Indoor activities with your toddler

The toddler years are an exciting door to new opportunities for what you can do together! This post is based on 1-3 year olds and so even the not most confident walkers can partake in most of these. As well as being more mobile,, what also changes when playing with toddlers is their ability to interact. You may not know what they’re saying all the time but you can certainly being teaching the art of conversation and playing with them.

Entertaining a toddler doesn’t have to be expensive, or even cost a thing! These ideas are all things you can do at home covering toys and other things you likely already own (or can cheaply get)

So even if weather doesn’t permit, or you just fancy a cozy day indoors, there’s still plenty you can do to entertain your little one

Disclaimer: I am not a qualified health, medical, childcare or educational expert. This advice comes from my own relatable experiences

Read to your toddler

Reading to your toddler is a fantastic way to build their vocabulary and enhance their speech and language skills. There is so many great stories for toddlers out there, including classics you may already be familiar with

Make your own playdough

Instead of spending money on playdough you can create your own with ingredients already in your home! There are many recipes online for homemade playdough such as this one from the BBC

It’s cheaper, less artificial and better for the environment!

Play pretend

This is the fun age where your child’s imagination starts coming to life as they role-play by imitating what they see in real-life

-Dressing up

You don’t have to spend money on expensive costumes for this one. Find costumes secondhand in charity shops, Facebook marketplace, ebay, etc. I don’t personally feel that gender matters too much here. Your toddler is just exploring the world and having fun

Classic favourites for costumes are Kings, princesses and animal costumes which are super cute!

-Toys resembling real-life

Think of typical chores like vacuuming and sweeping; you can find these as mini-toy versions for kids, starting from toddler age. Use this to enforce positive habits early by making chores fun for your toddler. They will enjoy being “just like mum” and you can begin encourage helpful behaviour now

Musical play

Musical instrument toys are always great fun. As a free alternative you can use pots and pans with a wooden spoon which toddlers will love bashing like a drum! Put some music on and dance with your baby to the beat they make

Problem solving toys

Toys such as stacking cups, stacking rings and shape sorters are great ways to build on your baby’s fine motor skills development and helps them develop problem-solving abilities as they figure out what goes where

Water play

Fill a washing up bowl or small tray with water, get some bath toys and have fun splashing with your toddler

Make a fort

Help make a fort for your toddler and snuggle up together reading them a story or singing songs and nursery rhymes

Arts and crafts

There are many different arts and crafts toys designed for toddlers however these ideas below include toddlers not fully mobile

-finger paint

-Chalk

-Colouring

Games

-Hide and seek

-The floor is lava

The classic game of jumping onto furniture in fear of the “lava” on the ground will excite your mobile toddler

Looking for more things to do with your toddler? Check out these ideas of day trips to take your toddler and outdoor activities for toddlers

Thank you for reading! I hope this post has inspired you with ideas to keep your little toddler busy and entertained as well as having fun with you too. Comment down below your favourite activity idea or any others that you play with your little one

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