As parents, sometimes we forget the most important thing to do for our little ones- play. The key to keeping toddlers entertained and engaged is to provide a wide assortment of activities for them, both indoor and outdoor. With this in mind, I have compiled a list of easy toddler activities for indoor and outdoor fun. With these ideas, you and your children can return to having fun and spending time together! Read more to learn about easy toddler activities for indoor and outdoor fun.
Why Are Indoor And Outdoor Activities So Important For Toddlers?
Children learn through interaction, exploration, and play at this age. It’s important to offer alternative indoor and outdoor activities during the times that you would normally be unable to go outside or your kids are stuck inside due to the weather.
Indoor activities are great for toddlers because they help them develop problem-solving, motor skills, imagination, and creativity. On the other hand, outdoor activities can provide your toddlers with a sense of accomplishment and be in touch with nature. The following are some examples of how these forms of play can help you encourage your child’s cognitive development.
Best Outdoor Toddler Activities
Finding good outdoor activities for toddlers can be a difficult task. If you are looking for the best outdoor toddler activities, here are some examples of options that you may want to look into.
A Picnic In The Backyard
This is a classic outdoor activity for toddlers! Have some of your favorite food ready, and let your toddler explore the backyard. Get some blankets or pillows to sit on, fill a basket with toys, and let them play while you relax and enjoy the scenery. Be sure to get out the camera phone or take a nice family photo so you can remember this awesome time spent together!
Draw With Sidewalk Chalk Or Sidewalk Chalk Paint
This is a fun activity for toddlers because your toddler can learn how to draw. If your toddler is comfortable drawing, bring out sidewalk chalk or sidewalk chalk paint to go outside and play with.
Blow Bubbles
This is another great outdoor activity for toddlers. Blow bubbles, watch how the wind carries them up in the air, or even make a bubble farm out of empty cans and water. Not only are bubbles great fun, but they also help improve your child’s motor skills and coordination while at the same time improving their hand-eye coordination.
Collect Rocks, Shells, Or Treasures
Toddlers love to collect things, whether going on an organized hunt or just collecting random things they find around them. Collecting rocks, shells, or treasures can give your toddler a sense of accomplishment. Some say this is a child’s first step towards investing.
Ride A Bike
This is a fun way for toddlers to explore their environment as well as get exercise. Riding a bike is great for improving your child’s balance and coordination and helps them learn how to ride safely. You can take your kids on family bike rides or even just go for a bike ride at the park with them.
Best Indoor Toddler Activities
Indoor activities are great for toddlers because they help them develop hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, imagination, and creativity. The following are some examples of how these forms of play can help you encourage your child’s cognitive development.
Do A Puzzle
Puzzles are a great activity for toddlers because they help them solve problems, learn new patterns, and improve their problem-solving abilities. Puzzles are also some of the best indoor toddler activities because they can be done independently or with a friend or family member, anywhere at any time. If you have never attempted to do puzzles with your toddler before, you should! They love being able to put the pieces together and try to complete them by themselves.
Read A Book
Reading with your toddler is a great way to bond and spend time with them. Reading books together helps toddlers learn new words and concepts and improve their language skills. If you have never read a book with your toddler before, start small by reading the word or sentence on the page, then ask your toddler if they can guess what is happening. Try to finish the book together and let them see how much fun it was.
Have A Dance Party
A dance party is an awesome indoor activity for toddlers. Let your toddler pick the music you will be dancing to, and then have fun making several different dance moves to the music. This activity may also be good for your toddler if they are shy at first.
Play With Blocks
Blocks are a great indoor activity for toddlers because they can be manipulated to build various shapes and designs. Your toddler will love putting the blocks together and creating something new. Usually, it takes them some time to learn how to put the blocks together, and sometimes, they need help! But once your toddler masters this skill, it will help them in their future.
The Bottom Line
Toddlers need activities, both indoor and outdoor. These activities not only help your kids grow but also provide you with memories that you and your child can cherish for the rest of their lives. Indoor activities can be great when the weather is too cold or rainy or when you do not have time to go out because of work! However, if you can, try to make time for your toddler daily so they can have fun and learn new things daily.
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash
