19 Simple Activity Ideas For toddlers At Home

Are you looking for easy activities for toddlers that you can set up quickly at home? If you have a busy toddler who is always on the move and looking for something to get into, you are in the right place. Below, you will find a list of 15 easy activity ideas designed to keep little hands engaged without adding stress to your day.

With my own busy toddler, I have learned the value of keeping a go to list of simple activities on hand. These activities for toddlers are quick to prep, easy to reset, and perfect for those moments when you need something ready in a pinch.

I Love Easy Activities For Toddlers

Activities for toddlers that are easy, are my go to these days! With a busy toddler on my hands I just don’t have the time for long, elaborate activity setups anymore. What makes an activity easy? Ill explain!

Easy toddler activity ideas are engaging activities that require minimal materials, and low-prep activities. These are perfect for busy days, short attention spans, and moments when you need a quick way to entertain your little one without the use of screens! Here is a quick idea list of easy activities for toddlers.

Sensory Rice	Block Play
Water tables & Water Trays	Sorting Objects by color, shape
Playdough	Outdoor Sidewalk chalk
Posting Activities	Pouring And Scooping Activity
Painting Activity	Build A Fort

Other Low-Prep Activity Ideas You May Love!

15 Easy Activities For Toddlers

Below is a list of 15 easy activities for toddlers. As an early childhood educator and current homeschool parent, these are my go to activities for my busy toddler. Each activity is one I know will keep him engaged while learning at the same time.

Rainbow Rice Sensory bin

Sensory bins have always been a go to activity for me when I am trying to keep my busy toddler entertained. The versatility of sensory bins is truly endless.

My favorite type of sensory bin is a rice sensory bin because of how simple it is to make, and I almost always have rice on hand. You can keep the rice plain or add a few drops of food coloring, like I did, to take the sensory experience up a level. Add a few cups, bowls, and scooping utensils, and you will have a happy toddler eager to play and explore.

Simple Pouring station For Toddlers

During the warmer months I love to setup simple water pouring stations outdoors. It does get messy but it’s just water, and its outdoors.

With a tray, some small containers, and water from the garden hose you could recreate this simple pouring station for toddlers. Easy activities for toddlers that are also fun.

easy Monster PlayDough Activity

This fun monster playdough activity for preschool is the perfect way to spark their imaginations while building fine motor skills!

With just a few simple materials, your little ones can create their own silly, spooky, or friendly monsters. It’s a fantastic way to encourage creativity, engage in sensory play, and make learning feel like an adventure. Let’s dive into this monstrously fun activity that will bring giggles and smiles to your preschooler’s day!

Button Drop Activity For Toddlers

Try this Button Drop Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers. It is simple to create and quick to set up. All you need are a few buttons and a container with a lid.

This Button Drop Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers is great for helping toddlers refine their fine motor skills, which are essential for later skills such as writing, cutting, and even getting dressed. It is a hands on activity that is perfect for supporting early fine motor development.

Farm Animal Tape Rescue Activity

Using a little tape, a few farm animal toys, and a hard surface, you can easily recreate this farm animal activity for toddlers.

When introducing animals to toddlers, I like to start with farm animals. Over the years, I have found that farm animals are easier for young toddlers to recognize and are often more engaging and fun to explore during early learning activities.

Simple Block Play

I have always been a fan of open ended toys. With so many ways to use blocks, they are a simple and fun way to set up an activity for toddlers.

Because blocks are an open ended toy, toddlers are able to imagine, create, and explore freely. In our house, we love building super tall towers and castles with some of our favorite toy figurines.

Block play is truly endless, with countless activities and learning opportunities you can create using just a simple set of blocks.

pom Pom Sweep Activity

This pom pom sweeping activity is a fantastic way to support the development of fine and gross motor skills in young children. As they use a small broom to sweep pom poms into a designated area, children strengthen hand eye coordination, grip control, and core stability.

This activity also promotes practical life skills by encouraging independence and responsibility, all while making cleanup fun and engaging.

Side Walk Chalk Paint

The perfect activity for summertime fun at home or even in the park. Making sidewalk chalk paint is fairly simple, and you may already have most of the items around the house.

You’re going to need a few things in order to get started. Sidewalk chalk, a small container for paint

Pouring And Scooping Activity

Pouring and scooping activities are great for toddlers who are interested in practicing fine motor skills through handling cups and containers. I like to introduce some type of pouring and scooping activity a few times throughout the week.

This activity can be mess free, depending on what you decide to use as fillers. You can use water, rice, or even pasta, like in this particular activity. No matter what you choose, your toddler will love playing and exploring with this activity.

Garden Sensory Bin

Okay, I know I’m not alone when I say how engaging and fun sensory bins are for toddlers. They are a go to activity in my house because they are incredibly easy to set up and keep little ones engaged.

That said, creating a sensory bin for younger toddlers can be tricky. Younger toddlers still tend to explore by putting items in their mouths, so safety is always my top priority. When I create sensory bins, my goal is to make them fun while also keeping them safe.

Squigz On The Window

We just got into Squigz this year, and we were definitely late to the party. We use them every day in some sort of new way.

These are great for toddlers and big kids alike. They are an open ended toy, so the possibilities for play are truly endless.

Pom Pom Color Sorting Activity

Are you teaching your toddlers color recognition? If so, I have a simple pom pom color matching activity for toddlers that they will love. This activity is simple for parents to set up, and it is very fun for toddlers who are learning all about their colors and how to match them.

Garden Sensory Bin

We love dinosaurs in my house, so I’m always coming up with fun and creative activities to do with the ones we have. Adding paint into the mix takes it to a whole new level. This activity is perfect when you’re crunched for time and need a simple, low-prep way to keep your toddlers engaged.

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to set up this activity—and share a few tips for keeping it low-mess and easy to clean up.

Monster Truck Parking Lot

Do you have a little one who loves monster trucks? I do, and I created this fun parking lot monster truck activity for kids!

This activity is very low-prep and FUN. The best part, this activity is low-prep, budget-friendly, and so much fun for toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids.