As the summer sun blazes outside, keeping toddlers entertained indoors becomes a delightful challenge. Here's a curated list of 10 engaging and age-appropriate activities we've had a blast doing with our toddler boys to ensure your little ones have a blast while staying cool.
1. DIY Ice Cream Cone Craft
Transform a simple craft session into a sweet adventure by making ice cream cone crafts using colored paper, glue, and sprinkles. It's a mess-free way to satisfy their creative cravings. Get Directions HERE.
2. Indoor Picnic and Storytime
Create a cozy indoor picnic spot with blankets and cushions. Enjoy a snack together while diving into a stack of age-appropriate picture books. This simple activity combines snack time, reading, and imaginative play.
3. Watercolor Splash Painting
Embrace the mess with watercolor splash painting. Lay out large sheets of paper, grab some watercolors, and let your toddlers unleash their inner artists. The mess is easily contained, and the results are frame-worthy masterpieces.
4. Sensory Bin Exploration
Fill a sensory bin with safe, age-appropriate materials like rice, pasta, or sand. Add small toys, measuring cups, and spoons for a tactile and imaginative experience. It's a fantastic way to engage their senses and keep them entertained. Need some ideas? We got you covered HERE!
5. DIY Shape Sorting Game
Craft simple shapes from colored cardboard and create a DIY shape sorting game. It's a hands-on way to introduce basic shapes and colors while enhancing fine motor skills.
6. Bubble Wrap Stomp
Lay out a sheet of bubble wrap and secure it to the floor. Let your toddlers experience the joy of bubble wrap stomping, fostering gross motor skills and providing sensory satisfaction. WARNING - they will never want to stop bouncing on them! We tried changing it up where they could use toys (my boys used their trucks) to see what was heavy enough o pop the bubbles.
7. Build a Blanket Fort
Encourage creativity and imaginative play by building a cozy blanket fort. Gather cushions, blankets, and stuffed animals for a quiet space perfect for pretend adventures or a midday nap. Just be prepared for the fort to be up for a few days! :-)
8. Pasta Threading
Turn a simple pantry item into a fun and educational activity. Provide cooked pasta and colorful straws for threading, enhancing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Supplies/Directions for this activity HERE.
9. Indoor Nature Hunt
Create a mini indoor nature hunt by hiding soft toy animals or pictures of nature-themed items around the house. Equip your toddlers with a basket, and let the exploration begin.
10. Counting with Cheerios
Transform snack time into a counting lesson. Give your toddlers a small bowl of Cheerios (can be Fruit Loops or any type of O shaped stackable cereal) and practice counting together. It's a tasty way to reinforce early math skills.
Beat the summer heat with these delightful indoor activities that engage and entertain toddlers, ensuring a memorable and cool summer for the whole family. Have more ideas for summer learning indoor fun? Share your ideas with us HERE.
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