Every parent would love if their child played independently and actually did those screen-free activities for toddlers. But the reality is often frustrating and hectic.
Can you even call yourself a parent if you haven’t turned to screen time to catch a breath? You are thinking, “I just need 10 minutes alone!” And you blast your toddler’s favourite show. But then you feel guilty, and you start to think about other ways to entertain your little one, despite being super tired.
And perhaps you cannot think creatively because other things need your attention and work around the house is piling up. Don’t worry; I’ve got your back! Here are 20 Screen-Free Activities for Toddlers that will keep your toddler busy (and give you the much-needed break!).
What If Your Toddler Won’t Leave You Alone?
Before we dive in, let’s just get realistic real quick. It’s amazing if a toddler plays alone, without looking for you. When this happens, you quietly peek from the door and check on them, not making any eye contact. Otherwise, it’s game over!
But what if your toddler refuses to leave your side and runs after you every time you get up to do something else, no matter how long you played together? First of all, NO, you are not the only mom out there, struggling like that. Secondly, there ARE many ways to fix it.
A toddler doesn’t always want to be independent, and that’s okay. It’s an important part of their development, and it also shows a healthy attachment to you. I’ve been there, multiple times a day, actually. And here’s what helped me through those days.
Start With Connection First
Spend 15-20 minutes being fully present – play, cuddle, read together or pretend play. Then ask for alone time. Toddlers respond better when their emotional needs are fulfilled. Reassure your little one that after you are done resting, you will carry on playing. Offer one of the activities I describe below to fill in the empty space.
Sometimes you will need to repeat the process multiple times. I used to take 5 minutes of alone time, and I would simply announce to my partner and toddler that “Mummy is taking five!” I started to do this when my partner was around, so he could easily step in. Then my toddler managed to learn the whole meaning behind it and started to leave me alone, even when my partner was not at home.
I started to increase the time by a minute every week. Now I can take up to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to do house chores, write something or even read a book. It truly works!
Make It a “Together-But-Separate” Activity
Setting up a playing space next to you while you work or do housework can make it easier for your toddler. It will encourage independence, but they will still have you within sight, and that helps them feel secure. I would often say something like, “You stay here and colour this book, and Mommy will do the dishes.” Which brings me to the next point…
Narrate What You’re Doing
By narrating EVERYTHING you do or are about to do, the connection between you and your toddler strengthens, even if you are not playing. I do this all the time, even though my little one does not seek me out so often. Describe what you are doing in detail. I know it gets trying. But for your toddler, it’s oddly fascinating. Not to mention, it helps them with their speech clarity.
Be Okay With Joining In… Then Stepping Back
Let’s say that your toddler is super clingy or simply won’t play alone. And you tried to play with them and leave the room, but they kept running after you. Then my advice is to keep them focused on the play and slowly fade out. The trick is to do this gradually. For instance, grab the laundry and hang it nearby while you keep narrating the activity you just did.
This teaches your toddler to stick with it a bit longer and finish the activity even though you interrupted it. Or you can grab your phone from time to time and scroll through it. Your toddler will know you are still there, but you have to engage in something else for a bit.
But don’t let them hang, of course! It’s easy to get lost in scrolling or cleaning. Be there for your little one as much as possible; you will never get that time back with them. The truth is, there is no magic formula to this. Some days, your toddler will play alone for a long time. Other days, they won’t let you even use the toilet alone. But that’s alright; your goal should be connection and progress, not perfection.
20 Screen-Free Activities to Keep Toddlers Busy
These are the easiest ideas you can bring to life, and I bet you also already have most of the stuff needed.
Sticker Sorting Challenge
Cheap stickers from Poundland are such a lifesaver, whether we are at home or outside or eating in a restaurant. You can buy any theme out there. Challenge your toddler to sort them by shape, colour or thematically. Ask them how they would combine them (for example, if they are sticking animals, what do the animals eat?). This activity should buy you at least 20 minutes.
Busy Books
Similarly, you can entertain your toddler with so-called busy books. Some of them come in the form of a small paper book and dry zippers, so you can reuse them as many times as possible. These Amazon Busy Books are my top choice.
Colour Hunt
This game comes in many forms; you can choose to hunt for flowers outdoors or for any small object at home. Simply paint some cardboard with the desired colours and let your toddler explore your home.
Pom-Pom Game
Simply tape some empty toilet rolls to a wall at different angles and let your little one drop the pom poms down. It’s entertaining, and sometimes I race with my toddler, too. It reminds me of a marble game. You can also take a whisker and pushome pom-poms inside and let your toddler pull them out.
Rice Sensory Bin
Quite a well-known activity – grab an empty plastic box, throw in some rice (if you feel creative, you can use food colouring too) and scoops. You can also dig some toy animals or small objects in, and you are good to go. I make sure the box is tall enough so the rice stays in (most of the time, haha!). It works with pasta as well.
Toy Washing Station
You don’t need the actual toy washing station; a bowl filled with soapy water will do. I normally grab a towel and place it underneath, then throw in some sponges (we bought cute, small ones in different shapes) and small cars or other favourite toys. And then I let my toddler wash his toys, explaining that we have to keep them clean. Keeps him occupied for at least 20 minutes.
Tape Roads on the Floor
Probably the easiest and most popular activity in our household. Painter’s tape is my best friend; I create roads, parking spaces or stations with it. And if you fold some paper and stick it to the floor, you have a cool tunnel too! If you feel extra creative, make a cardboard garage.
Shaving Foam Play
A little bit messy, but a lot of fun for little ones. All you need is a shaving foam, a tray or a deeper bowl and food colouring. You can hide little toys inside and let your toddler go wild. We usually do this right before bath time, so it’s easier to clean him off.
Laundry Basket Boat
Sometimes I just pop my toddler inside the laundry basket, throw in his favourite toys, give him a wooden spoon and tell him we are now sailors. You can add a little paper head or make paper puddles. If you have some fishing toys and a blue blanket, it’s a great addition to the whole roleplay.
Frozen Toy Rescue
Best activity for the summertime. Take your toddler’s favourite toys, place them in a container, pour water and freeze them. Then let your toddler rescue all the toys by scooping, digging or melting the ice away. Great are brushes and a jar of water. This keeps my little ones occupied for over 30 minutes!
Matching Lids and Containers
If your toddler loves to drag all the kitchen tools out of drawers and go through all the Tupperwares, this is the ideal activity for you. Simply pull out all the containers and lids you can find and let your toddler sort them out. It should buy you at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted time.
Paint with Water
I purchased some big rolls of paper from Amazon, weighted the corners and let my toddler paint. The great thing about it is that you can layer them and create one massive canvas. Then you need some kid-friendly paint, brushes or small sponges and containers with water.
Magnetic Drawing Board
A cheap, yet effective solution to boredom. I bought a magnetic board in Poundland, and honestly, it was the best £5 spent! My little one doodles on it all day, erasing what I drew (cheeky!) and placing cute magnets on it.
Paper Tearing Art
Old magazines, tissues, coloured paper – anything they can tear apart will do. First, let your toddler “create” the pieces and then glue them together on a clean sheet of paper. Most toddlers love destroying paper anyway.
Reusable Water Mat
If you don’t feel like making a mess or setting up a whole station, use the Reusable Water Mat. Most of these products come with a pen that you fill with water, and other objects such as roller stamps, foam shapes and brushes. And the best part is, it dries out fast, so you can reuse it the same day.
Toy Rotation Box
Having that one box with hidden gems that your toddler can dig through when bored is a lifesaver. Pack some old toys and let your little one forget about them. Then, in a case of an emergency, pull it out. Trust me, your toddler will treat them like they are brand new.
Window Gel Clings
Stickers are fun in any form, and I guarantee that those cheap window gel stickers will keep your toddler occupied for at least 20 minutes. They normally do not leave any film behind and are easy to remove. They work on a mirror or bathtub as well, so you can reuse them.
Duplo or Mega Bloks
I keep one box of blocks hidden and use it as a rescue activity when the time comes. Challenge your toddler to build the tallest/widest building or a farm where animals need to hide. The more reason your toddler has to work on it, the better.
Threading Pasta or Beads
This activity requires supervision because the beads could be a choking hazard, but at the same time, it keeps your little one occupied for at least 20 minutes. Give your toddler a string and dried pasta or larger beads. It’s great for motor skills and creative thinking.
Kitchen Helper Time
If nothing really works and you also need to start with dinner preparation, try to involve your toddler in kitchen life. Bring out some pans and wooden spoons and let them mix pom-poms in them. Or if you trust your toddler enough, let them actually help you stir and mix things. Yes, it’s a messy and chaotic activity, but it makes your little one so proud when they achieve baking or cooking something with you.
Final Thoughts
Keeping toddlers occupied and protecting them from the harms of screens can be a real challenge. There is nothing wrong with helping yourself out of a sticky situation with Ms Rachel or Bluey. We parents are only people, too, and sometimes we just want to catch our breath and slow down a bit.
The struggle with getting creative and figuring out some screen-free activities for toddlers is something we all face. And sometimes you pour your heart into it, just for your little one to play for 5 minutes and then completely drop the activity.
Therefore, I would like to invite you to join my Arts and Crafts and Toddler Activities Pinterest boards, where I’m adding fresh content weekly. It might help you to discover easy ideas and get inspired.
