5 Screen Free Activities for Your Bored Toddler
Being stuck at home can be tough for young children, especially toddlers. At this tender age, they are bursting with energy at all hours of the day. Lockdown might limit the options that you have for entertaining your kids, but it doesn’t mean that TV and video games are the only way to ease their boredom.
If you are looking for different things to do when your toddler is bored, try one of these five fun activities that don’t involve a television screen or gadget:
Help with housework
If you’re trying to finish chores while taking care of your child at the same time, involving them is a great bonding activity. Toddlers love to imitate their parents and caregivers. Give them a spray bottle filled with water and a clean towel and allow them to work alongside you as you wipe down surfaces and windows. Lend them a small dustbrush and show them how to sweep the floor slowly. You just might be surprised at how focused and how helpful your little child can be.
Play with homemade clay
Homemade clay is non-toxic, cheap, and easy to make with the ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Mix flour, salt, water, oil, and cream of tartar according to this recipe. You can make a variety of colors for your child to play with. Lend them some kitchen utensils, such as a cookie-cutter, a rolling pin, or some plastic spoons and forks, and let them manipulate the dough into different shapes and sizes.
Water painting
This activity involves just a little bit of mess, but it won’t be difficult to clean up. Fill several bowls with water and mix in a few drops of food coloring in each of them. Tape a big sheet of white paper to the wall or an easel. Ensure that the paper is level with their height. Lay down some towels on the floor, hand your child a paintbrush, and give them free rein to “paint” with the colored water—this a safe, easy, and inexpensive way for them to experiment with colors.
Bonus tip: They might also enjoy playing with the colored water, so give them a cup and some empty bowls and allow them to scoop colors up and mix them to create new ones.
Fun with bubbles
If you have a little outdoor area, you can place a big washbasin on the grass and fill it with soap and water. Tear-free baby shampoo should be enough to create a basin full of bubbles that your little one will enjoy and play in for hours. You can also try this indoors by laying down thick towels beneath the tub to minimize the mess.
Indoor jungle gym
Clear the center of your living room and pull the cushions from your couches. You can also use bedroom pillows, bolsters, and comforters and use them as padding on the floor. Allow your children to run, jump, and roll around and work off all their excess energy. Once they’ve burned off all their excess energy, the mountain of cushions will also serve as a nice nap area for them to plunk down.
Toddlers are natural explorers and experimenters. They will benefit from having an outlet for their energy and creativity. There are plenty of things to do when they are feeling bored, and many of them are inexpensive and easy to set up. Sometimes, simple and uncomplicated activities are much more fun than any other toy or TV show.
If you’re looking for more things to do when you are bored, check out our website! We have more fun ideas for you and your toddler to do to make staying at home more enjoyable.