Supporting toddler development doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With these quick and easy activities, you can keep your 1 to 2-year-old toddler happily engaged while encouraging learning. For these at home activities, you can also use items you have around the house and require minimal cleanup. If you wish to purchase some materials, I’ve included product recommendations too!
1. Cup Stacking
Skills built: This activity builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving.
I can’t tell you how much my toddler, Chloe, loves stacking things. It started with a set of plastic colorful stacking cups (search this up on Amazon and you’ll find 50+ options!) which she was interested in for over half a year. Recently though, she has shifted to stacking other items she finds around the house.
What You Need:
- Plastic, silicone, or paper cups
- Purchase Options: Moonkie stacking cups (silicone) or Kidsthrill rainbow stacking cups (plastic) These colorful, lightweight stacking cups are perfect for toddlers. They’re easy to handle and BPA-free. The Kidsthrill ones even double as bath toys!
What We Do:
I usually set out a handful of plastic cups on the floor and start stacking them into a little tower. My toddler eagerly joins in, trying to add cups or carefully watching until it’s time for their favorite part—knocking it all over. Sometimes, we build the tallest tower we can manage; other times, we make pyramids or random stacks. It’s such an easy way to encourage problem-solving and coordination without any setup.
Bonus Tip: I keep the cups in a basket nearby so she can go get them herself anytime (this is a key feature of Montessori learning).
2. Sticker Play
Stickers are magic. I don’t know what it is about peeling and sticking, but it keeps our little one focused like nothing else.
Skills built: Pincer grip strength and accuracy, focus, and creativity.
Materials:
- Stickers (the larger, the better for tiny hands)
- A blank sheet of paper or an empty cereal box
- Purchase Option: Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pads. These reusable stickers are toddler-friendly and come with fun scenes for decorating. That means hours of mess-free fun.
- Also, Trader Joe’s and the pediatrics office usually give free cute toddler-friendly stickers! Chloe loves the colorful ones from Trader Joe’s, they are a good size for her too.
What We Do:
I usually peel off the backing for Chloe to make the stickers easier to grab. Then I show her how to press them onto paper, a box, or even her hand. Sometimes, I draw simple shapes or animals on the paper, and we “decorate” them with stickers. Other times, it’s just a free-for-all.
Pro Tip: Look for foam or reusable stickers because they’re easier to handle and can be used again. And cleanup? It’s just a matter of tossing the paper or box into the recycling bin.
3. Fill the Container Exploration
This one might sound fancy, but trust me—it’s not. A sensory bin can be as simple as a bowl of dry pasta or rice with a few scoops and containers thrown in.
Why It’s Great: Sensory bins are fantastic for tactile exploration and early problem-solving skills.
What You Need:
- Purchase Option: Wooden Race Sensory Bin This all-in-one kit includes a bin, kinetic sand, tools, and toys, making it super convenient for busy parents.
- Dry pantry goods (e.g., pasta) to fill the bin with
What We Do:
Fill a shallow bin with dry pasta, oatmeal, or Cheerios and give your toddler a few cups and spoons to scoop, pour, and explore. They love playing with the texture. Sometimes, I hide a few small toys or objects in the bin for them to find, which turns it into a mini treasure hunt.
Cleanup Tip: Place the bin on a towel or play mat to catch any spills. Cleanup is quick, and the filling (pasta, cereal, etc.) can be stored for future play to reduce waste.
4. Dance Party
When energy levels are high, a quick dance party is the perfect way to burn off steam while building gross motor skills.
Skills Built: balance, coordination, and rhythm.
What You Need:
- Your favorite playlist or a toddler-friendly playlist. Here are my current favorites that I use with Chloe: this high-energy K-pop playlist on Spotify called WOR K OUT and Ms. Rachel’s Youtube channel. Ms. Rachel is a very popular teacher with baby learning videos and songs that have gone viral.
What We Do:
I crank up some music—usually something upbeat and silly—and we dance around the living room. It’s such a great way to get moving together, and my toddler loves trying to copy my “moves” (which are mostly just flailing and spinning around, if we’re being honest).
5. Color Sorting
Skills Built: Color recognition, sorting, and early math skills
This is one of those activities that looks like play but actually teaches your toddler so much. It’s also super easy to DIY the materials. I often offer hand-drawn flashcards and tri-colored dry pasta for Chloe to sort.
What You Need:
- Colored objects (e.g., dry colorful pasta, balls, pom-poms)
- Small bowls or containers
- Purchase Option: Learning Resources Sorting Bears. These adorable, colorful bears come with cups for sorting and are great for little hands.
How to Play:
Spread out a few colored objects and place some containers next to them. Then show your toddler how to sort the objects by color. At first, you can help a lot. Once they start catching on, empower them by letting them do it themselves. Fun alternative for older toddlers: race to see who can sort their pile the fastest!
Cleanup Tip: Use containers or a tray to keep everything in one spot, making it easy to put away when you’re done.
6. Hand-Drawn Flashcards
Skills Built: Vocabulary (verbal), reading, color recognition, early math skills
I’ve recently started drawing flashcards for our 18-month old, about a set of 10 every 2 weeks. Some cards teach the alphabet by having just one letter with a matching picture, and others have simple words and drawings of objects she is familiar with, such as “hat” or “dog”. It’s a fun experience for both me to create them and her to learn them.
What You Need:
- Markers, watercolor paint and brushes, or colored pencils
- Thick watercolor paper (300 gsm is best)
- Purchase Option: Pre-cut 300 gsm paper, Sakura Micron fineliners (these don’t bleed when you paint or color over them)
How to Play:
Draw the cards, making sure to have the text large enough. You can either put the image on the same side as the text or on opposite sides. The latter makes it easier to “quiz” your toddler and might help them learn the words faster.
Art Tip: Use the fineliners first to draw the pictures. You can also start out with a pencil first, then trace over with the fineliner.
7. Hide-and-Find Toys
Why It’s Great: This activity is great for older toddlers who have a broader vocabulary as it requires them to understand your hints and instructions. It combines problem-solving and gross motor skills while creating excitement and curiosity.
What You Need:
- Anything small to medium sized baby-safe item you can find around the house. Some ideas are: an apple or your toddler’s favorite stuffed animal
- Purchase Option: Fisher-Price Little People Figures. These small, chunky figurines are easy for toddlers to grasp and make perfect hide-and-seek items.
How to Play:
Hide an object or two under a blanket or pillow and ask your toddler to find them. You can make it more challenging by hiding them around the room and giving hints like, “It’s near the couch!”
These activities are simple, fun, and perfect for supporting toddler development at home. Whether it’s stacking cups, exploring a sensory bin, or dancing your heart out, each activity helps build important skills while keeping your little one entertained.
The best part? None of these require complicated setups. The cleanup is quick, leaving you with more time to enjoy those precious moments with your toddler. Give them a try—I promise, they’ll be just as much fun for you as they are for your little one! If you also have any activity recommendations for toddlers, I’d love to know and try it out – submit in a comment below!
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