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15 Creative Ways to Keep Your Toddler Busy Indoors

There are the days when your toddler maintains bottomless energy. You take them outside and keep them active–rain or shine. But then there are the days when you just can’t get outside and that’s when things start to get a bit tricky.

We are tired moms. We are worn down and many days our energy cannot keep up with a toddlers endless vitality. So when you’re hitting the parenting wall and you aren’t sure how to keep your toddler entertained, try out these awesome indoor toddler activities.

Related: Printable Daily Schedule for Kids

Rainy day? Try these amazing indoor toddler activities! Creative indoor toddler activities

I’m far from expert when it comes to indoor toddler activities. More frankly put, I’m not an expert at toddler activities at all. I like to keep it creative yet incredibly simple and easy.

Many of these activities you can prepare ahead of time and use in a pinch on a rainy day. Others you can prepare on the fly, gathering just a few items from around the house. What mom doesn’t love that?

Admiring-Her-Completed-Banana-Cutting-at-20-MonthsCutting a Banana Activity from Living Montessori Now

baking soda scienceBaking Soda Science Fun from Little Bins for Hands

ball-painting-2Painting Ball Activity from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

color-sortingColor Sorting Activity from A Mom With a Lesson Plan

diy-car-magnets2Car Magnets from Moms and Crafters

DIY-Car-Track-Busy-Bag-Adventures-of-AdamDIY Car Track Busy Bag from Adventures of Adam

dots-and-coins-play-for-toddlersDots and Coins Fine Motor Play from Best Toys 4 Toddlers

Easy-toddler-science-with-milkSwirling Milk Experiment from Go Science Kids

flowerbuttonsFlower Buttons from The Kavanaugh Report

invitation-to-play-with-the-rainbow-fishRainbow Fish Play Dough Fun from Learning 4 Kids

Ladybug Game (2)Learning with Ladybugs from A Little Bit of Quiet

playdough lettersPlay Dough Letters from Learn with Play at Home

Shape Sort Sticky Wall3Shape Sorting from Modern Preschool

Matching-pairs-game-with-real-objects-in-the-sensory-tub-680x453Matching Pairs Bin from The Imagination Tree

Were-Going-On-A-Bear-Hunt-Invitation-to-PlayGoing on a Bear Hunt Small World Play from Teacher Types

Whatever the reason you can’t get your busy toddler outside for the day, I hope these indoor toddler activities will inspire you to entertain your toddler and save a piece of your sanity along the way.

Want more on toddlers?

About Lauren Tamm

I'm Lauren, a military spouse and Language of Listening® master parent coach. I write about my crazy parenting adventures, discovering happiness in motherhood and navigating the ups and downs of military life. I spend my days re-heating coffee while chasing my kids around the house. Hang around for a bit and join the fun!

Reader Interactions

4 Comments

  1. Danya

    Great ideas! I love the DIY car mat busy bag. Thanks for including our swirling milk experiment too! x

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Love the listening course and the routine card printables and listening workbook so far. Listening has been our biggest challenge lately. My son was flat out just ignoring our voices. I started implementing the strategies yesterday and it was such smooth sailing all day long. Not only that, but the empathy statements and “turning a no into a yes” actually had my three year old saying “okay, mom” happily and complying right away without fighting or tears, by the end of the day! And it has worked wonders for my mood and frustration level when the arguing and tears are not averted. Trying to keep the 5:1 ratio has made me realize what a bad habit I’d fallen into. It becomes so easy to give commands and warnings and issue no’s, that you forget to take notice of the good! I feel so much better, as a mom, now that I’m intentionally encouraging my kid for his strengths. Thank you so much!

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Instead of reminding and counting down and trying to avoid meltdowns, last night we sang the Olaf song as she cheerfully picked out her Olaf underwear and put them on.

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