Are you looking for ideas that are easy and quick to get you to the next meal or naptime? Since becoming a stay at Mama, some days seem longer than others and I needed something quick to do to make it to the next part of our day! The following activities are little to no prep toddler activities and can be done in a matter of minutes! Hopefully, they help you like they have helped me make it from one part of the day to the next.
No Prep Toddler Activity: Dance Party
I don’t like using the TV all the time but it is a good tool to use when you need something quick to do, especially if the weather isn’t the best for going outside. We live in Florida and while that seems like we can get outside all the time, it’s not always the case. Some days it’s too hot to get out and then you have those random Florida showers. We’ve also lived in Ohio and I know firsthand how long winter lasts! Some years it felt like winter lasted for 8 months! So, what do you do to help get some energy out from your little toddler? DANCE!
When I was teaching, dance parties were one of my favorite things! It was quick and easy to throw on a couple of songs to get the sillies or energy out! It’s also a good gross motor activity and makes sure all the body is moving! I’ve used some of the following songs in my classroom and at home! Most of them are silly and a few a songs we know from our childhood but they are good to use for following directions and getting those sillies out!
- Dinosaur Stomp by Koo Koo Kangaroo
- Wheels on the Bus by Super Simple Songs
- Boom Chicka Boom by The Learning Station
- Father Abraham by The Good News Guys
- Freeze Dance by Kiboomers
- Shake Your Sillies Out by The Learning Station
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by The Good Guys
- The Joy, Joy Joy Down in my Heart by Listener Kids
No Prep Toddler Activity: Chalk and Bubbles
One of my favorite, simple activities for toddlers are playing with chalk and bubbles outside. As long as you have chalk and bubbles on hand, this is a perfect no prep activity. Just grab your chalk and bubbles and let your child’s imagination soar! Playing with chalk unleashes your child’s artistic flair and aids in fine motor skills. There are endless possibilities while using chalk outside. From writing names or letters to drawing pictures, your child will gain so much from this simple activity. Playing with bubbles adds to the experience of being outside. It allows your child to gain more hand-eye coordination when having to get the soap mixture onto the stick in the bottle and blowing.
I know there are days when we need to be outside and have a quick, unstructured activity. Being outside is good for not only your child’s physical and mental well-being for yours as well! As parents, we all have moments or days we feel more stressed or easily agitated. Stepping outside into the fresh air gives us the vitamin D we need for our health and our child’s and gives us fresh oxygen to help us relax a little better. Playing with chalk and bubbles is the perfect activity to build your parent-child relationship and get some stress-relief for yourself, also!
No Prep Toddler Activity Three: Build a Fort
One of my activities as a child was getting all the dining chairs and blankets, I could find to create a fort! I’d play for hours in my fort, and I hated it when I had to tear it all down at the end of the day! This simple activity just seems to make anything like reading a book so much better! On those rainy or cold days when being outside isn’t possible, try creating a fort to break-up the monotony of the day. To enhance making a fort even better, try adding a flashlight or fun lights if you have them on hand.
Here are few ideas to do in your fort:
- Read Books:
- Bring several books to read or look at the pictures. This is would a good time to use a flashlight to enhance reading books in the fort!
- Play Board Games:
- Grow your parent-child relationship by playing a game together!
- Write or Draw Letters/Pictures:
- A good time to do a learning activity and make it fun!
- Snack Time:
- Perfect way to get your little one to eat a snack.
- Use your imagination and pretend play:
- Maybe go on a bear hunt and end up in the fort. What do you see? Did the bear eat and run or is the bear still in the fort?!
These are just three simple no prep toddler activities you can do with your child today! They don’t take much thought and are easy to set up and get going. My toddler daughter loves these activities and they break up the day! Dancing, going outside for chalk and bubbles and building a fort are great ways to build your parent-child relationship. They are practical ways you can create a time for connection!
What are your favorite no prep toddler activities?
