Some Basic Ideas for Entertaining Toddlers

Entertaining a toddler is somewhat of a new realm for me, and one that I have not explored much. Yet. My daughter isn't quite there, but when she is we will hopefully have baby #2 already and I can only imagine how I will manage balancing a baby and a toddler. Fortunately, it has already been done by billions of people, so I'm fairly confident I can and will manage. But in preparation for that day, (and to fill the request of one of our readers) I looked into it. A lot. And I found that there are a lot of easy ways to distract a toddler. Then I got excited. Because toddlers can do way more than babies, and as much as I love the stage my daughter is in right now, I got a little bit eager for that time when playtime would be more than just sucking on a toy.

So here is a tiny fraction of what I learned. (By the way, Pinterest is the best resource for toddler entertainment in my opinion. There are zillions of creative and home-made ideas found on there. I'm stealing most of these from Pinterest actually.)

Toddler play is mainly about these things: Novelty, Simplicity, and Safety. And, for good measure, Desirability.

Novelty: Toddlers are generally infamous for short attention spans. They usually get bored or disinterested rapidly, especially when left to play on their own. When you are trying to focus elsewhere, having a variety of activities available is key. If you can provide around five different activity ideas or stations, you can typically keep a toddler busy for hours just by steering him or her in the right direction once one activity has been tried out. Even just presenting an activity or toy in a new way will often be enough to get your toddler interested.

Simplicity: Toddlers are still developing basic motor skills and enjoy doing tasks that are do-able for them. If something is too difficult for them, they will likely grow bored or frustrated. Choose activities that focus on one skill. Teaching them to put things in holes. Teach them to balance things. Teach them to hold a crayon to draw. Teach them to pick things up with two fingers. If a toddler can do it alone, there is a higher chance of him or her continuing with it.

Safety: Choosing age appropriate activities will give you peace of mind to be able to let your child play without much supervision. If your child is playing with small objects, be sure to keep an eye on him or her to prevent choking. Make sure that your child's play area is safe. If, for example, you are letting him or her play in the kitchen, make sure he or she cannot reach the stove or any knives or forks. Also watch out for things you don't want broken, like glass dishes or cups. Always supervise your child in a tub--children can drown in less than an inch of water.

Desirability: Toddlers want to be like mom and dad. They copy your actions and mimic your behavior. This means that sometimes you are going to have to begin the activity with your child, even for just a short amount of time to pique his or her interest. You have to encourage them to want to play with the toy or do the activity instead of just assuming they will want it. Show them how to do an activity and then do it yourself for a little while until they can without help. Get them interested before sneaking away. Toddlers want what mom and dad have so expressing interest in their activities is the surest way of keeping them at it.

Activity ideas (these require mostly materials that are likely already found in your home):

Threading
Find a small rope or thick string and give your child large beads to practice stringing and unstringing on. Use wooden block beads, large plastic beads, or even large pasta like rigatoni. Tying a straw or rod to the end of the rope may help your child with threading. If they struggle with threading, thread several beads on yourself and let them do the work unthreading it.

Balloon
A balloon is an easy distraction for your child. Especially once you show them how to toss it in the air and hit it. For added excitement, tie it to a string and let them drag the balloon around or play with it in a new way. Just make sure they don't bite the balloon and pop it.

Bubble wrap
Like balloons, bubble wrap is an excellent and easy distraction. Teach them to pop it with their fingers, stomp on it, or give them a toy hammer to smash it. Just have your earplugs or headphones ready.

Milk Jug
Save an old milk jug or two and after rinsing it out, give your child small toys to put inside. Cut a wider opening if necessary. Show them that they can put small toys (like Lego's) inside and then shake the jug. Or, fill the jug with small (small! It's for an unpredictable toddler!) amounts of water and let your child feed the plants!

Tape
Use masking tape to make a basic track for cars or trucks on the carpet, couch, or kitchen floor. Or, just let your child play with a roll of cheap masking tape from the Dollar Store. Tape the end to a table or similar, and let them explore the possibilities.

Shape puzzles
Don't have one of those toddler shape puzzles that requires them to put the various shapes in their correct slot? Make your own. Trace objects on a piece of paper or poster board with different color markers or crayons, and have your child place them where they go. Start with just a few and increase as your child learns.

Sink Play
Let your child stand at the kitchen sink on a sturdy chair and let them poke sponges, bubbles, or other novelties floating in clean sink water. Give them a scrubbing brush or toothbrush to poke with. Caution! Your little one will get wet! And make sure they are old enough to stand on a chair in the first place.

Chores
Give your child the easiest chores you can think of to attempt on his or her own. Toddlers love trying to help. Let them fold washcloths or dishrags, or give them a duster and tell them to dust around the TV or shelves (make sure they avoid the breakable stuff). If you have a small vacuum like we do (or a hand-held) let them suck up the visible specks on the carpet or couch. Hey, this might be one of the only times they are happy to help with this stuff!

Piggy Bank
Find a cheap piggy bank or make your own by cutting a slot in an old milk or juice jug, a Pringle can, etc., and give your child pennies or poker chips to put in the slot. This is a pretty easy game for any toddler.

Cooking
Let your toddler cook with you. Provide a small sauce pan, a stirring spoon or spatula, a measuring cup, and some water, dry pasta, or craft pom poms and let them mix up dinner. Toddlers love adult toys.

Ice
Freeze small toys or animals in ice cube trays then let your child play with the ice on a baking pan. If they are a little older, give them a toy hammer to try and break the ice with. Consider putting gloves on them to make playtime last longer.

Pipe Cleaners
Give your toddler pipe cleaners and a colander to play with. Show them how to insert the ends of the pipe cleaner into the colander holes.

Sponges
Cut up a variety of Dollar Store sponges and give your child a small dish of water to play with. Show them what happens when sponges fill with water. Lay out a towel underneath them to contain any mess.

Crayon Box
Poke crayons through a cereal box or similar so they stick out. Apparently toddlers are entertained by this. I'm not sure I understand the appeal but evidently it's there.

Cloth Box
Keep scraps of cloth, washcloths, or samples of fabric in an empty wipes container and show them how to pull pieces of colored fabric out through the top like tissues. Having a variety of fabrics is best because kids love sensory games.

Ramp
Make a ramp with a wooden board, large board book, baking pan or similar and show your child how to roll cars, trucks, balls, etc. down the ramp.

These are just some of many ideas I came across while searching the web and Pinterest. Basically, you can invent a fun game for very little to no money for your toddler and, depending on their interests, you can keep them entertained for hours!

What do you do to keep your toddlers entertained? 
What has worked, what hasn't? 
Do you like any of these suggestions?