After the new school year starts, many parents find themselves juggling the needs of their young and school-aged children. If you are a parent with a toddler and older siblings, you may notice that your toddler gets bored during the day while their siblings are away at school. Keeping toddlers happy and occupied can be challenging, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we will share some fun activities for toddlers that will keep them entertained while their older siblings are at school.
Get Messy with Art Projects
Toddlers love getting their hands dirty with paint and markers. Set up a small table or mat with art supplies such as non-toxic paint, washable markers, and paper. Toddlers can draw, color, and paint to their heart’s content. Art activities support toddlers’ emotional, cognitive, and fine motor development.
Fall is the perfect time to create fun arts and crafts projects with your toddler. Think about fall-themed activities like making leaf prints, creating handprint turkeys, or drawing pictures of pumpkins or scarecrows. You can also help your toddler make a colorful paper chain for Thanksgiving decorations or use nature items such as pine cones, leaves, and acorns to make a beautiful fall-themed collage. You can also find many craft ideas online. Let your toddler’s imagination soar and get creative!
Get Hands-On with Sensory Play
Sensory play is a great way to engage your toddler’s senses and help them learn about their environment. You can set up sensory activities by filling a plastic container with rice, beans, or sand, and adding toys, scoops, and cups. Toddlers can dig and pour with materials that have different textures, smells, and colors. Sensory play supports language, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
You can set up sensory play activities in the living room, kitchen, outdoors, or even the bathtub. If you are playing outdoors, be sure to provide sun protection and avoid any hazardous items such as rocks, sticks, or sharp objects. To make your activity more interesting for your toddler, add some fun toys such as rubber animals or plastic measuring cups. Sensory play offers a fun and stimulating experience that is sure to keep your little one entertained for hours.
Take Nature Walks Together
If you have a safe and quiet neighborhood, take your toddler for a nature walk outside. Walk around your local park, backyard, or nature reserve, and point out different animals, plants, and landscapes. Toddlers love exploring nature and learning about the world around them. Nature walks support toddlers’ gross motor, language, and scientific development.
You don’t need to go far for a nature walk; you can explore the great outdoors in your own backyard! Look for small animals, take a close look at plants and trees, or observe birds. Involve your toddler in this activity by discussing the different species that you find and how they live in their habitats. Nature walks are a great way to help your toddler learn about nature, while also getting some fresh air and exercise.
If your toddler is still pretty small, you can even bring nature to you on the back deck, by bringing in sticks, leaves, and even fruit to play with. Just make sure your deck is ready for any activity, and call a deck contractor if necessary.
Get Creative and Play Pretend
Pretend play is a great way to engage your toddler’s imagination and encourage creative problem-solving. Put together costumes for your toddler with old clothes, hats, shoes, and props. Use their stuffed animals to create stories that involve talking animals or magical adventures. Pretend play supports toddlers’ cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.
Get Groovy with Music and Games
Toddlers love to dance and sing. Play some fun and upbeat music, and encourage your toddler to move and groove. Hide and seek, follow the leader, and Simon Says are excellent games that support toddlers’ gross motor, language, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
Playing fun and upbeat tunes such as nursery rhymes, children’s songs, or even pop songs with kid-friendly lyrics can help toddlers stay engaged during playtime. For younger toddlers, try playing more classic tunes like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “The Wheels on the Bus.”
You can also explore different genres of music from around the world to introduce a variety of new sounds and rhythms. Music is an excellent way to get toddlers up and moving, encouraging physical activities that support their gross motor development. It’s also great for strengthening their language skills as they learn the lyrics and basic melodies. So don’t be afraid to turn up the volume at home!
Host an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
An indoor scavenger hunt is a fun way to keep your toddler entertained while their siblings are at school. Hide small toys or items around the house and create clues for your toddler to find them. Help them as needed, but let your toddler solve the clues and search for the hidden items. This activity supports toddlers’ cognitive, problem-solving, and fine motor development.
Settle Down for Some Storytime
Reading books is a calming and engaging activity for toddlers. Choose some age-appropriate picture books or board books, and read aloud to your toddler. You can also ask open-ended questions and encourage your toddler to predict what could happen next. Storytime supports toddlers’ language, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
There are many fun and educational activities you can do with your toddler that promote their overall development and keep them entertained while their siblings are at school. You can try art activities, sensory play, nature walks, music and movement, and storytime to engage your toddler’s curiosity and creativity, and more! Remember to supervise your toddler at all times, use safe and age-appropriate materials, and have fun together. Your toddler will appreciate your attention and care.
