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Got a toddler or preschooler at home who needs entertaining? You don’t need expensive toys or a packed diary — some of the best fun things to do with your toddler use stuff you already have lying around the house. Here are our favourite ideas, from quiet rainy-day activities to messy outdoor fun.
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#1. Dressing Up
Keep a box of costumes, old clothes, scarves, hats, face paints, jewellery and wigs for dress-up days. Charity shops are a great (and cheap) source of dressing-up bits. And why keep it just for Halloween? Toddlers love dressing up any day of the week.
#2. Read Together
Toddlers and preschoolers love being read to — it’s a brilliant way to build early learning and bond with your child. Books don’t have to be just for bedtime either; try picking a regular time each day to sit down together with a story.
Here’s a lovely watch-along version of a firm favourite, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, performed by author Michael Rosen:
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#3. Splash and Swim
Get into the pool and splash about together. Swimming is a lovely activity to share with your toddler and helps them get used to the water from an early age.
#4. Go for a Toddle
A walk around your neighbourhood or local park can be great fun, even on a grey day. Toddler pace is slow, so build in extra time — but the little discoveries along the way (puddles, leaves, dogs, buses) make it worth it.
#5. Play I Spy
The colours version works well for toddlers who don’t know their letters yet but do know their colours — try “I spy with my little eye, something red.”
You might also enjoy reading 10 Fun Ideas for Entertaining Preschoolers at Home.
#6. Set Up a Racing Track
Using masking tape, mark out a racing track on the living room floor for toy cars to zoom around. Use two parallel strips of tape to create the “road.”
#7. Join a Local Parent & Toddler Group
A great way for your toddler to meet and mix with other children their age — and a good chance for you to meet other local parents too.
#8. Cooking and Baking
There are plenty of simple recipes toddlers can help with. And if they’ve helped make it, they’re much more likely to want to eat it too.
You might also enjoy reading [12 Useful Cooking Skills Easily Mastered by Preschoolers](https://www.mykidstime.com/food-and-recipes/useful-kids-cooking-skills-easily-mastered
