Keeping a Toddler Entertained Indoors

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My husband made an observation that if we didn’t have kids right now, this whole Coronapocalypse thing would almost be like a weird vacation (albeit, one in which we’re still worried about the world ending). We’d be working from home of course, but we’d also be forced to slow down from our normal lives – reading, binge-watching shows, doing daily yoga together in our living room, cooking leisurely dinners in the evenings. Instead, we’re spending nearly every waking moment trying to keep a 3-year-old entertained, mentally engaged, and physically active. Which is no easy feat, especially in a small NYC apartment with no outdoor space.

(We also have a 5-month-old, but as you realize anyway as second-time parents, that’s the easy age – he requires little space and little entertainment, other than his play gym, bouncy chair, a few books, and some face-to-face time. Plus he naps every couple hours, sleeps a solid 10-11 hours overnight, and doesn’t try to negotiate with everything we say.)

If anyone figures out how to combat the mental exhaustion of spending 12-14 waking hours with a strong-willed threenager, I’m all ears. Meanwhile, here’s a list of engaging toys, games and activities, as well as other ideas for how to keep toddlers busy all day every day (aside from screen time, which we are also totally doing). I’ll keep adding to this as I come up with more, so check back if you run out of ideas!

Games and Puzzles

Educational Activities

Building

Arts & Crafts

Sensory Play

Pretend Play

Physical Activity

Other Ideas

  • Reading – a great anytime activity; see my favorite books list

  • Dress up – you can purchase inexpensive costumes from Amazon or Target, or just use old clothes and accessories of yours that you have lying around (hats, sunglasses, etc.)

  • Wallet – fill an old wallet or a kids wallet with old cards, photos, etc.; toddlers will love taking everything out and putting it back in

  • Video chat with friends and family – FaceTime is easy for 1:1 and Facebook Messenger or Zoom work well for group chats

  • Look through photo books of friends and family – make a quick one from your phone photos on ChatBooks

  • Hallway sports – sprints, soccer or scooter up and down and up and down

  • Cooking – toddlers love helping out in the kitchen; some favorites of ours are baking muffins or making pizza (see my easy recipe here)

  • Pretend play – our daughter loves doing all kinds of pretend play, from acting like she’s the grownup putting us down for a nap to pretending that our bed is a ship and she’s sailing around the world

  • Hide and go seek – you can win at this too, if you tell them to count as high as they can go and use your time hiding to make a cup of coffee

  • Forts – making a fort out of anything is fun for toddlers (pillows, blankets, the couch, a large box – which you can also decorate ahead of time)

  • Kids’ yoga – we’ve been doing Cosmic Kids yoga classes on Amazon Prime and they’re fun for the whole family

  • Virtual class – many companies are offering live streaming classes right now, including music, art, story time, and movement

  • Virtual excursion – many websites offer cool virtual content, live cams or tours appropriate for kids, such as San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium (google other topics your child is interested in to find virtual options, such as the moon, farm animals, or famous sites around the world)

  • Busy Toddler – this website has great and easy-to-execute ideas for engaging toddlers at home