DIY Toddler Activities: Fun, Simple, and Budget-Friendly Ideas to Try at Home

Last Updated on 06/05/2025 by Nell Marie

When your toddler is full of energy (which is… most of the time), you need a handful of easy, engaging activities that don’t require a ton of setup.

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That’s the beauty of DIY toddler activities—they’re fun, cheap, and often use things you already have lying around the house.

Here’s a list of 20 toddler-approved ideas that are perfect for rainy days, slow mornings, or anytime you want to encourage creativity and play.

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DIY Toddler Activities

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself wondering how to keep your toddler busy without relying on screen time or spending a fortune on new toys. The good news? You don’t need a playroom full of fancy stuff to spark joy and curiosity in your little one.

With a few simple supplies and a little creativity, you can turn everyday items into magical moments of fun. Below, you’ll find a list of DIY toddler activities that are easy to set up, super engaging, and perfect for making memories at home—no special skills or craft closet required.

Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a favorite in toddler world, and colored rice is the star of the show. Making your own rainbow rice is super easy and gives you a base for endless play.

You just dye uncooked rice using food coloring and a splash of vinegar or rubbing alcohol, let it dry, and pour it into a large bin.

Add scoops, small containers, toy animals, or measuring spoons and let your little one explore. They can bury treasures, scoop and pour, or just run their hands through the colorful grains.

Why it’s great: It keeps them engaged and helps develop fine motor skills and sensory exploration.

Sticky Window Art

This mess-free activity is perfect for quiet time or when you want to spark creativity. Tape a sheet of clear contact paper (sticky side out) to a window, and let your toddler decorate it with paper cutouts, foam shapes, buttons, or tissue paper squares.

They’ll love the sensation of sticking and peeling, and you’ll love how easily it peels off when you’re done. You can do different themes for the seasons—hearts for Valentine’s Day, leaves for fall, or snowflakes in winter.

Why it’s great: It builds hand strength and coordination while encouraging creativity.

DIY Cardboard Roadway

Cut up a cardboard box, draw roads with a black marker, and add buildings, stop signs, or parking spots for toy cars. You can even glue paper to the board to make a mini town.

Toddlers will love driving their cars along the roads and making up little stories as they go. Add in blocks, animals, or construction toys for extra fun. You can also use masking tape on the floor for extended roadways.

Why it’s great: It encourages pretend play, storytelling, and problem-solving.

Pom-Pom Push Game

This is one of those deceptively simple games that toddlers get totally obsessed with. You cut holes in the lid of a container (like a wipes tub) and let your toddler push pom-poms through the holes.

You can color-code the holes and the pom-poms to add a sorting element, or give them kid-safe tongs to up the challenge. It’s a calm activity that builds coordination and keeps little hands busy.

Why it’s great: It’s excellent for fine motor skills and keeps toddlers focused.

Water Painting

Grab a bucket of water and a few paintbrushes, and let your toddler “paint” the driveway, sidewalk, or fence. The water darkens the surface like paint would, but dries up with zero mess.

It’s fun to draw shapes or just go wild with brush strokes. If you’re indoors, try using construction paper or painting a chalkboard with water.

Why it’s great: It builds creativity and motor skills while keeping cleanup super easy.

Sponge Towers

Cut up colorful kitchen sponges into squares or rectangles and let your toddler build towers. It’s a quiet activity that works their concentration and planning skills.

You can make a challenge out of it—how many blocks can they stack before it falls? Try sorting by color or size, or make patterns. It’s soft and safe, which is great for younger toddlers.

Why it’s great: It’s a perfect mix of building, sorting, and quiet-time play.

DIY Lacing Cards

Grab some cardboard or old cereal boxes, cut them into fun shapes, and punch holes around the edges. Then give your toddler a shoelace or yarn with the end taped so it’s stiff enough to thread.

They’ll practice hand-eye coordination as they “sew” around the edge of the shape. You can even draw animals, letters, or shapes on the cards to mix learning with play.

Why it’s great: It strengthens fine motor skills and introduces basic sewing concepts.

Pasta Threading

All you need is some dry pasta and yarn or pipe cleaners. Let your toddler thread the pasta onto the string—it’s an excellent challenge for little fingers.

You can also dye the pasta different colors ahead of time to make it more visually appealing. Once they’re done, you can tie the ends and turn it into a bracelet or necklace!

Why it’s great: It improves focus, builds hand-eye coordination, and sparks creativity.

Painter’s Tape Obstacle Course

This one is a total lifesaver on days when your toddler has extra energy. Use painter’s tape to create an indoor obstacle course on the floor.

Make lines to jump over, paths to walk along, Xs to hop on, and zig-zags to follow. You can add stuffed animals to “rescue” or turn it into a game of follow-the-leader.

Why it’s great: It promotes gross motor skills, balance, and imagination.

Ice Cube Excavation

Freeze small toys inside an ice tray and hand your toddler some warm water, spoons, or eyedroppers. Their job? Free the toys!

It’s basically toddler archaeology and it’s fascinating to them. You can color the ice or add glitter for extra sparkle. This is a fun one for summer days outside.

Why it’s great: It teaches cause and effect while boosting concentration and patience.

DIY Matching Game

You can create your own memory matching game with photos, stickers, or printed pictures. Cut out matching pairs and glue them to cardboard squares.

Mix them up, flip them over, and let your toddler find the matches. You can theme it around animals, family photos, colors, or shapes.

Why it’s great: It builds memory, attention span, and matching skills.

Cup Stacking Challenges

Grab some plastic cups and let your toddler build towers, knock them down, and rebuild again. Try building pyramids, castles, or long tunnels.

You can also write letters or numbers on the cups to turn it into a learning activity. Stack in order, sort by size, or match uppercase and lowercase letters.

Why it’s great: It encourages fine motor control and creative thinking.

Toddler-Safe Slime (Oobleck)

Mix 1 cup cornstarch with ½ cup water (and optional food coloring), and you’ve got oobleck—a gooey substance that’s both a solid and a liquid.

Let your toddler play with it in a bin or on a tray. They’ll love the way it hardens when squeezed and melts when left alone. It’s strange, delightful, and perfect for sensory play.

Why it’s great: It introduces science concepts in a hands-on way.

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

Save those cardboard tubes! Turn them into binoculars, animals, cars, or rockets. Toddlers can paint them, glue on googly eyes, or stamp shapes with them.

The best part is how versatile and creative this activity is. You’ll be surprised what your toddler comes up with.

Why it’s great: It encourages imagination and upcycling.

Bubble Wrap Stomp

Tape a big sheet of bubble wrap to the floor and let your toddler stomp, crawl, and roll across it. The sound and texture are endlessly fun.

You can even play music and have a bubble wrap dance party! Just supervise closely, especially with younger toddlers.

Why it’s great: It’s a sensory experience and physical activity in one.

Nature Collage

Take a nature walk and collect interesting things—leaves, twigs, grass, flowers. Bring them home and glue them onto cardboard or paper.

It’s a great way to connect with the outdoors and gives your toddler a chance to use their creativity. Talk about what each item is as you make the collage.

Why it’s great: It blends art and nature in a meaningful way.

Balloon Tennis

Tape a popsicle stick to a paper plate to make a paddle. Blow up a balloon, and you’ve got yourself a toddler-friendly version of tennis!

This is perfect for indoor days. The balloon floats slowly enough that little arms have time to reach and swing.

Why it’s great: It improves coordination and gets energy out without needing a big space.

DIY Busy Board

Busy boards are full of real-world objects like zippers, Velcro, buttons, and switches. You can attach them to a board, tray, or even a piece of cardboard.

Toddlers love the chance to explore and manipulate everyday items. You can swap parts out or add new things over time.

Why it’s great: It satisfies curiosity and builds independence.

Paper Towel Roll Ramp

Tape paper towel rolls to the wall in a zig-zag pattern and drop pom-poms or cars down the track. Watch them zoom from one roll to the next!

It’s a low-cost engineering activity that’s so fun to watch. You can try marbles (with supervision) or small rubber balls too.

Why it’s great: It introduces gravity and motion in a simple, hands-on way.

Egg Carton Sorting

Take an empty egg carton and fill it with items to sort—like pom-poms, beads, or snacks. Label the sections with colors, numbers, or letters and let your toddler match accordingly.

You can use tongs or a spoon to increase the challenge and add some motor practice.

Why it’s great: It promotes sorting, counting, and color recognition.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, keeping a toddler entertained doesn’t have to mean loading up on expensive toys or planning elaborate Pinterest-worthy projects. Some of the best memories come from the simplest moments—like painting the sidewalk with water, stacking sponge blocks, or digging for tiny treasures in a bin of rainbow rice.

These DIY toddler activities give your little one the chance to explore, create, and learn right alongside you. They’re not just time-fillers—they’re connection builders. You’re making space for curiosity, confidence, and a whole lot of giggles.

So next time you hear the words “I’m bored” (or your toddler starts climbing the furniture like a jungle gym), pull out one of these ideas, grab what you already have around the house, and lean into the fun. Because even the messiest, silliest moments often turn into the sweetest memories.

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