How Parents Are Keeping Toddlers Active

Outside Activities

• Toddlers enjoy the opportunity to get some fresh air and play outside. In addition to toddler-friendly playgrounds and parks, you have several other ways to encourage your child to be active. Find a grassy hill and show your toddler how to roll down it or buy a butterfly net and take her hunting for colorful butterflies. Get down the ground and follow ants as they bustle around collecting food. Give your child a shovel and let her dig in the dirt, suggests PBS.org. Take your toddler on a nature walk and encourage her to pick up interesting rocks, leaves, sticks and pine cones as you go. Take your toddler to an outdoor pool and splash around with her. Most cities have pools that are only a few inches deep, which is the perfect depth for your toddler, but supervise closely, as well.

Hands-on Activities

• Your toddler should have plenty of time each day to build with blocks or drive cars across the kitchen floor, but more structured hands-on activities will help you keep your little one entertained when he's not interested in his toys. Squirt shaving cream onto a cookie sheet and let your toddler draw in it or fill plastic bottles with water, dish soap and a drop of food coloring and let your child shake them up to see what happens. Get out clay or modeling dough and see what your toddler can create. Show him how to make balls or roll snakes to keep him actively engaged in the activity. Fill up the bathtub with warm water and let your toddler play. Give him bowls, cups, plastic spoons and measuring cups to encourage even more activity.

Art Projects

• Flip through kid-friendly magazines with your toddler and ask her to point out interesting pictures. Cut them out for her or offer her safety scissors and let her practice on her own. Give your toddler paper and colored glue, which is available at most craft stores, and let her be creative. The squeezing motion of getting the glue to come out of the bottle boosts fine-motor skills. Take your toddler outside and give her a bucket of water and old paintbrush. Ask her to paint the fence or the house. You might also fill spray bottles with water and food coloring and let your child paint snow. Scribbling with crayons is another toddler-friendly activity that encourages your child to be active as she creates a masterpiece.

Movement Activities

• Put on some music and watch your toddler twirl, spin, jump and dance along with the beat. Give him long pieces of ribbon or scarves to use as he moves. Challenge your toddler to jump in place or hop on one foot, as well. Imitate various animals with your toddler, suggests the KidsHealth website. Get down on all fours and walk like bears or slither on your bellies like alligators. Enroll your toddler in a Mommy and Me class that allows both of you to play together as another way to encourage your toddler to be more active.