Ideas for Entertaining Toddlers

Toddlers are excited about learning and doing things for themselves. They do not share and are too young to play well with other children. However, they frequently enjoy playing beside other children.chelsea_noback

  • Build with blocks AND knock them down
  • Action toys such as a toy they push or pull - toy sweepers, lawn mowers, wagons, and carts
  • Toys that let them play grown up such as telephones, dolls tool sets, and dish sets
  • Outdoor play with balls, sandbox, or just exploring
  • Soft stuffed animals or puppets
  • Children's songs and finger games such as Itsy-Bitsy Spider; Row, Row, Row your Boat; or making music themselves with toy instruments
  • Simple games like Hide-and-Seek. Be sure to hide so that part of you can be seen to allow the child to be successful at finding you. BEWARE OF SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, STAIRS, AND STREETS. 

Coloring Book

coloringbookMaterials Needed:

  • 2-4 sheets of blank white paper, size 8½" by 11"
  • 1 piece of colored paper, size 8½" by 11"
  • Crayons
  • Stapler
  • Black or dark-colored marker 

Procedure:

  1. Fold your 2 to 4 sheets of blank white paper in half making a book. 
  2. Put the piece of colored paper on the outside making a cover. 
  3. Staple the papers together making the coloring book.
  4. Using the black or dark-colored marker, draw pictures on the white pages of the coloring book.  Use simple drawings, such as a heart, star, moon, sun, flower, etc. for a toddler and more complicated drawings, such as a person, animal, etc. for a preschooler.
  5. Have the child color the pictures.
  6. Have fun!

Sorting

sorting_Jan11Materials Needed:

  • Muffin pan
  • Multi-colored, O-shaped cereal (approved by parent) OR
  • Safe toys of different colors 

Procedure:

  1. Using a muffin pan, have the toddler or preschooler sort cereal by color.  Most young children love to sort things and are able to sort by color with help from you. If approved by parent, let child eat the cereal.
  2. If cereal is not available or not approved by parent, have the child sort toys (such as blocks) by color. Then play with the blocks or different colored toys.