We know we’re supposed to cherish every moment and all, but every so often, we need some quiet activities for toddlers to buy us a moment or two.

We hear it every day. “Be present.” “You’re gonna miss this.” “Babies don’t keep.”

Which is true, but clean dishes don’t “keep” either.

As much as we love our kids, sometimes we have things that need to get done. We need a few minutes that don’t involve going somewhere, or teaching the kids something, or engaging with them one on one. What we need are a few Activities for toddlers here at home. Fun little activities they can engage in while we go about with our chores or businesses.

Over the years, we’ve come up with a long list of independent activities for toddlers to keep them learning, growing, and- most importantly- out of our hair. Read on for our toddlers’ favorite at home activities- some of them may just surprise you.

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Cling On Gels or Stickers

You see them all the time at the Dollar Store or in the Target Bullseye playground- but did you know “window” clings stick to WAY more than just windows?

Abram likes to play with the window clings on the refrigerator while I’m cooking, whereas Lila would prefer to “decorate” the mirror in her room. Get letters and numbers for educational purposes, or whatever your kid is into (here, we used dinosaurs, but Abe also loves this truck set).  When we’re on the road, these window clings also stick to the cookie sheets in our kids’ travel activity bags.

Your kids can sort them by size, color, and shape, create scenes, or just act out little stories on their own. 

Seek and Find Sensory Bins

These take a slightly bigger commitment, as they make some mess. But this is one quiet activity for toddlers and preschoolers that never fails to fascinate our kids.

They don’t have to be over the top to be successful. Fill them with shredded paper, colored rice or pasta, or even water beads. Add some tools for them to scoop, pour, and transfer. We like these sensory bin tools to help with their Fine Motor skills, but you can also use measuring spoons and cups from the kitchen.

 To take your sensory play up a notch, try this simple seek-and-find sensory bin. First, you’ll grab a few different colors of dried beans from the dollar store. While you’re there, grab a foam letter puzzle.

Fill a small bin with beans, and then hide foam letters inside. As kids search around with their fingers, they’ll find the letters and add them back to the puzzle. When the puzzle is finished, they’ll know they found them all.

Related Post: Playdough Prompts for Preschoolers

Magnets

My kids can play with magnets for DAYS. Whether it’s letters or numbers, play sets, or just whatever I have on my fridge, kids take joy from making things “stick.” And the best part? It’s generally a totally independent activity, even for toddlers.

 If you’re cooking in the kitchen, the fridge makes a great backdrop for magnets. In the laundry room? The dryer will work! Anywhere else? Grab your cookie sheet and make a portable magnet station, wherever you are.

Picasso Tiles

Our kids are obsessed with magnatiles (well, actually, Picasso Tiles– because they’re half the price), and it’s one of the few quiet activities they will actually play together. 

 Bring them out for open-ended play, or give them a challenge. How tall can you make a tower? Can you design a bridge? Can you make three different sized houses, one for each of the three little pigs?

Get creative here, and you can get a lot more time out of these simple (but crazy fun!) toys.

Art Projects

You might think I’m crazy, but when i need an independent activity for my toddler, I turn to art. I know, I know. It can be messy. 

But the more your kids do art, the less messes they’ll make over time.

Check out our list of open ended art projects here, or just let your kids experiment with different media (we’re partial to our watercolors and do-a-dot markers, but do whatever works for you).

Related Post: Quick & Easy Process Art Activities for Kids

Tong Transfers

Kids these days need more fine motor practice than ever. Teachers are reporting that kids are increasingly coming into classrooms without the scissor skills, pencil grips, and hand strength they need to carry out routine classroom tasks.

One way to work on those fine motor muscles is by adding tongs to your child’s play. Drop them into a a sensory bin, or grab the game Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, which requires you to use tongs to win. 

We add tongs to our sorting activities. I picked up these super hero figurines at Target, or use counting bears from Amazon. Have your child sort the figures by color, size or type- using ONLY the tongs for an extra challenge.

Rock Play

WHY are kids so fascinated with rocks? Our kids have come up with a dozen different ways to play with rocks, and it keeps them busy and quiet for hours on end (no, seriously). Check out our post with creative ways to play with rocks, and give some a try with your kids.

Do a Dot Markers

I know, again with the messes. But these Do-A-Dot Markers are perfect for both art and fine motor practice. (We also have and love these ones, and they are a LOT more affordable.) Try them out as an independent activity for your toddlers, or add some structure.

We show you how to add lines to help them make a fine motor rainbow activity here, or you can grab a workbook to help them practice getting their dots in the lines.

Related Post: Activities to Practice Fine Motor & Sensory Skills

Stickers

You may not think of stickers as an independent toddler activity, but with a little support, it is TOTALLY something your toddlers can do on their own.

We like to grab seasonal foam stickers any chance we get, as the paper backing adds extra fine motor work to the activity (and, if we’re being honest, helps it take up more time). Don’t forget to have them clean up their own messes when they’re done!

If you’re using a regular sheet of stickers, you may find that preschooler can use them independently just fine, but your toddler may need more help. 

In order to make stickers easier for your little ones to use, first remove the sticky borders surround the stickers. You’ll be left with a shiny sheet with just stickers. If needed, you can scaffold it further by peeling up one edge of each sticker, making them much easier for toddlers to use independently.

Cereal Sorting and Threading

My preschooler is OBSESSED with threading things. We’ve done dyed pasta beads before, as well as regular plastic beads from the dollar store. We’ve also made cheerio necklaces for an on-the-go snack option.

Add a little extra learning to the activity by grabbing Froot Loops and having your child sort by color before threading onto a necklace (pro tip: a little piece of tape on the end makes an excellent “needle,” making it easier for your kids to get the cereal on the string).

For an independent activity for preschoolers, have them create a patterned necklace after sorting. Allow them to make their own pattern, or request an “AB” (ie red/blue, red/blue) or “ABC” (red/blue/yellow, red/blue/yellow) pattern for additional educational practice.

Related Post: Teach Colors with Simple, Fun Activities

Playdough

Our kids love playdough, but if left to their own devices, they’ll end up squishing it all together and making a big of a mess. Which is fine sometimes, but other times? You need some quiet activities for toddlers are home that will last more than five seconds.

Extend their playdough play using these unique playdough recipes and prompts. We’ve gathered all of our favorites in one place, so you’ll never run out of exciting playdough activity to help your kids play independently.

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It may take a bit of practice, but we promise- keep working at it, and you’ll find a whole treasure trove of independent activities for toddlers that will take your quiet time activities to the next level.

And hey, maybe you’ll actually find a little time to get something done. Or (do we dare say it?) to even drink your coffee in peace.

How about you, hive mind? What quiet activity for toddlers do your kids love? Tell us in the comments, and you may just see it added to our list.

Looking for more toddler activities? Check out these posts next-

• Entertain on the Go with Fun & Easy Toddler Busy Bags
• Kids Get Creative with Process Art for Toddlers
• How to Create a Toddler Schedule That Will Help Them THRIVE

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