Toddlers seem to have boundless energy and a healthy curiosity that can, at times, create some pretty big messes around the house. You can stay one step ahead of the game by putting together a few fun activities for toddlers at home that will keep your little ones entertained for hours.
More: 75 Activities for Kids at Home
Color Sorting Activity
Photo source: Teaching Mama
Toddlers make messes. But, oddly enough, they also love to sort and organize. Create a color-sorting activity by taping paint swatches inside of a plastic tray, one per section. Provide small pom poms that match the colors in the tray, then allow your toddler to sort the pom poms by color.
Homemade Play Dough
Photo source: We Love Being Moms
Everyone loves play dough, and you can easily and inexpensively create a big batch for your toddler to play with only a few supplies. Simply combine 1 part water, 1 part salt and 2 parts flour, then mix well with a spoon or your hands. Add in a few drops of food coloring if you want colored play dough, and store in an air-tight container until use.
Looking for more playdough recipes? Check out our video that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to make homemade playdough.
Mess-Free Finger Painting
Masking Tape Race Track
Bubble Wrap Walkway
Photo source: Run Like Kale
Have a hilarious afternoon with your kiddos by creating a bubble wrap walkway across the floor. You just need a large roll of bubble wrap and masking tape, which you can find at any shipping store. Lay down the bubble wrap and tape along the edges so that it doesn't move. Then stomp, jump, and hop to pop all the bubbles.
Cardboard Box Fort
Photo source: Family Focus Blog
Who doesn't have a heap of cardboard boxes hanging around? Make use of those boxes by creating a play fort for your toddler to hang out in. For large boxes, you can cut out windows and doors, and your toddler can decorate the outside and inside with markers and crayons. Throw in a few dress up clothes and you have an afternoon of imaginative fun!
Contact Paper Art
Photo source: Mess for Less
If you have leftover tissue paper around your house, use it to create a colorful art activity for your toddler on a window. Start by cutting the tissue paper into small pieces. Peel off the backing to a sheet of contact paper, then lay it onto a window with the sticky side facing you. Tape the edges of the contact paper to the window using masking tape. Your child can stick the pieces of tissue paper directly onto the contact paper in a colorful display.
Cardboard Tube Beads
Photo source: The Imagination Tree
Save all of those cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet tissue, because your little one will love this cardboard bead activity. Cut the tubes into 2- to 3-inch long pieces. Paint the tube pieces in different colors using tempera paint. After they dry, your toddler can string the cardboard "beads" onto yarn or chenille sticks.
Looking for more fun activities for toddlers at home? Try these 10 Toddler Art Projects to Do This Weekend.