Get over 7 different types of playtime activity ideas for your toddler. These will help you set up a great daily toddler schedule!
As your little one grows into a toddler, you have more and more time for your “wake” portion of your day each day. This is especially true when you drop that morning nap and have just one nap a day.
This post includes several ideas of types of activities to do during your playtime. These ideas do not include basics like baths, eating, running errands, or getting ready. Adding each element will definitely more than fill up your day!
For real sample schedules used by my kids and toddlers of readers of this blog, be sure to check out Sample Toddler Schedules: 1-3 Years Old.
Independent Playtime
Your toddler can play independently either in a playpen or in a room for about 60-90 minutes each day. If your toddler is down to one nap, it is best to do this in the morning soon after breakfast. That way you avoid your toddler falling asleep during independent play and ruining nap time.
Independent playtime is when your toddler plays alone. Your toddler stays in a room or space alone and entertains herself.
Read more about this in these posts:
Free Playtime
You also want free playtime as part of your toddler’s day each day. Free play is a time when your child gets to decide what they want to play with or do (within your rules). You don’t allow your toddler to just run around the house making messes and doing whatever they want to.
Free play is an important part of the learning process for toddlers. Make sure you have time each day to choose what they want to do. This can be playing outside, choosing toys to play with, doing puzzles, coloring, etc.
Read more about this in these posts:
Learning Time
Learning time is so much fun with toddlers. Everything is new and different to them, so they get so excited about it all. Learning time can and should be incredibly simple for toddlers. Almost everything they do provides learning opportunities.
There is no shortage of learning activity ideas for toddlers on the internet. You can read about my simple methods in How To Do a Learning Activity of the Day and How I Do Learning Time with Young Kids.
Make sure you include reading into your day every day. Read to your toddler. This can be during playtime and/or part of a sleep routine before naptime or bedtime (or both!).
Structured Playtime
Structured playtime can be done alone or with other people. Structured playtime is when the parent chooses the activity and when it happens. There are a lot of activity options that fit into the structured play category:
- Independent playtime
- Sibling playtime
- Table time
- Learning activity
- Outside time
>>>Read: A Parent’s Complete Guide to Structured Playtime
Social Playtime
Social play activities can be a lot of fun. It is wise to plan for these to happen when your toddler is not tired or hungry. That can lead to unkind behavior and tantrums. It is also wise to keep the duration of an activity to a reasonable length for your individual child.
Sibling playtime is a fun activity that gives your kids some bonding time together. Read more at Structured Playtime With Siblings {Sibling Playtime}.
You can also do a playdate. This is a fun opportunity play with other kids. It can also give you the chance to have some social time if the moms stay together during the playdate.
The park is another great place to get some social time in. Your child can learn to meet people they do not know.
Chores
While toddlers do not contribute in a really meaningful way when they do chores, they LOVE to help out around the house (usually). Have your toddler help clean up after themselves. You also want to have them do age-appropriate things to help around the home. They will love it and will start the process of learning how to do them. Get ideas in 12 Chores Your Toddler Can Actually Do.
Walks
Toddlers love to go for walks. You can do walks where you push your toddler in a stroller and you can also do walks when your toddler walks with you. When your toddler, walks, you will not cover as much ground, but it is a great way to get that physical movement in that your toddler needs.
Toys
Make sure you keep your toddler’s toy options fresh and interesting. Rotating toys is a great way keep novelty with toys. You can also add a new toy to the collection every once in a while. I have a lot of toy lists for you:
Conclusion
All of these activities will help you structure your toddler’s day! Use these ideas as you set up your daily routine. Strucutre helps toddlers feel secure as they know what to expect. This helps with their mood and overall behavior!
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