Toddlers are brilliant, chaotic little humans with endless energy and very short attention spans. Keeping them entertained isn’t just about filling time — it’s about helping them burn energy, learn new skills, and avoid pre-dinner meltdowns (usually caused by teeth, hunger, or general toddler outrage).
If you’re wondering how to entertain a toddler without relying on screens all day, here are the activities that genuinely work in our house, from high-energy games to calm-down moments that save everyone’s sanity.
Table of Contents
How to entertain a toddler with physical games
Throw a dance party
Robbie loves to dance and we have our own little dance party most nights before bed. We turn off the lights, put on some disco lights and use our phones to provide the music. This is a great screen free activity with so many benefits and, more importantly, so much fun!
Dance parties are ideal in the evening before bed due to the darker natural lighting and it is the best time to burn off any extra energy before the bedtime battle. This activity works best if you join in with your toddler and crack out your dance moves with them too, sorry parents.
If you don’t have a disco ball or lighting there is a quick cheat, search ‘disco light’ on YouTube and it will provide you all the atmosphere you need without going shopping.
Build A Blanket Fortress
Few things excite a toddler more than turning the living room into a secret hideout. Building a blanket fortress is simple, costs nothing, and can keep them busy far longer than you’d expect.
All you need to make a fortress is a few cushions, blankets, chairs and a big imagination.Let your toddler help place cushions and “design” the structure. It won’t be architecturally sound, but that’s part of the fun.
Once built, the fortress becomes whatever they imagine — a castle, spaceship, shop, or reading den. Add books, a torch, or a few soft toys and you’ve created an entire world.
As a bonus, building together develops problem-solving skills and encourages imaginative play, without you needing to leave the house.
Play Chase (With Rules)
Toddlers love being chased, and they love chasing you even more. What seems like simple chaos is actually brilliant for developing coordination, balance, and listening skills.
To make this more than just running in circles, try adding simple rules:
- Freeze when Dad shouts “STOP!”
- Run only on the carpet
- Switch roles every minute
These small tweaks turn wild running into a listening and reaction game. It’s also one of the fastest ways to burn off pre-bedtime energy.
Fair warning: toddlers have unlimited stamina. Adults do not.
Simple Ball Games
Never underestimate the power of a basic ball. Throwing, rolling, kicking and catching all help develop hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills as well as providing hours of fun.
Instead of just playing aimlessly launching it at each other, try:
- Using empty cans or other household items to make a bowling alley
- Gently practising catching with a soft foam ball, moving further apart after every successful catch
- Kicking towards a “goal” made from cushions
Adding a target or small challenge keeps toddlers entertained for longer than just endless throwing. Bonus points if the ball lights up — toddlers are easily impressed.
Bounce bounce bounce!
Cheap, easy and fun! Bouncing is sure to make your toddler smile and laugh. Many parents will use a bouncing ball but there are so many ways to do this.
Personally, we have a tiny trampoline in the garden and a bouncing hippo indoors (Due to my better half’s inexplicable obsession with the animal!) Most of the time we use neither and bouncing him on our laps or on the floor can be just as fun.
There are also some great songs out there to encourage this, if you haven’t heard ‘hop little bunny’ at least 3 thousand times you really are missing out. Just remember to always keep hold of your child whilst they are bouncing as they can get a little carried away!
Create A Simple Indoor Obstacle Course
When toddlers start climbing the furniture, it’s usually a sign they need a challenge. Instead of fighting it, create a safe indoor obstacle course.
Try:
- Crawling under a table
- Stepping over cushions
- Walking along a line of tape on the floor
- Throwing a ball into a basket at the finish
You can time them (loosely), count steps together, or simply cheer them on.
Robbie is obsessed with his teddy, creatively named Ted Ted, so our courses always have to end with the poor guy being launched into a target! Obstacle courses are brilliant for balance, coordination and confidence — and they burn serious energy on rainy days.
Tickle time
I hate being tickled, as do most adults. Kids on the other hand find it so completely hilarious and will come back begging for more.
The exact age when being tickled stops bringing ecstasy and changes to contempt is unclear. However, for now, it deserves a place on this list.
Simple games that toddlers love
Peek a boo
This one is a sure winner. Popular with every child ever born and one of the few forms of toddler entertainment that can be performed entirely from a seated position.
Robbie has loved this since he was a week old and it is still going strong 18 months later.
For those living on the moon, this is a simple game where you cover your face then say boo. For those looking for a more challenging version, try covering your child’s eyes instead. This game really has no limits.
Perhaps he will grow out of it soon and I will have to trawl the web for sensible ways to amuse a toddler. I hope not.
Bubbles
A very complicated choice this one as The Robster LOVES bubbles. The Robster also HATES when the bubbles go. This causes a constant loop of emotional turmoil for us all as the bubbles float gracefully before vanishing faster than our hopes of a good night’s sleep. If you want a few minutes of peace, I would strongly advise getting yourself a bubble machine to make life easier.
Indoor entertainment for toddlers
Sensory Play at Home
Make Your Own Playdough
Homemade playdough is one of the best low-cost toddler activities. It encourages creativity, strengthens little hands, and keeps them focused for surprisingly long stretches of time.
Rolling, squashing, cutting and shaping all support fine motor development — which later helps with writing skills.
If you’d like a simple step-by-step guide, here’s how we make our own playdough at home.
Make Moon Sand
Moon sand is a fantastic way to entertain a toddler due to the endless games that you can play with it. What makes things even better, it’s really simple to make your own moon sand at home with help from your little assistant! You can make all sorts of bright colours and once made it is the perfect sensory bin filler.
We use ours for treasure hunts and well as a mini sandpit for Robbie to play with his little diggers and excavators.
Toddler board games
If you’ve ever tried playing a board game with a kid, you’ll know that they usually end with pieces flying across the room and a tantrum after a defeat. However we have found a few board games that can entertain a toddler, for just a little while at least. Find games that are bright, colourful and fun that are more based on the play than the result! Our current favourites are Go Away Monster and First Orchard. Both keep Robbie happy for a pretty solid three minutes each.
Toys and ‘special toys’
The most obvious way to keep a child amused is simple, loads of toys! Right now Robbie has a love of cars and trucks and the house is littered with them. It’s always good to have toys that help with his development as well. Many of our toys help with counting, shapes and animals and although the constant noises give me a headache it is good to know they are helping the little man’s development.
We also have some ‘special toys’ that are not always out and available. It’s wise to have a weapon up your sleeve for those times when he is getting bored of his normal gear or I need 5 minutes to actually achieve anything in my own life.
Kids YouTube channels
Now I realise this will be the most controversial choice on the list but it may also be the most sensible thing I write in this post.
Kids television has changed and it has evolved rapidly. It is no longer simply crazy cartoon characters with no meaning. If you find the right channels, YouTube can be both educational and interactive.
Our family favourites right now include Gecko the mechanic, due to Robbie’s love of cars, and Badamanu songs.
Gecko teaches all about vehicles, numbers and the alphabet and is great for when Robbie needs some downtime to sit quietly and focus. He shouts the numbers before Gecko so I guess our little green friend can take credit for teaching Robbie to count before he can even talk properly.
Badamanu is non-stop upbeat music that keeps Robbie (and Mum and Dad) dancing around the room together but again, also teaches the alphabet, numbers and shapes.
Of course, there is also a lot of rubbish out there. One American song about a granny practicing shooting her pistol being one example.
Sing a song
Every kid has a song (or many) that will make him slow up and pay attention. Fortunately you do not need a great voice or any classical training for this. Robbie’s top tune Is ‘You are my Robster’ sang to the tune of You are my sunshine and I have sung this to him since he was one day old. This works particularly well if you have any actions or dances to go with it that they can interact with.
Make a simple craft
We love crafting. It’s a great opportunity to bring out Robbie’s creative side and one of the few times he will sit down and focus on anything! Our go to is always paper plate crafts as these are so simple to make and have great variety. We’ve made everything from vehicles to animals as well as seasonal varieties.
All you need is a few paper plates and something to colour with. The toddler does the rest.
Getting outside with a toddler
Take a walk
Now this may actually seem like a load of effort as trying to get a toddler to stand still and get dressed to go outside can feel like a scene from Mission Impossible. Once you’ve achieved this however, the rest is easy.
Robbie loves seeing the great outdoors. He spends half of his day staring out the window and spooking the neighbours so even a little walk to the shop makes him happy. One of his favourite places to visit is Admirals park in Chelmsford as there is so much wide open space for him to run around and burn off energy. It can even result in a slightly sleepier and more controllable beast later in the evening.
Get out in your garden
Obviously, some similar benefits to the walk but much simpler. Make sure your garden is full of toys and things to do as well as being safe and secure. My garden is packed with footballs, mini trampolines, swings and cars to keep the boss happy. The only small negative of the garden is his absolute determination to eat a stone. I have thwarted many attempts but some have been pretty close!
Find your kids soft play centre
There are some days when outside play just is not possible. Particularly in the UK where this covers around ten months of the year.
Kids soft play centres are ideal places to go and let your child burn off any extra energy and have the time of their lives! Many will also have their own cafe aswell so it may even save the hassle of trying to make a meal whilst your little angel causes terror.
Calm down and low energy activities
Quiet activities are just as important as energetic ones. Reading together, looking at photos, or listening to soft music helps toddlers learn how to regulate themselves after busy play.
Get snug and relax
Playing with a toddler doesn’t have to be exhausting. There is no better feeling than getting snug on the sofa relaxing together. We have a super comfortable blanket from Simba that we love to lay under and read books or play on the tablet together.
It has been known for this to result in the odd unexpected afternoon nap too, both for Robbie and myself!
Go for a bath
Most kids love baths and Robbie is no different. Rather than Considering bath time to be an essential chore, view it as a great chance to play in a different atmosphere.
Fill the bath with toys, play games and most importantly let your kids have fun!! Robbie loves to splash and I will usually end up just as wet as him when the time comes to get out but it is well worth it for the fun…. And the nice clean boy!
Show them what they look like
Mirrors, pictures and videos of Robbie always seem to make him smile.
My personal favourite is to record him laughing when playing during the day and show him all the videos I have taken at a later time. Now either Robbie is extremely vain and just enjoys looking at himself or the sound of laughter makes him happy. I would prefer to think it’s the latter, but I really don’t mind too much.
This ultimate cheat takes a little preparation by ensuring you have your phone at the ready when playing before the exhaustion kicks in, but the results are phenomenal.
Nothing makes him stop and have the time of his life more than watching himself on video, film star of the future?
Have a healthy snack
Make sure you are stocked up with healthy snacks for when your child gets restless as they can save you a lot of headaches. Keep a good stock supply of chopped fruit, Veg and other healthy snacks ready to insert straight into the gob when the screaming starts.
Food makes everyone happy. This is maybe more a tip for entertaining humans rather than just toddlers but never mind!
Have a dummy ready
I have no idea how these work but they are magical. The wizard that created them should be remembered as one of the world’s greatest heroes. There should be statues in the street and perhaps even national holidays in their honour. National dummy day has a nice ring to it as well.
Anyway, dummies calm babies and toddlers down in seconds. We are currently in the process of weening Robbie away from his but in times of needs such as a bump or an extravagant strop, it is still our saviour.
Social play and learning
Let them help
So we all know that toddlers are not particularly helpful beings (apologies to any toddlers reading this) but they really do want to be.
It is not easy for me to do anything with Robbie around but letting him join in makes life a whole lot easier. For example, when trying to wash up I give him a towel and a few of his plastic plates and spoons to help me out. I realise that these will just end up hidden in strange areas of the house and need cleaning again but it is a small price to pay to buy yourself a little time.
A few child friendly replicas of things you use every day can also help with this. Robbie has his own mini plastic phone which I hand him every time he tries to steal mine.
Find them some company
Particularly useful for an only child such as Robbie. He loves watching other children so arranging a play date, visiting a friend with kids, parks, and play areas are all winners. Social interaction is crucial to a child’s development. It is always good to mix with other children whenever you can. Even a video call to another kid can be an absolute winner.
Baby classes and other child meeting groups are fantastic. As well as meeting other kids they will gain all kinds of skills through educational play and songs.
We currently attend Hartbeeps classes every week where he let’s loose and goes crazy in a room full of other insane kids and bewildered parents. If you have a class locally, I’d highly recommend you check it out.
Let someone else do it
Nurseries are fantastic places. They will cover almost every one of the tips above whilst you can relax at home!
Robbie only goes for 1 half day session per week but he really enjoys himself each time. He loves all of his teachers and the other kids there as well as learning to spend just a little bit of separation from Mummy and I.
All of the staff there are amazing and some even turned up to surprise him at his 1st birthday party. I couldn’t recommend this nursery highly enough and anyone in the Clacton area should certainly take a look at chestnut grove nursery.
Frequently asked questions:
How long should activities last for a toddler?
10-15 is more than enough. Toddlers are not renowned for their long attention spans and forcing them to keep doing something once they have lost the will is an uphill battle that you really don’t need.
What if my toddler won’t focus on anything?
It’s far more common than you think. Toddlers are learning all the time and their little minds flash from one thing to another in seconds. Find an activity that THEY want to do rather than something you feel will benefit them.
Everyone has an opinion on this, here’s mine. Screens are a bigger part of our lives than ever before. Nurseries and schools use screens regularly for education so growing used to this at a young age is actually beneficial. Screens are not evil, some of the content put on them is. Control and moderation are the key.
What are the best activities for a 2 year old?
Each kid is different, that’s the fun of parenting! The best activity is quite simply one that the child enjoys, whether that be watching snails in the garden or building a fortress with your bedding. If they are having fun then it is a great activity.
Final Thoughts: Entertaining a Toddler Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Entertaining a toddler isn’t about constant noise, expensive toys, or planning Pinterest-perfect activities. Most of the time, they simply want your attention, a little imagination, and the freedom to move.
Some days will call for high-energy obstacle courses and dance parties. Other days, a blanket fortress, sensory play, or a quiet book under a cosy blanket will do the trick. The key is variety — mixing physical play, creative activities, social interaction and calm moments throughout the day
Parenting a toddler can feel relentless, but it’s also full of small, brilliant moments. If they’re laughing, moving, exploring and learning — you’re doing just fine.
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Great suggestions! Toddlers seem to always need to be entertained so these ideas are super handy to have! My two loved bubbles and any kind of sensory play or water play when they were little. We ended up getting a tuff tray and my 6 year old still uses it now lol! x
Yep alllll of these! Getting out of the house is definitely key 🙂 #mischiefandmemories
So true! Poor Robbie is bouncing off the walls and going a little stir crazy after so long stuck at home with us. We always make sure to take him out for at least a couple of hours a day But not easy right now.
I remember reading these the other year 🙂 So many lovely and simple ideas on keeping a toddler entertained. It think sometimes it feels like you should be doing big outings, but actually it’s the little things like looking in the mirror and blowing bubbles that keeps them smiling and giggling for the longest. A lovely read. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories 🙂
Thanks Annette! A year on and bubbles are definitely still a winner for us. I can’t understand the fascination but we can’t go in the garden without them!