for toddlers? You are going to love this list of 75+ amazing toddler activities!
I know how it feels to be overwhelmed and exhausted with multiple kids. Sometimes you can’t even get a second to think. I put together this list of dozens of our favorite activities so that you have a “go to” list on those days when you need something to help turn the day around.
Since I love keeping things organized, I’ve grouped the list into eight different sections so you can quickly glance and figure out what activities you want to try.
This toddler activities list includes sensory, fine motor, literacy, art, math, science, play, and movement ideas. Many of these can be used with older kids as well!
Do you have a favorite “go to” toddler activity? We’d love to hear about it!
75+ Amazing Toddler Activities
Here’s the list of 75+ awesome activities for toddlers. Click on the links below to access the full activity tutorials.
Sensory Activities for Toddlers
Sensory play is always our number one activity to try when the day is starting to go south. There’s something about getting your hands and body exploring different materials that helps calm kids down. Sensory play can be messy or mess-free! We hope you love these activities as much as we have!
RELATED: Need an easy activity weekly plan for your toddler? You’ll love our Toddler Year of Play Activity Calendars!
Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers
Fine motor activities help kids strengthen their hands, wrists, and fingers. Fine motor skills are important for helping kids learn how to use writing tools, scissors, performing different self-help skills (like buttoning and zipping), and learning how to throw and catch. These simple fine motor activities are fun and so helpful for kids.
If you need even more ideas, my friend Anna at The Imagination Tree has 40 Simple. Fine Motor Skills Activities
Arts Ideas for Toddlers
Activities that allow kids to create and explore different art forms are so fun! We love to study different artists and give kids access to a variety of different art materials. At the toddler stage, process art, allows kids to focus on enjoying how they create and worry less about the end product. As we give kids open-ended art ideas and allow them to lead, it is pretty amazing what they come up with!
RELATED: Not sure where to start? Check out our Toddler Activities Start Up Guide.
Literacy Activities for Toddlers
Playful literacy activities and lots of time to read together are the best ways to introduce different literacy concepts to toddlers. Help kids manipulate materials and explore letters in their names and words they see in their environment. Learn nursery rhymes and songs and have fun! Literacy activities for toddlers should help give them exposure to different concepts that they will build on as they grow. Start with things they are interested in (like their names) and follow their lead.
Math Ideas for Toddlers
Did you know that you begin teaching simple math concepts to children long before they ever enter a classroom? There are so many ways to embed learning math concepts like counting, measuring, and identifying more and less through simple daily experiences along with easy activities that you can enjoy alongside your child. These activities on this list are some of our favorites.
Play Ideas for Toddlers
Play is the most important thing that kids can do every day. Play is the “work” of children and you get to be the facilitator. As you create opportunities for kids to explore different materials through play, they use their creativity, develop their imaginations and attention spans, develop their language skills, work on problem solving skills, and build self confidence. You can find more of our favorite play ideas on our Simple Play page
Science Activities for Toddlers
Science projects don’t need to be hard or complicated. We start exploring science concepts when our kids are little and we don’t even realize it! Parents can use everyday experiences to teach science concepts. There are so many easy science experiments that you can set up using materials you already have around the house. I hope you have so much fun with these science ideas!
Movement Activities for Toddlers
Movement activities can help kids learn better, increase their memory, perception, attention, and even their ability to problem solve. Moving every day also can help kids manage their emotions better. We love to find playful ways to move every day using everyday materials around our house.
Do you have any more awesome toddler activities we should add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!
