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Toddlers need highly active activities in addition to quiet time. Here are 11 Easy Toddler Activities to tire them out so you can finally get some rest. Most of these can be done both indoors and outdoors, and require almost no prep time. Plus get the FREE printable for Indoor Shape Hop Scotch!
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If your kiddo is anything like mine, he or she doesn't sit still. I am always looking activities to tire my boy out (but is that really different than all other parents??).
There are a ton of "quiet time" activity ideas out there on the internet, and those are great. But they last all of 5 minutes in my house, and then my son starts trying to throw himself off the couch upside down again. So I always need to redirect him to safe and constructive activities that will help him get all his energy out.
I mean, look at how he watches TV... is it any wonder quiet time activities don't work for him??
By the way, if you want to see a few ideas for open ended and fun toys with the hopes of some quiet time, check them out here: Open Ended Toy Ideas, FUN Gifts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
And if you're looking for sensory play ideas to keep toddlers busy, try these two holiday-themed activities:
But back to the toddler activities for crazy little active toddlers...
Most of the active toddler activities listed below can be done indoors and they don't require any planning or prepping.
Some of the activities below are more fun with the parents involved.
I know, I know, all we want to do as parents is lay down on the couch and close our eyes for just 5 minutes. But it can be great to get in on the
crazy fun that your toddler is into.
My son LOVES it when my husband and I get crazy and run around and jump around with him, or when we get down on the floor and chase him on all fours. He gets such a kick out of it and has a lot more fun playing with us than playing alone. Plus it's good exercise.
But don't worry, a lot of the activities here are good for solo toddler fun, so you can relax a bit once you show your toddler what to do.
A trampoline has been a lifesaver for us - I don't even know how we dealt with all this toddler energy before we got a trampoline.
Let your kid bounce up and down to get all their energy out! This little trampoline is perfect for toddlers with its handle and foam-padded springs for safety.
My son's daycare has this one and all the kids love it!
We have this bigger trampoline that works for adults too (because it only cost a few bucks more and my husband and I can use it also!). It has an adjustable height bar which my almost-3 year old is juuust barely tall enough for. So if you have a younger toddler or one who is shorter than other kids his or her age, go for the little trampoline. Otherwise, go for this one. It folds and can be stashed away under a high bed (although we keep it open ALL. THE. TIME!)
Tape party streamers (crepe paper) to a doorway and show your kiddo how to run around underneath it. Sometimes this activity doesn't last as long as I would like and my son tears down the paper. But sometimes he plays for a long time!
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You can get crepe paper (aka party streamers) on Amazon here if you don't want to go to the store.
This game is similar to hop scotch, and there are lots of different variations. Get some chalk and draw some shapes, letters, or numbers and show your kid how to jump from shape to shape. Have them yell out the different shapes or letters as they jump so they can learn something along the way too.
If you're near a beach, draw the shapes or letters in the sand with your toes.
If you're indoors, draw shapes and letters on construction paper and stick it to the floor with tape.
You can also print this game out if you don't feel like drawing shapes. Just print it on colorful paper (here is some on Amazon, if you don't want to go looking for it in stores) and tape the shapes, letters, and numbers to the floor. The free printable is a bonus I offer as a thanks for signing up to my newsletter. To sign up for helpful parenting and picky eating posts and get the printable, click here or on the image below:
Race Across the HouseWe all line up on one side of the house, either by a door or a wall. My son says "ready, set, GO!" and we all "race" towards the other wall. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat again, because toddlers. It's more fun than it sounds!
When my son was younger, all he could say was "weady" instead of the full "ready, set GO!" Now that he is older, he can say all three words, and LOVES telling us exactly where to stand to start the next race. We call him "muchacho bossypants."
These stepping stones are so neat. They help your toddler gain some balance, build their imagination, and get some of that never ending energy out. The cool thing is that they can be used indoors and outdoors. So if you want to sit on your deck and enjoy a margarita, bring these outside and let your kids hop and jump. Or use this time to them colors and the concept of "bigger" and "smaller.
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Related post: 7 toddler cleanup songs - to get your toddler to clean up after playing!
"Alexa, play dance music" is all that it takes for our family to break out our dance moves. My son is a little too young to understand lyrics, so any dance music works for now. As he gets a bit older, I'll have to make a kid-friendly playlist. It's nice to listen to "real" music instead of the "wheels on the bus" for a change.
Yes, yoga might not seem as fun as running around the house like a crazy person, but surprisingly kids love yoga, especially if they get to copy their parents. It's a good physical activity that will teach them balance and help them gain some strength, and might actually calm your kids down while at the same time allowing them to be active. So get out those yoga mats and start doing some easy yoga or stretches.
Make sure you put a mat out for your kiddo too. There are a ton of fun yoga mats for kids. If your kid ends up loving yoga, it's definitely worth it to get them their own mat. Personally, I would recommend doing regular adult yoga and seeing how much your toddler will follow you. Don't pressure them, they'll probably show an interest if they see their parents on the floor in downward dog.
If you don't have time or don't feel like yoga, you can try this toddler yoga video. It's a bit too colorful and cheesy for my taste, but it will definitely entertain kids.
Watch the video below. My son LOVES to go on a Bear Hunt. He is 2, so he can't quite keep up with the pace of the song (yet!). This is actually a good thing, because there is room for him to learn and get better as he gets older.
Plus it teaches pretend play, the concepts of over/under/through, and is just lots of silly fun.
A couple of quick tips for a successful bear hunt: 1) Watch this by yourself and learn as much of the song as you want to, and then sing it to your kid. If your kids see the video they might demand to see the video every time they see a browser open, which gets annoying real quick. 2) This is most fun with another adult if your toddler is on the younger side. My son doesn't talk enough yet to repeat this song, so it's much better when my husband repeats after me and my son tries as best as he can.
Simon Says can be LOADS of fun if you get silly. If your kid is still young, then play a literal version of Simon Says (without trying to trick them), where they do what Simon Says. Mix up the usual prompts with things like: Simon says "spin around!" Simon says "jump up and down!" Simon says "stand on one leg!" Simon says "dance!" Simon says "shake your bum!" Simon says "wiggle!" Simon says "act like a monkey!"
Play fetchIt's not as mean as it sounds. Kids LOVE chasing after balls, and this gives you a break. Just make silly noises every time you throw or kick the ball. Throw the ball in different directions. Try "Can mama throw it as far as that tree? Oh NOOO! She can't!" or "I'm going to throw it so high!" "I'm going to roll it on the ground" Just get silly with it. You can try using crazy shaped sensory balls such as these for extra fun because they bounce all over the damn place.
Just blow bubbles and have your toddler try to pop as many as they can. This never gets old. Bubbles are a lifesaver. The cheapo dollar store bubbles are just as much fun as fancy bubble machines, so this is a great activity for all budgets. I always have a small container of bubbles in our stroller in case we need to entertain my son when we are out and about, but we also do bubbles indoors too.
We just make sure we are on a carpeted area so that the floor doesn't get slippery.
Try these:
So what do you think? Will your kiddo enjoy any of these activities?
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Having an active toddler is a great thing, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.
What you need, tired mama, is some high energy toddler activities.
What your toddler needs is some toddler fun: physical activities that toddlers love that will keep them out of trouble and tire them out before bedtime rolls around.
Ah, I can just imagine how much easier bedtime will be once I tire my toddler out.
Instead of trying to get your toddler to calm the heck down, you really should embrace their need for physical activity because it helps to build a healthy body.
Psst! Check out our carefully curated BEST “Indoor Toys That Keep Kids Active” List on Amazon.
This list is full of easy, low-prep toddler activities and games that you can do at home that will tire your toddler out (because we’ve all asked the question “What do I do with my toddler all day?”).
I refer to this list frequently, because I’m always wondering how to entertain my toddler indoors.
Have older kids too? Kids of all ages will enjoy these activities for kids with high energy.
If your toddler still naps, but struggles to fall asleep at bedtime, keeping them active is necessary to ensure that you get some mama-me time at the end of the day.
These activities are perfect for older kids, too.
This post contains affiliate links.
🌟 Toddler Favorite
Hands On As We Grow has an amazing, FREE 7-Day Activity Challenge that I did this winter with my kids.
You get a new email each day for 7 days explaining a super simple, low-prep and FUN activity, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
My kids loved every activity.
2. Play an active board game🌟 Toddler Favorite
We love Twister Shapes which puts an educational twist on a smaller version of Twister, and helps your toddler to practice shapes and colors while being active.
Dr Seuss’ I Can Do That is another game that gets your toddler moving by giving your toddler a challenge, such as “hop to the bathtub with the fish under your chin”.
Related: The Best Board Games For Toddlers
We have this foldable mattress that we bought to use when our niece comes over.
It is hands-down my children’s favorite toy.
And it’s not even a toy.
They have played with this thing for hours and hours and hours.
They make forts with it, they jump on it, they put it on the couch and do gymnastics with it.
If you don’t have one, your kids would equally love an air mattress, the couch, a bed, an old crib mattress, etc.
If you don’t feel like blowing bubbles for your toddler for hours on end, make sure that you get a bubble blower that your toddler can control.
Why not teach your toddler to recognize the ABCs while they’re running around the house?
Incorporate letter learning into fun games like Musical Chairs, Relay Races, Kick The Can and more with these no-prep active learning activities.
6. Parachute Ball GameRemember playing parachute in gym class?
Even if you don’t have the real deal, you can simply use a round tablecloth, place some balls on it, and have your kids shake the parachute and run to collect the balls.
If you have a laser of some kind, get comfy on the couch and shine the laser on the floor and have your kids chase it and try to “catch” it.
Does it sound like something you would do with your cat?
Yep. But who cares.
Your kids will LOVE it. My kids do!
8. Pillow Fight🌟 Toddler Favorite
The hot lava game is seriously amazing and is one of the best high energy toddler activities.
You can use whatever you want for the “land” (pillows are always a hit).
Spread them out on the floor and have your kids jump from pillow to pillow, trying to avoid the floor that’s covered in hot lava.
However, if you’re tired of having to buy new pillows all the time because your kids flatten them (like I am), check this out!
10. Timed RacesYou could have your kids do the crab walk, wheelbarrow race, bear walk, three-legged race, egg and spoon race or sack race.
Since my kids are different ages, I don’t have them race, I simply have them try to beat their personal best score.
I love this variation of the wheelbarrow race that incorporates a peg board puzzle.
Monster in the Middle is our version of Monkey in the Middle.
Calling the person in the middle a monster instead of a monkey just makes it more fun, and gives that person a little more freedom to move from the middle (and to make scary monster noises too).
This is one of the best gifts that my kids received.
It gets daily use in my house.
It’s perfect for the winter months when we can’t get outside.
It’s also the perfect size for your kid (and your house because it doesn’t take up a ton of room).
🌟 Toddler Favorite
Kids love music and dancing, so it’s no surprise that music videos directed toward kids are becoming so popular.
My kids love dancing along to
Crank up your kid’s favorite music and dance along with them!
Create an indoor obstacle course using whatever you have around the house (your kids will be able to find lots of obstacles to use).
Check out this post with 30 awesome ideas to get your kids outside.
If you have a toddler, this bike is amazing.
It’s great for toddlers because when they get tired out, you can push them along.
My daughter even loved it before she was old enough to reach the pedals and became insulted whenever I put her in the regular stroller instead.
This is a great post with lots of different tag game ideas.
Blow up a balloon and see how long everyone can keep it up in the air.
🌟 Family Favorite
Having a clean up race is lots of fun.
If I want my kids to clean up a room fast, I turn on a fun, upbeat song and I tell them that we have to finish cleaning up before the song ends.
You could also play this specific song and have your kids try to beat the Clean Up Robot.
Have your child put on a show for you, showcasing all of their tricks or dance moves.
My kids love having dress up parades.
They make me stay in the living room while they get dressed up, then they walk through the house like they are in a parade.
Tuck a jump rope into a couch cushion, then hold the other side.
Keep raising the rope as your kids jump over it.
If my kids are having trouble occupying themselves, I might do a yoga workout.
Usually they join me!
If your toddler loves to dance, these ribbon wands will really get them moving.
Roll out a big piece of paper on your floor and write whatever your child is working on learning on it.
It could be shapes, letters, numbers or sight words.
Call out the object that you want your child to jump to.
And if you’re really feeling creative, you can create a DIY paper airplane target.
Side note: I wish they made one in my size.
This is another one of the best investments that I’ve made, and it’s so cheap!
My 5 year old still uses it all the time, but what’s really great about it is that my kids started using it at a year old.
It’s a toy that will be played with for years.
Why not have your kids burn their energy and help you clean at the same time?
Give them a spray bottle of water and a rag.
Who knew cleaning could be so much fun?
🌟 Toddler Favorite
My 2 year old has a Duck Duck Goose obsession.
We play it a little differently though.
We don’t say “duck, duck”, we instead say silly things like “stinky feet” and “tasty cupcake”.
It’s so much fun to hear what silly descriptions my kids come up with.
Do the Hokey PokeyHave a cheap wind up toy laying around?
Wind up the toy, set it down, and tell your child that it’s going to get them.
I love these sensory Animal Walk ideas.
It sounds difficult and time consuming, but it’s totally kid-led.
Check it out here.
My friend Jaymi over at The Salty Mamas recommended this.
It’s a great way to get your kids to hop like bunnies, run like cheetahs and fly like birds while you sip some (still hot) coffee.
And don’t forget to get some calming activities in before bed.
Alexandra from Coffee and Coos dims the lights and does a calm activity with her toddler for 30 minutes before bedtime.
¿Prefieres leerlo en español?- Actividades para niños de 2 años
Have a 19 month old? Check out the 50 best 19 month old activities.
What are your kid’s favorite energy-burning activities?
Filed Under: Toddler Activities, Toddlers Brenda 29 Comments
As they say, nothing decorates the house like children neatly placed in the corners. And nothing makes tired parents so happy as when they sleep peacefully in their beds in these very corners ... or in the middle of the room, or in the hallway, or even on the floor! Yes, yes, there are such “good” wishes. One of the most common problems for new parents is their child's sleep problem.
As they say, nothing decorates the house like children neatly placed in the corners. And nothing makes tired parents so happy as when they sleep peacefully in their beds in these very corners ... or in the middle of the room, or in the hallway, or even on the floor! Yes, yes, there are such “good” wishes. One of the most common problems for new parents is their child's sleep problem.
And precisely because they themselves really need it, and such thoughts arise, and from impotence and fatigue, mistakes are made, which lead to the fact that the child is capricious all night, does not want to fall asleep in the evening and wakes up early. No, no, you should not immediately change the color of the wallpaper in the nursery, the baby's pajamas, or learn new words for a lullaby.
Of course, these moments are also very important - a sleeping place chosen according to all the rules, a suitable mattress and pillow, the right microclimate. But this is not always the problem, although inspect these points first.
And if everything is in order with the nursery, then the problem, sorry, is with you. Or rather, in your actions. After all, the child is still too young to point out for himself where you are wrong and what you are doing wrong. Yes, even if he could, he would hardly have told you that:
1. You are putting him to bed too late
Of course, he won’t say, because the evening is the most interesting time of the day, when dad comes back from work, guests come, new sounds of the TV come, and sometimes you even manage to watch it out of the corner of your eye.
Older children do not want to break away from watching their favorite animated series, leave the playground or interrupt reading an interesting book. Unfortunately, adults in childhood also did not appreciate the time that was allotted to them for sleep. And today, parents often delay putting the child to bed, motivating this (rather for themselves) that, they say, this way the child will fall asleep faster and will sleep more soundly if he gets tired more. But the motor of the child's body is very difficult to stop, and excessive excitement in the evening is fraught with restless sleep, whims and a long fall asleep. It is important to adhere to the ritual of going to bed. Don't wait until your baby starts yawning and rubbing his eyes to start putting him down. Remember that even an extra 15-20 minutes of sleep matters both for him and for you.
2. You are used to rocking him
Yes, rocking in the arms of a child, especially in infancy, is part of his communication with the outside world.
This allows him to feel safe to calm down. Such smooth movements remind the baby of the period when he was still in the womb. That is why children often fall asleep in cars, rocking chairs, etc. The use of such methods is suitable for calming the child, but not as a method of laying down. Firstly, it does not teach the child to fall asleep on his own, and secondly, what will you do when he grows up? And thirdly, this is a help for the formation of uncertainty in the child, in his helplessness and lack of independence.
3. You entertain him too much before bed
Of course, it is understandable that you miss your baby very much if you are at work. Or just strive to do everything for him - to equip his crib with the best for babies - a bright mobile over the crib, a colorful bed, musical toys. Many people really like to make fun and play all sorts of nursery rhymes, again with the aim of tiring the baby before going to bed - so that they have bright and colorful dreams.
For older children, bans on computer games and cartoons are often lifted. It has long been proven - both by scientists and by the personal experience of everyone - that the more active the day passes, the harder it is to fall asleep in the evening, right? Now imagine what it's like for a child, especially a tiny one.
It is best to place the baby in a quiet, dark room. Babies are not at all afraid of the dark, but for older children, a night light with soft light will help to overcome night fears.
4. You are ignoring or have not worked out the ritual
Oddly enough, adults themselves always observe rituals - morning, evening, work, etc. They do it already on the machine and often do not notice. And most importantly, these rituals lead to a successful result, proving their effectiveness. And where do they come from? Of course, from childhood - brush your teeth, put on pajamas, listen to a fairy tale and sleep. Classic and win-win scheme.
Therefore, do not neglect it from the very infancy of your child. Believe that he will remember everything and make your life much easier.
5. You are inconsistent
What is important for a child? It is important for him that everything always remains in its place - then the child feels calm and confident. And if something suddenly “drops out” of the overall picture, and if it also gives the baby great pleasure, then he will use it and manipulate. The point is that if you deviate from the established order of sleep - place, time of sleep, then be prepared for whims. The child will not understand why sometimes you put him in his own bed and sometimes you let him sleep in yours. He will just start acting up until you let him sleep with you every night. Be unshakable and firm, so that later you do not start all over again.
6. You rushed to pick up the baby from the cradle
If you transfer your baby from a crib to a regular one too early, this can cause frequent waking at night, early rise and generally unwillingness to fall asleep.
And all why? Yes, because before the age of three, a child does not have self-control skills, and he cannot stay in a bed that does not have sides. He needs these boundaries again for the same confidence. If you notice that your sleep pattern has been disturbed, it's best to try again later, when your child is mature enough for that level of independence.
Well, have you noticed yourself? Did you recognize the familiar notes of your behavior? If yes, then you have only one thing left: to act exactly the opposite, so that later you can be convinced by the example of your own child that you did everything exactly and correctly! Good luck to you!
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,Sleep deprivation torture is horrendous and many of us know it firsthand
Tired after Christmas? Would you like to sleep for at least 600 more minutes? Or maybe your kids jump out of bed every half an hour and have already completely brought you to the handle?
The beginning of January is a dark day for people suffering from lack of sleep.
Google search, a modern indicator of such problems, shows that the number of searches for the words "children do not sleep" reaches a maximum at this time of the year.
Children are constantly on edge during the New Year holidays: they stay up late, staring at the screen, play computer games all the way, devastate holiday stocks in the refrigerator , and the chances of a full-fledged children's sleep are approaching zero.
Then, one fine day, they have to go to school again, and they trudge there in the morning like zombies, their eyes red from fatigue, staring into the January darkness.
Adults suffer no less than children. Early January is the peak time for searching for "sleep" and "I need to sleep."
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,Christmas and New Year's is the "perfect storm": sleep deprivation, overeating, alcohol, and total disruption
As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. And parents, depressed by family insomnia, begin to invent their own coping strategies.
After reviewing online sleep apps and websites such as Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories and calm.com, we've compiled some of the more eccentric ideas.
In each case, it is stated that the idea has already been tested somewhere. Although one can only imagine how bad things must have been.
These ideas have no chance of appearing in any of the many unbearably boring books that tell us how ideal parents raise their children right.
For example, "Man 8 o'clock", which catches children awake after eight.
Loughborough University professor Kevin Morgan, who works in the Department of Clinical Sleep Research, says that if one had to create a situation of chronic sleep deprivation and fatigue for the experiment, it would probably be very reminiscent of New Year and Christmas holidays.
According to the scientist, this is a real "perfect storm": going to bed late, overeating and unpredictable wake-up times.
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption,It's impossible to struggle with sleep in the office after the stormy holidays.
Add to that alcohol, which worsens the quality of sleep, and the subconscious stress associated with preparing for Christmas and New Year.
It's a whole cocktail of bad sleep ingredients, exacerbated, according to Professor Morgan, by the fact that late December and early January are the darkest and most depressing times of the year.
The key to good sleep is a proper, regular routine, says Kevin Morgan. But on Christmas and New Year's days, the entire family schedule is turned upside down.
"By January 2nd, you'll probably be out," says the professor. "Noisy kids are already getting on your nerves, and things are getting a little tense."
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,New Year's holidays change the established family routine
There are, however, other, not so strange ways to improve the situation.
British doctors are advising parents to set a consistent time for their children to go to bed.
At the same time, putting the child to bed should turn into a well-known, familiar daily routine for him. Experts advise taking a bath before bed and a nighttime story in a dimly lit bedroom.
Computers, mobile phones, televisions should be turned off as they prevent the child from falling asleep. British National Health System doctors recommend turning off all screens an hour before a child goes to bed.
Image copyright, Getty Images
Image caption,The screen keeps the child from sleeping, doctors warn
The room where the child sleeps should be dark, tidy and quiet. Blackout curtains should block out light from the street, and the air temperature should be comfortable - neither too high nor too low.
Professor Morgan emphasizes that the effectiveness of these simple and mundane rules depends on how well parents manage to establish a routine.
