Having a toddler and a newborn now is something that means there are times when I cannot focus my full attention on my older daughter. It also means these are great opportunities to promote independent toddler play! So whether you are in the same situation as me or you are just looking for ways to help promote toddler independence in general, check out this amazing guest post from Emma at Adventures of Adam and click on her links to get more info on these creative ways to entertain your tot.
Fun activities toddlers can do by themselves
Teaching toddlers to entertain themselves isn’t just a sanity-saver for busy parents but also helps young children master the world around them. Independent play helps your toddler to challenge themselves without feeling pushed by adult interference, increases their self-reliance and confidence in their own abilities and they are able to discover their own preferences and interests.
However, the majority of children’s toys today are all singing and all dancing. The saying “the more a toy does, the less your child has to do” holds true. Typically toys require our children to sit and watch the toy perform which is entertaining rather than educational. They do not promote creativity or independence in your toddlers play.
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Playing with household items can help develop fine and gross motor skills, enhance your toddlers thinking skills and thought processes and help build your child’s self-esteem as they accomplish new tasks.
Don’t forget to check out ways kids can get active indoors and play independently with things you already have.
Grab your Clothes Pegs and let your toddler drop them into different baskets. It’s amazing how long toddlers will concentrate on transferring activities. As your toddler moves on to pre-writing skills opening and closing clothes pegs is a fantastic way of developing a pincer grip.
How many different ways can your toddler find to stack plastic cups? They are also great for filling, aiding your child’s concept of volume, building towers and knocking them down which will teach your child about cause and effect.
Do you have lots of old scratched CD’s and DVD’s? See if your toddler can stack them onto the spindle of the container.
Grab a variety of kitchen cupboard items and a packet of straws and see what activities your little one makes up – items with holes in work best. See what activities your toddler can make up using cup cake cases, string or cotton wool.
Try setting small challenges for your toddler to complete. Can your toddler post all of the pipe cleaners into a recycled plastic bottle? Can they manage to get them out again?
Dig out those cardboard tubes and try Giant Threading. Can your toddler thread the cardboard tubes on to a broom handle?
Place layers of masking tape in different directions on a baking tray. Can your toddler peel it all off? It is a great activity for developing their fine motor skills.
Want to implement game and reading nights to connect as a family?
Research shows that reading out loud time has great benefits for kids of all ages and so does engaging in gameplay. (No, not video games, board games!) Grab our free download of discussion questions and the benefits of reading together.
More on Raising Toddlers & Encouraging Independence:
More from and about Emma
During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with her toddler as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that women can entertain their children whilst they are ill. Follow Emma on Facebook,Twitter,Pinterest, and Instagram.
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Would love to know more about engaging the toddlers