While research tells us that stimulating home environments help toddlers learn better and more quickly, many parents may wonder just what to do with toddlers at home. Toddler development doesn’t have to be boring! Indoor activities for toddlers are a great way to bond with your little one as they grow and learn.
Fun is key when thinking of things to do with toddlers! Full of toddler games, Sally and Phil Featherstone’s 50 Fantastic Things to Do With Toddlers is a wonderful parent resource packed with activities both you and your toddler will love.
Here are some toddler activities you can try at home today:
Funny Bunny
Making up rhyming words
What You Need:
- a collection of small soft toys
- a quiet place on the carpet or on a sofa
What To Do:
- Sit down with your toddler and the toys.
- Look at the toys with her, picking them up and feeling them. Talk to your child about them.
- Now choose one toy and introduce it. “Hello, (name), I’m Funny Bunny” (or Reddy Teddy or Soggy Doggy or Tony Pony, and so on).
- As you introduce the toy, make it “walk” across the carpet or sofa towards your child. Keep saying the rhyming name as the toy advances. When you get to her, make the toy tickle her tummy.
- Repeat the game with another toy.
- Praise responses from your child, whether they’re words, noises, or gestures.
What is your child learning?
Making up rhyming and fun names for things will help your child to develop her listening skills. Making up silly songs and rhymes helps children to vocalize. Sharing humor is good for bonding with your child.
Dress-Up Dolly
Pointing and Choosing
What You Need:
- Shoes, hat, socks, gloves (baby clothes are really useful for doll dressing)
- A large soft toy or doll
What To Do:
- Play at dressing and undressing the toy or doll together. Talk about each item of clothing, and encourage your child to show you where it goes.
- Encourage your child to touch or point to different body parts on the toy or doll. Say, “Look, here’s a hat. Where does this go?” If he indicates by word or gesture where it goes, reward him with smiles and praise. If not, say, “On dolly’s head!” and put it there.
- Now take one of the items and say, “Can you put it over there?” pointing to a chair or table a yard or so away. Encourage him to look where you are pointing and help you put the item of clothing there. Continue until the hat, shoes, gloves, and socks are all about one yard away, but in different directions.
- Now the idea is to find all the items. Ask your child, “Where are the gloves?” Wait to see if he indicates or fetches them. If he needs help, point to the gloves and say, “Gloves! Let’s put them on dolly.”
What is your child learning?
Pointing can be an invaluable tool for children as they learn to communicate, so it needs to be encouraged. This activity will also help with learning and understanding words and phrases, particularly the names for parts of the body.
