When I was a new parent, I struggled to find affordable outings and activities for our daughter. I’d spend hours searching online for cheap or free toddler activities, but I ran into two major problems.
Most activities I found online called for tons of craft supplies or other items I didn’t have at home. Sure, I could have gone out and bought a cart full of pompoms, pipe cleaners, and finger paints. At the time though, I was trying to afford being a stay at home mom. (You can read all about how we finally did it by jumping to that article). To get out of debt, we needed to make every penny count, which meant I avoided even random Dollar Tree trips for a while.
The other problem was how MESSY toddler activities tend to be. It seemed like half the activities called for glue, glitter, or a gallon of water that was sure to spill everywhere. I’ve since accepted that messes are a natural and healthy party of toddlerhood, but I still try to minimize those truly day-destroying messes.
So if you’re not willing to unleash a disaster or buy out half a craft store, here are a few suggestions that are mess-manageable and very free. At least one of my children has tried ALL of these ideas with success. Because every kid is different, your toddler probably won’t love each and every idea. However, many of them will keep your little guys actually engaged, excited, and focused. (At least for a short time. They’re still toddlers, after all!) And best of all, none of them cost a dime.
Is it summertime when you’re reading this? Check out my post on free summer activities for toddlers for more season-specific ideas.
One final pro-tip: if your kid is notorious for complaining about how “bored” they are, start taking pictures every time they’re having fun doing activities like these. Then, put them in a special album on your phone or even a physical album (4×6 photo prints only cost a couple cents). The next time they say they’re bored, tell them to flip through their options and choose an activity. Seeing the images will trigger their memories of how awesome the activities actually are, and they’ll run for the supplies. (That’s how I got all the pictures for today’s post, after all!)
Free Toddler Activities- Indoors
- Play “the floor is lava” with pillows & cushions.
- Give some toys a bath in the sink.
- Decorate a cardboard box inside and out.
- Stack EVERYTHING. Books, blocks, cups, boxes, etc.
- Let them shred paper (newspaper works great).
- Then, use a broom and sweep up the shredded paper.
- Play “follow the leader” around the house.
- Sort and match socks from the laundry.
- Have a tickle fight!
- Read books from the library.
- Have your toddler put toys in a cardboard box or laundry basket, then push them around like a bus driver.
- Line up anything you can find. Choose heavier things like water bottles if they want a challenge.
- “Read” a book to a stuffed animal or pet audience.
- Try on different clothes and let them decide which help them dance, run, or jump the best.
- Make a pillow fort.
- Have a tea party with stuffed animals or action figures.
- Try on the clothes of someone much bigger.
- Play “mailman” by delivering old junk mail or packages to “mailboxes” all around the house.
- Roll/wrap up your toddler into a “blanket burrito,” then gently toss them onto a bed or couch.
- Do stuffed animal theater while crouched behind a couch or table. Act out either favorite books or made up stories.
Things to do with Toddlers in the Kitchen
- Bang on pots and pans with spoons.
- Finger paint with yogurt mixed with food coloring.
- Make some cheap meals for picky eaters together.
- Grab a colander and thread pieces of spaghetti through it.
- Make pizza dough and roll, flatten, and/or just squish it.
- Decorate cupcakes.
- Practice scooping with different spoons and rice, dried pasta, cereal, or dried beans.
- Pull magnets off the fridge, then stick them back on. Repeat.
- Melt ice in a bowl with warm water and a turkey baster.
- Play restaurant! Let your toddler set a table, carry food, and even help with the cleanup.
- Crush (clean) eggshells with a mortar and pestle.
- Make a food rainbow with different fruits or vegetables in the house. (Cans and boxes work, too.)
- Paint with water on cardboard using a potato masher, whisk, and other interesting utensils.
- Have “fancy lunch,” where you need to dress like royalty and arrive with a toddler-made invitation.
- Help you empty the dishwasher.
- Practice finger peeling foods like bananas, oranges, onions, or hard-boiled eggs.
- Make muffins or pancakes. Let them whisk the batter.
- Use cookie cutters, either on cookie dough or other foods like little sandwiches.
- Dress like a chef in an apron and/or floppy white hat.
- Practice pouring with a plastic water pitcher and plastic cups.
Fun Outdoor Toddler Activities
- Go for a nature walk.
- Visit a local park and flip over rocks to look for bugs.
- Make footprints with muddy or wet shoes.
- Read books about birds, then try to find them outside.
- Put on some boots and splash in rain puddles.
- Go to a beach (or any sandy place) and play in the sand.
- When it gets dark, try catching lightning bugs.
- Rake leaves, then jump in the piles.
- Look for edible plants, fruit trees, or berries in your area on fallingfruit.org (free, crowdsourced website).
- Try planting some flowers or vegetables, either in your yard or some containers.
- Do an outdoor story walk. Grab a book (or a bunch of them) and take a walk with plenty of reading breaks.
- Lie on your back in the grass and say what you think the clouds look like.
- Find and lift heavy (for a toddler) rocks or logs. Line them up, roll them back and forth, etc.
- Get a watering can (or a gallon jug with holes poked in the bottom) and give the plants a drink.
- Make an obstacle course and time how fast they can go through it. Then get them to beat their record.
- Pick up interesting rocks, flowers, leaves, or sticks and create a “nature basket” at home. (Just be responsible with your collecting.)
- Get multiple buckets, pans, or totes with some water, then give your toddler some cups, bowls, or spoons for pouring.
- Play any variation of tag (freeze tag, dance tag, partner tag, etc).
- Help them climb a tree a couple feet off the ground.
- Make your shadows dance on the ground. Hold interesting items (a rake, outstretched blanket, or favorite toys) to make the game more fun.
Toddler Activities Around the Neighborhood
- Watch construction workers, workers in tall bucket trucks, or anyone else using cool machines.
- Go to a pet store and watch the fish or other animals.
- Meet up with a friend who has a dog and help them take it for a walk.
- Visit the grocery store and watch the lobsters or crabs in the tank.
- Go to the library and read books, do puzzles, or play with any toys there.
- Play with the wood chips or gravel at the playground.
- Do a stroller safari and see how many animals you can find in your neighborhood.
- Find some stairs and turn it into a car ramp with a wooden plank, poster, or cardboard. Race your cars down!
- Have a bridge over a stream nearby? Play “Pooh Sticks” by dropping sticks on one side, then crossing over to watch them float out the other.
- Drop a letter in a big, blue mailbox, or bring it to a post office.
- Wave “hi” to your local fire engines and ambulances.
- Go to a nearby nursing home and hand out one-of-a-kind toddler drawings to the residents. (Check with the activity director first.)
- Point out street, business, or personal signs in your neighborhood. See if your toddler recognizes any letters.
- Sit outside (or look through a window) and say the color of each car as it passes.
- Take a selfie with the prettiest flower, art, or home decoration in your neighborhood.
- Count how many steps it takes to go from your front door to the nearest street sign, stop sign, tree, etc.
- Say hello to a neighbor, and ask how their day is going.
- See if they can go up and down every aisle in the grocery store and name all the foods they recognize. (Pro-tip: make sure they’ve had a big meal before doing this activity.)
- Visit a family member, friend, or other acquaintance at their work and bring them lunch or a snack.
- Have a snack picnic at a park or other public, grassy spot you’ve never been to before.
I hope you found a few more ideas to keep your kiddo entertained! If you’d like more ideas, tips, and recipes for mom life on a budget, be sure to subscribe to my newsletters below for weekly updates (and the occasional giveaway).
