5 Easy, Low Prep Toddler Activities

If you’re anything like me, you live somewhere in between “Pinterest-worthy-Montessori-esque art projects with organic, free range chicken and a side of arugula” and “Here’s the remote, enjoy your nuggets and fries”. Life (especially with two toddlers) is about striking a balance between insanity and survival. Enter stage left: Easy, low prep toddler activities. ESPECIALLY when you need to do something like a load of laundry or meal prep!
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Today’s emphasis is on the words EASY and LOW PREP because let’s be honest: Nobody has time for prepping, am I right?! The best part– you most likely already have these items in your home (or it will be a one-time purchase).

Activity #1: Water Play 

What is it about kiddos and water? Once I got over my hang ups/fears about water play in the house, we were set for life. I plop a bunch of towels on the kitchen floor, place a large storage container on top of them, fill with water, throw in a few toys and…voilà! Instant fun. To make things interesting, I sometimes add ice cubes to the water (which my children end up eating, LOL).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

My girls LOOOOOOOVE this play sink so much. I love that the water just gets repumped over and over again!

CUTE STONE Color Changing Kitchen Sink Toys, Children Electric Dishwasher Playing Toy with Running Water, Upgraded Faucet, Automatic Water Cycle System Play House Pretend Role Play Toys for Boys Girls
 
As far as water toys go, honestly, you can use whatever you have laying around your kitchen. These are some of our favorites:
Farberware Professional Plastic Measuring Cups with Coffee Spoon, Set of 5, Colors may varyNorpro Plastic Funnel, Set of 3, Set of Three, WhiteConstructive Playthings Measure and Pour Water Play Preschool Science Kit, Water Table Accessories, Educational Toy for Kids, Classroom Supplies, 34-Piece Set, Toddler Toys for 3 Years and Older
Just know going into this that there WILL be a mess, you WILL need to do a wardrobe change (for yourself as well, possibly), and, most importantly, fun WILL be had! Just make sure to supervise at all times. 🙂

Activity #2: Painting 

Even though I am a former teacher, I had a bit of anxiety when it came to introducing paint to my little ones. After enrolling Nugget in a local painting class, I realized how easy it was to paint together at home. All I needed was to see it in action first!
My favorite part about painting is the freedom it gives the girls to just explore. 
Nugget happens to be a very neat child, so we don’t even bother with an apron. I do, however, make sure that she is wearing an old shirt! I seat her at the table with the following supplies: a paintbrush, a cup of water, and a palette with paint. Usually, I set out a piece of construction paper but the other day, I had a “Eureka!” moment. We get a ton of boxes from Amazon per day (Gee, I wonder why…*ahem*…). Why not paint…THE BOX?!
Brilliant.

 
These are my favorite paints because they are non-toxic, come in classic colors, and are washable. A little goes a long way, so be a little conservative when pouring into the palette. Also, I love that this is a 2 pack and includes paintbrushes! Mama LOVES a good deal. (I’ve also included bibs for those of you who’d like to preserve your children’s clothing.)
Jar Melo Safe Finger Paints for Toddlers, 10 Colors Large Capacity (2.1fl oz), Non Toxic Washable Fingerpaint Set, Kids Art Painting Supplies, Gift for Kids Age 2+

Everyday Better Life 001157 10 Wells 6.7 inch,Pack of 12 Tray

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Activity #3: Blocks

There are soooo many different kinds of blocks nowadays! Take your pick. I like to rotate ours so they seem interesting and new to the girls. These are our most treasured ones:
Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks Set 100 Blocks in 4 Colors and 9 Shapes FSC CertifiedBattat- Bristle Blocks- STEM Interlocking Building Blocks- 128 pc Playset- Reusable Storage Bucket- Developmental Toys for Toddlers & Kids- Jungle Adventure Bucket- 2 Years +MEGA BLOKS Fisher-Price Toddler Block Toys, Big Building Bag with 80 Pieces and Storage Bag, Pink, Gift Ideas for Kids Age 1+ YearsPicassoTiles 100 Piece Set 100pcs Magnet Building Tiles Clear Magnetic 3D Blocks Construction Playboards, Creativity Beyond Imagination, Inspirational, Recreational, Educational Conventional
The beautiful thing about blocks is that they are perfect for open-ended play. The wooden ones are the simplest. Bristle Blocks and Mega Bloks connect. Magnetic blocks are SO cool and are MAGNETIC! These are Nugget’s favorite by far. The possibilities for all of these are endless. A word of warning, though. These HURT when stepped on! All of them.

Activity #4: Balls

Depending on the ages of your littles and whether or not you have a fairly childproofed space in the house, you may or may not want to save this one for outdoors. That being said, these are our favorite balls at the moment:
Daball Kid and Toddler Soccer Ball - Size 1 and Size 3, Pump and Gift Box Included (Size 1, Terry, The Fox)QQchickchicky Developmental Bumpy Ball Toy, Newborn Baby Infant Toys 0-3 Months, Help Develop Motor Skills and Brain Nerves, Sensory Baby Toys 3-6 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Months 6.7"Bright Starts Oball Rollin' Rainstick Rattle Easy-Grasp Toy, Ages 3 Months +Playskool Busy Ball Popper Toy For Toddlers And Babies 9 Months And Up With 5 Balls (Amazon Exclusive)
Balls are fun to roll around on the floor, roll down homemade ramps, hide under blankets or other toys, toss in the air, and kick!

Activity #5: Puzzles

Puzzles are so much fun and are awesome for hand-eye coordination! We have so many at our house. Again, I like to rotate them to keep things fresh. We love these:
Melissa & Doug Disney Wooden Peg Puzzles Set: Letters, Numbers, and Shapes and Colors - Letters And Number Puzzles, Disney Puzzles, Wooden Puzzles For Toddlers And Kids Ages 3+, MulticolorMelissa & Doug First Shapes Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle - Wooden Peg Chunky Baby Puzzle, Preschool Learning Shapes Knob Puzzle Board For Toddlers Ages 1+Melissa & Doug Alphabet Express Jumbo Jigsaw Floor Puzzle (27 pcs, 10 feet long) - FSC CertifiedRavensburger Bluey - 4 in Box (12, 16, 20, 24 Pieces) Jigsaw Puzzles for Kids Age 3 Years Up
We have a wide array of puzzles to meet the needs of a 1 year old and a 2 year old!
Truth be told, the activities we engage in vary from day to day. Some days, we are obsessed with a certain toy/activity…other days, we cannot be bothered. It really depends on the mood and the day! Hopefully, these can be added into your rotation and provide your little one with hours of fun.
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Need more ideas? Head on over to my Magnetic Alphabet Match.
Here’s hoping you have lots of fun,