Keeping a toddler entertained can sometimes feel like a struggle. With their short attention spans, it feels like they lose interest in something quickly and are then ready to move onto the next activity. So instead of screen time, what are some easy ways to keep a toddler entertained?
Toddlers are naturally curious and playful little humans who love to feel like a big helper. Turn everyday tasks into games with them! Playing simple games with things found around the house is a wonderful way to engage them, while also supporting their development. The activities below can support motor skills, language development, and cognitive development – as well as deepening your bond.
From using songs during clean-up to playing hide-and-seek with stuffed animals, here are five engaging games to play with your toddler around the house:
- Clean up song: As you clean, sing a song with your child about what you are doing. “I am dusting the chair” or “I am picking up toys that fill you with joy.” You can use silly voices, rhymes or singing to the tune of a favorite song. If your child is old enough to help, hand him/her a dust cloth or invite him/her to pick up toys with you. A song about what you are doing will catch your child’s attention and he/she will make connections between sounds, sight and meaning. Children are especially curious about new things and curiosity is very important in learning.
- Hide-a-bear: As you play with your child, take a stuffed animal or object and hide it as your child watches you. Ask your child, “Where is it?” and let them find it. Then ask your child if they can hide it and you find it. Create a cheer to use when each of you finds the toy and keep taking turns. When your child watches you hide their toy and then finds it, they are focusing and using their working memory. When your child hides the toy, they are imagining about how you might think so they can find a tricky hiding place. These skills are important in learning.
- Window watchers: Ask your child if they want to look out the window and be a “Window Watcher.” Follow their gaze as you point and say what you see. Show your child where you are looking. Create names for what’s out there and talk about what each thing does. When your child is going back and forth with you about what each of you sees, they are learning from you. Naming what you are looking at will help your child increase their vocabulary in meaningful ways.
- Band of dishes: When you’re doing the dishes, use one of the clean pots and a wooden spoon to make a drum. Together, show your child how to make noise by hitting the bottom of the pot. Let them try it. Go back and forth, taking turns making sounds. When your child watches you and then you watch them, you are learning about each other and about cause and effect. When you’re interacting together, your child is learning to pay attention and to communicate.
- Learn to use tools: To do this activity, simply look for opportunities where your child can use a tool to get something out of reach. For example, if their toy falls under a chair, give your child a ruler or wooden spoon to help them reach the toy. You can also set a game up using blocks and a wooden spoon. Ask your child to reach across the table with the spoon to reach the blocks. How many can they get? If something is out of reach, like a book on a shelf, give your child a stepping stool to reach the book. Be sure to supervise when utilizing a stool or step ladder.
Whether you’re peeking out the window to spot birds or turning kitchen items into a musical experience, these ideas transform daily moments into opportunities for interaction and growth.