Being stuck at home can be challenging sometimes. Toddlers can get bored easily and that can make them cranky. It can be difficult to come up with fun activities for kids at home. If you are looking for easy toddler activities at home keep reading!
Whether you need things to do with a 3 year old at home because of the shelter in place or because it is raining, we’ve got you covered. I have a bunch of fun indoor activities for kids at home plus other things to entertain kids.
If you need activities for kids that are a little older check out these Science Experiments. They are perfect for exciting young minds.
Fun Indoor Activities for Toddlers at Home
Looking for stuff to do with toddlers at home? These activities make great rainy day activities for kids at home or just fun ideas to do with toddlers at home.
1. Build a Fort
This is something my kids love to do at any time. You can make it as big or as small as you want. Use pillows, blankets, chairs, tables, the couch… Essentially anything can be used to make a fort. My kids love just having a cozy space to play in. Anything out of the norm is fun to kids.
2. Bake Something
Baking is a great time to pass the time with toddlers. Sugar cookies would be an easy thing to bake and then the kids can decorate them. My kids love to make banana bread once the bananas get too ripe to eat. Getting them involved in the kitchen can also help them to eat new things. Get your toddler a kitchen helper or learning tower so it is easier for them to be right in the action.
3. Build with Blocks
Depending on their age, you can build something with Legos or Duplo Blocks. Mostly my kids just like building a tower as tall as they can and then knocking it down.
4. Practice Letters or Reading
My daughter has been missing preschool lately, so we are doing out best to keep learning letters. Flash cards are great or just finding things around the house that start with certain letters. You can also practice sight words with your kids and make a game out of it. Flash cards and letter practicing workbooks make great gifts for preschoolers.
5. Read a Book
Reading is so important. Both my kids love books and love to try and read. I make sure to read to them as much as possible. Right now a lot of local libraries are providing free books online during times we can’t visit the local library. Check yours out.
6. Draw
Drawing can be done anytime. Get some paper, crayons, markers, pencils, whatever your kids like and create a master piece with them.
7. Learn a New Skill
Think of a new skill you can teach your toddler. Lately we have been practicing our scissor skills, counting things, and learning how to use chopsticks during dinner. My kids love trying new things and feel so proud when they are able to do a new skill on their own.
8. Do Yoga
Yoga is a great way to keep the mind calm as well as get the body moving. None of us are very good at it, yet, but we are all trying the moves as much as we can and having fun.
9. Arts and Crafts
Get some craft supplies and create something. Paper plates are a great canvas for creating a cute holiday project.
10. Dance Party
Get moving and DANCE! You may end up dancing to “Let it Go” 20 times in a row, but the kids have a blast dancing around. Try teaching them a new dance.
11. Scavenger Hunt
This can be a fun way to practice shapes, colors, and letters. Have your toddler find things that are red, or are in the shape of a square. Search the house for all sorts of shapes hidden in objects.
12. Science Experiment
Get your toddlers learning about science. There are some fun kits you can get like this one or you can just experiment with some things you might already have on hand. Check out these 30 Activities for Preschoolers by Fun Learning for Kids.
13. Visit a Museum Virtually
My son loves planes and anything that flies so we were so excited when we found this tour online. He loved it!
https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam/virtualtour/
14. Watch Live Web Cams of Animals or Aquariums
Check out these zoos and aquariums web cams. You can watch the animals live.
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
https://www.calacademy.org/learn-explore/animal-webcams
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/webcams
15. Make Something Out of a Box
From space ships to race cars, boxes can turn into anything. With all the online ordering we’ve been doing, we have had a ton of extra boxes around and my kids love to make things out of boxes as well as decorate them.
Easy Activities for Toddlers At Home and Outdoors
These activities to do at home can be done outdoors for some much needed fresh air. Toddlers and preschoolers will love them.
16. Make Pet Rocks
If your kids don’t already have a collection of rocks to use, you can start by taking a walk to gather some. Then you can use paint or markers to cute faces on them. These paint markers are great for pet rocks.
17. Paint a Flower Pot
Have your toddler personalize a flower pot, then plant some seeds or flowers. It can be a nice gift for a loved one once you can visit others again.
18. Create a Garden
Toddlers love digging in the dirt. Start a garden with them. They will love to try the foods that they helped to grow. You can use scraps to start a lot of your garden. Things you can grow from scraps: lettuce, celery, green onion, fennel, ginger, and many other root vegetables.
19. Sidewalk Chalk
Decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk. Draw a hopscotch to practice numbers.
20. Go on a Nature Walk
Talk a walk and look at all the trees, flowers, birds, and bugs along the way.
21. Hula Hoop
Get moving outside by giving the hula hoop a try.
22. Jump Rope
Teach your toddlers how to jump rope.
23. Play Tag
My kids love just running in circles and trying to tag each other. A lot of the times I am “it” and chase them all over pretending to try to tag them.
Games and Activities for Preschoolers at Home
24. Dominos
25. Matching Games
26. Puzzles
27. Candy Land
28. Cards
29. Bowling
30. Ring Toss
31. Bean Bag Toss
32. Parachute Games
Parachute games were a favorite of mine when I was younger. These games are sure to delight any child. For now you can do a smaller version with the family or neighbors while maintaining social distancing. I can’t wait to set up a play date to do a full version with my kids and their friends. Check out the full post on parachute games in the link above.
33. Additional Toddler Games
Have fun and stay busy with all the these fun things to do with a toddler at home. Eventually we will get to go out again and no longer have to practice social distancing. Until then we need to stay safe and healthy by staying home as much as possible. Once we can go out again check out these Awesome Toddler Activities.
What are you doing to keep your toddlers busy at home? Any tips on additional activities for young kids at home you like? Share Below!
