Top 10 Activities for Toddlers

Sensory

• Sensory play enriches your toddler's five senses. Fill the sink with bubbles and let her play with them. Make homemade dough that your toddler can mold and shape. Go on a nature walk and hunt for sweetly scented flowers. Design activities that stimulate your toddler's senses.

Pretend

• Pretend play challenges your toddler's imagination. Fill up a basket with old clothes, shoes and accessories. Dig through the garage and uncover old utensils, blankets and knickknacks. Let your toddler explore these items, and he'll surely come up with an elaborate story about who he is and what he is doing.

Physical Challenges

• Let your toddler get physical. Create an obstacle course in the backyard. Go on a bicycle or tricycle ride. Head to the playground or take a hike. As you end your walk around the neighborhood, race your toddler to your driveway. Grab a bouncy ball and practice catching and throwing in the backyard. Introduce your toddler to exercise and physical activity early so that they become a part of her daily life.

Musical Medley

• Give your toddler some age-appropriate musical instruments. Or, pull your pots, pans and spoons out of the kitchen, and let your toddler bang away. He'll enjoy the noise and learning how different musical instruments work.

Group Play

• Give your toddler time to socialize. Join a play group, meet up with your neighbors or attend a local library story time. Your toddler will have the opportunity to play with similarly aged kids, helping her build important social skills.

Little Explorers

• Satisfy your toddler's curiosity by allowing him to explore. Plan a scavenger hunt in the backyard where he has to find leaves, acorns and flowers. Go to the local zoo and have him search for animals. Your toddler will feel a sense of accomplishment when he completes his exploration.

Messy Fun

• Allow your toddler to get messy from time to time. Make chocolate pudding and let your little one finger paint with it. Make or buy some bath crayons and let your toddler get creative in the tub. Set up a canvas and washable paints, and let your toddler express her creativity.

Let's Learn

• Start educating your toddler early by reviewing shapes, numbers, letters and colors. Make everyday experiences a learning opportunity. Ask him the color of cars on a long drive. Point out letters when you're reading to him.

Sort It Out

• Create sorting activities for your toddler. Put blocks on the floor and challenge her to separate them by shape. Ask her to go through her crayons and separate them by color.

Little Helper

• Have your toddler be your assistant for the day. Ask him to help you make dinner or bake cookies for the neighbors. Teach him the importance of keeping the house clean by having him help you with basic chores, such as sorting laundry. He'll enjoy helping you out.