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25 easy indoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers (with things you already have)

25 October 2026 · 2 min read

Stuck inside with a toddler who has energy to burn? You don't need expensive toys. Here are 25 ideas using things you already have at home.

Safety first: always supervise, and keep small items such as buttons, beads and dried beans away from children under 3. They can be a choking hazard.

Get moving

  1. Pillow path: lay cushions on the floor and hop from one to the next without touching the "lava".
  2. Animal walks: waddle like a penguin, hop like a frog, stomp like an elephant.
  3. Freeze dance: play music and everyone freezes when it stops.
  4. Tape lines: stick painter's tape on the floor to walk along, jump over or drive toy cars on.
  5. Balloon keepy-uppy: keep a balloon in the air without letting it touch the ground.

Pretend play

  1. Blanket fort: chairs, a sheet and a torch make the best den.
  2. Shop or café: use empty packets and a toy till, and take turns being the customer.
  3. Doctor's visit: check teddy's heartbeat with a "stethoscope" made of string.
  4. Bus or train: line up chairs, sell tickets and call out the stops.
  5. Teddy bears' picnic: a blanket, plastic plates and pretend food.

Make something

  1. Paper plate masks: draw animal faces, then cut eye holes (a grown-up job).
  2. Sticky wall: tape contact paper sticky side out on a wall and stick on paper scraps or leaves.
  3. Homemade playdough: flour, salt, water and a little oil.
  4. Cardboard box car: add paper-plate wheels and drive to the moon.
  5. Painting with water: a brush and a cup of water on a chalkboard or outside wall. No mess, just magic.

Learning games

  1. Colour hunt: "Find three red things!"
  2. Sorting: sort socks, spoons or toy cars by colour or size.
  3. Counting jumps: count out loud as you jump, clap or stomp.
  4. Letter hunt: look for the first letter of your child's name in books and on packets. More ideas in teaching letters at home.
  5. What's missing? Put four toys on a tray, cover them, remove one and guess which is gone.

Calm-down time

  1. Story basket: pick five books and read one in a cosy corner.
  2. Bubble breathing: blow slow, big pretend bubbles together.
  3. Sensory bin: dry rice or pasta with cups and spoons, for children who no longer put things in their mouths.
  4. Window watching: count birds, cars or raindrops.
  5. Watch and do: a short learning video, then act it out together. Watch the animal song, then walk like the elephant.

A tip for busy days

You don't need to entertain your child all day. A little boredom is good for creativity, and simple, open-ended things like boxes, blankets and spoons often beat any shop-bought toy.