I have a super energetic toddler whose favorite sentence is ” Mom, I am Bored.”  Â

When Beth sent this article, We the mom and son duo were very excited  and even tried a few games and had a gala time 🙂

Now on to Beth to the exciting fun filled activities to keep toddlers busy!!!

It’s hard to find indoor play activities for bored toddlers that don’t require a lot of time, money, and set-up or clean up.

But with a little creative thinking and a few standard household items, you can come up with lots of fun play activities for toddlers.

8 Activities to Keep Toddlers Busy

1. Punch It !

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Let your children use up some energy with this simple activity.

What You Need:

1. An Old Pillow Cover/ Cloth Bag.
2. String.
3. Newspaper.
4. Wooden spoon.

What To Do

• Your children will love helping you tear up the newspaper and roll it into balls to fill the Punching bag.
• When the bag is full, tie it tightly with string.
• Hang the bag from a hook or a doorway.
• Your children will have a great time bashing away at the bag with a wooden spoon.

P.S: -Make sure they take turns (or you too) and don’t hit each other by mistake. All in all it’s fun activity.

2. Indoor Obstacle Course

Going through an obstacle course helps develop body co-ordination, control and balance.

What You Need

1. Furniture.
2. Cord.
3. Pillows.
4. Towels.
5. Rugs.
6. Balloons.
7. Household items.

What To Do

Make sure precious things are kept away.

• Place a few objects in the drawing area/ lawn/ terrace or any open space.
• While your child learns to crawl, let him go through an easy obstacle course. As they grow increase the difficulty.
• You may turn it into an obstacle race if you have 2 or more children.

3. Set it

A family game to see how observant everyone is.

What you Need

Two or More players.

What To Do

• If the whole family is playing, divide into two teams. If its just a few people, each takes a turn.
• The first player/team takes a turn and leaves the room.
• The other player/ team mismatch five things around the room e.g cushion, frames, t-shirt inside out.
• When a player/ team returns, they have to spot the mismatches.

P.S:- For any they do not notice, the other player/ team scores a point.

4. Shine them up!!

Children love handling , collecting and of course cleaning COINS. Please always supervise while playing with coins, as there is always an danger of children popping coins in their mouth.

What You Need

1. Bowl of water.
2. Bar of soap/ soapy water.
3. Old Toothbrush.
4. Coins.
5. Clean napkin.

What To Do

• Have your child drop a coin in a bowl of soapy water.
• With the help of a toothbrush help or guide them to clean the coin.
• Have them dip the coin in clean water.
• Â Now let them wipe the coin clean and pick another.

5. Large and Small

An Activity to help young children begin to sort and classify.

What You Need.

Big and Small versions of the same object

1. Large toy car , small toy car.
2. Large comb , small comb.
3. Large ball , small ball.
4. Large plastic bowl , small plastic bowl.
5. Large serving spoon , small serving spoon.

You may add to the list with whatever  is available around you.

What To Do

• Place objects on the floor in front of your toddler.
• Ask him to give you the large ball.
• Take it from him saying large ball and place it on your left or right side.
• Ask for the small ball and place it on the other side.
• This way continue to ask for objects and place them on the large or small side.
• You may also encourage him to place the objects on either side.

6.Scrapbook

What You Need

1. A4 size different coloured papers or you may get a readymade scrapbook from the market.
2. Family pictures.
3. Your child’s favourite Stickers of cartoons, cars, dolls etc.
4. Paint.
5. Colour pencils/pen

What To Do    Â

• Help your child select his favourite family pictures. stick them up in the book, write the date below.
• Make a handprint using paints, of your little one. You can also have a footprint.
• As time passes, you may stick magazine cut outs of his favourite cars, dolls, place he wants to visit etc.

7. Sock Snake

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What You Need

1. Scrap paper to tear
2. Old long sock
3. Coloured Paper or stickers for the face
4. Strong glue.

What To Do

• Give your child newspaper or other scrap paper to tear into small pieces for the filling. (This is an excellent Fine-motor activity to help strengthen their finger muscles.)
• When he has torn up enough, let him fill the sock (make sure he pushes the paper right down to the toe.)
• He might like to use stickers or cut outs of paper for the eyes etc. Even strips of coloured paper for the body.
• Â Together think of a name for your newly created friend e.g Snakey!

8. Goopy Goop

Goop is lovely and gooey and fun to play with.

What You Need

1. Two packets of cornflour.
2. Food colours.
3. Water.
4. Large mixing bowl.
5. Plastic tablecloth.
6. Container with a lid.

You can also check out our Home made Play Dough Recipe

What To Do

• Your child will enjoy helping you make the Goop. Pour the cornflour in a bowl. Add a few drops of food colour and a little water, until the desired consistency.
• Spread the table cloth on the floor or desired place for play. Your child will have great fun drawing, playing and feeling the Goopy Goop.
• When the Goop begins to dry, simply add little more water to make runny again.
• When your child has finished playing, scoop the Goop in a plastic container with a lid and store it away. The Goop will dry out, but it can be restored to its gooey consistency by simply adding some water.

 How do you engage your hyperactive toddlers? It would be interesting to know!! Tell us by commenting below.

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 Do you have an infant, then you can check out these creative games to play with the baby.

Article written by

Bethsheba Arsiwala

Bethsheba Arsiwala is a Special Educator and Child Counsellor, having worked in the field for a little over a decade now. She has worked with children with Special Needs (Learning Difficulties, Autism, A.D.H.D and Behavioural issues). Handling with toddlers till adolescence, her experience has led her to conduct Parent and teacher workshops on almost most topics involving Parenting and Teaching children with Special needs and Behavioural issues.
Bethsheba has had the honour of working with a few international schools as a Resource personnel and Also headed the Department Of Special Needs in an International School in Pune.Â

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