When the weather turns wild, or you just need a quiet day at home, finding ways to keep your toddler entertained inside can be a bit more difficult than expected. There’s a growing trend towards minimising the amount of screen time our little ones are exposed to, but it can be hard to know what to do instead, especially when we’re all feeling a bit of decision fatigue. While the odd bit of telly isn’t the end of the world, there’s a whole range of screen-free activities that support your little one’s development and help burn off that endless toddler energy. Here are some tried-and-true indoor activities for toddlers that don’t require a screen (including your phone!) and use things you probably already have around the house.
Sensory Play Bins
We had a toddler activity blog a while back that included a variety of sensory play options, and we’re including them again here because sensory play can be great. They do require active supervision, so this particular activity is not one you can set out while you go and do something else, but it’s a great way to play and bond while keeping them entertained and learning (without them really realising they’re learning!). Chuck a towel or mat under the tub or container you’re using for your sensory bin to make cleanup a bit easier, and you’re away.
Indoor Obstacle Course
Indoor obstacle courses are fun. You can use a whole range of different items for the course, depending on the layout of your house, the age of your children, and the things you have available. Cushions, chairs, blankets, boxes – they can all be used to create a course that is tailored to your toddler’s abilities, and you can add in extra challenges at varying points through the lap as well. Think things like “touch your toes” or “sing Twinkle, Twinkle” to get you started and add in a few more of the smaller physical challenges or the addition of other creative challenges.
Baking Together
Even as a toddler, baking is something they can get involved in – and this activity has the bonus of ending up with some really yummy treats once you’re done. You don’t even have to stick to things that need the oven, either – no-back recipes, often involving healthy ingredients, are readily available with a bit of a search. Otherwise, simple recipes such as scones or pikelets are fantastic for little ones learning the ropes as they’re easy yet involve a range of skills and teach them the basics of measuring and pouring.
DIY Fort Building
Let’s be honest – we all love a good fort. Kitchen chairs make great tent poles, and from there, you only need blankets or sheets and a few pegs or ties to hold it all together. Put some cushions on the floor inside, and you’re set! Crawl in with some books or take a torch to make shadow puppets – especially good if it’s a gloomy winter’s day.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts can be just the thing to burn off some energy, develop creativity and language skills, and generally have fun together. You can make the task as straightforward or as complex as you think will suit your child. “Find a blue jumper”, “find something fluffy”, or even “find where the spoons live” – anything that helps teach your little one vocabulary and how to think things out. As they get better at it, try introducing more difficult concepts!
Music and Dance Party
Music, singing, dancing – have a party in the living room! Bring out the pots and wooden spoons for some homemade instruments – or try busting out your bottle brush from the Haakaa Silicone Cleaning Brush Kit to use as a pretty nifty little microphone to let you really belt out the tunes. Dancing can even let you get in a quick bit of exercise, too!
Simple Crafts
Craft time doesn’t need to be complicated. Grab some crayons for colouring, stick some pictures down in a collage, or make some cards for upcoming birthdays. Keeping things open-ended lets toddlers stretch those creative muscles and gives them something to feel especially accomplished about. Seeing their art on the fridge is something many kids love to see each time they enter the kitchen, and knowing you love what they’ve created is such a great boost for them. To save ending up with more art than space, it may be a fun idea to cycle their exhibitions, with the old ones retiring to a dedicated folder they can go and look through later.
Imaginative Play
Because this is all about imagination, this activity is all but limitless. Create a pretend café or a vet clinic, or “head out” to do some shopping around the house with their toys as goods. The best way to play this, though, is to let your child lead the way. Let them come up with the game and the rules, and you may find you’re pretty surprised at how creative they can be when their imagination is unleashed!
Story Time
After a while, it might be good to wind down a bit, and story time is the best way to do this. Choose a book – or maybe choose a book each, depending on how long they are – and settle down for some good reading time. Don’t hold back, either. Breaking out all your best voices, using puppets, acting things out – they all go towards making a truly memorable time. Slowly pull them back to encourage some relaxation, and you’re set!
There are lots of ways to keep your toddler entertained inside if you have to, and if you want to reduce or avoid screentime altogether, there are a few things you can do – and best of all, they all help you build memories together.