How To Encourage Independent Play For Toddlers (40+ Activities)
If you wake up in the mornings to your toddler begging you to turn on the TV first thing, you’re not alone.
If you have a toddler who literally won’t give you any space or you have a velcro baby who is absolutely attached at the hip…
OR even if you just need just 15 minutes during the day to put away the groceries when you get home, but want to avoid screen time as a last resor, you’re in the right place.
I’ve always wanted to be the mom who’s child learns through imaginative and encouraging independent play, experiences, and not relying on screens to stay occupied.
I don’t mind using screen time, especially when I need some down time, I’m tired or really need to focus. But it was extremely hard for me to have a 1 year old who literally would not play by himself and needed me constantly entertaining him or watching tv.
Eventually, I was able to start to train him to encourage independent play! He’s now. 2 years old, and has gotten much better at it.
So how do you encourage your toddler to play independently without using the TV as a babysitter all day long? Super simple activities that take only a few minutes to set up!
I’ll be sharing a mix of both indoor and outdoor activities that encourage independent play in both babies and toddlers.
Encouraging baby independent play helps develop your little one’s creativity, focus, and confidence from an early age.
I am NOT the type of mom who is going to spend hours on an independent play activity set up from Pinterest. If it takes more than 5 minutes, it’s a no for me.
Now many of the items I use you probably already have laying around your house, or can use something similar. If not, Dollar Tree is awesome to get things from!
Here’s how to encourage independent play in babies and toddlers! This post contains a few affiliate links that I may or may not earn a commission from if you decide to make a purchase.
Most Used Supplies For Independent Play Activities
Pom poms
Painters tape
Pipe cleaner
40 Activities - How To Encourage Independent Play For Toddlers and Babies
1) Pipe cleaner on painters tape
Supplies:
Pipe cleaner
Painter’s tape
How to set it up:
Create a long strand of painters tape and then cut it. Take one end of the painters tape and attach it to an object where it would be able to hang. Then take the opposite end and tape this end to an another object close by so that the tape is hanging freely.
I put ours on objects close to the wall so that when my toddler pushed the pipe cleaner on it, he had something to press against so that the tape wouldn’t unstick from the objects.
2) Cheerios on pipe cleaner
Supplies:
A box of Cheerio’s or store brand cereal O’s
Pipe cleaner
Bowl
How to set it up:
To set up this super simple activity to encourage independent play for toddlers, you will want to tie a small knot in one end of the pipe cleaner. This is so that the Cheerio’s won’t come off.
Grab a bowl so that you have a place to put the Cheerio’s. Show your toddler first how to do this activity by taking one Cheerio and sliding it to the end of the pipe cleaner. Do this a few times, and then have your toddler take over.
They can even make them in a bunch of bracelets!
3) Finger painting in a bag
Supplies:
Washable non-toxic paint
Gallon size bag
Duct-tape
Scissors
How to set it up:
Grab a gallon size zip lock bag and cut the 2 side edges and bottom edge open with scissors so that it can lift up to open.
Take your washable, non-toxic paint and add globs of different colors around the inside of the bag. Once done, lay down the top portion of the bag down onto the paint so that the paint spreads a bit inside the cut open bag.
Grab your duct tape and tape each of the edges up so that the paint is unable to seep out.
Your child can lay it on the floor and finger paint, use different types of supplies to move around the paint inside, or hold it up in the air and just use their hands to swish the paint around.
4) Magnatiles on a muffin tin
Supplies:
Small figurines or toys
Magnetic tiles
Muffin tin
How to set it up:
For this activity I used a variety of different things such as small figurines like Elmo, Bingo, Bluey. I also used random other small things I found around the house like apple sauce pouch lids, a keychain, small play food.
Take each item and place it inside a different section of the muffin tin. Once inside, simply lie a magnetic tile on top so that it attaches to the tin and the toy inside is covered. Then this makes a fun surprise for your toddler to see what’s underneath!
It also requires them to try a little harder to pull the magnet off the tin.
5) Leaf blowing fun
Supplies:
Leaf blower
Optional: Sneakers
Optional: Headphones
How to set it up:
This activity works best in the Fall when there’s a ton more leaves around, but could also be done any time of year if you have leaves on the ground in other seasons too. My toddler played with this for about 25 minutes!
Put the leaf blower on it’s lowest setting and show your toddler how to use it to blow away leaves. Hand it over to them and let them try. They will be so entertained! The sneakers worked best for this with dust and debris flying around.
You may also want headphones if you have a loud machine.
6) Pasta sensory bin
Supplies:
Sensory table or a plastic bin
2 different types of pasta
Measuring cups
Bowls
Optional: Cookie cutters
& whatever else you want to add for fun!
Optional: Towel/blanket or empty kids pool to keep the mess contained
How to set it up:
If using a blanket/or empty kids pool lay that down first. Grab your bin or table and place it on top of the blanket or in the pool. Dump the pasta in the bin first. Add everything else on top.
7 ) Leaves on clear tape
Supplies:
Packing tape (a small roll may work too)
Leaves, sticks, grass, etc
How to set it up:
Take one end of your clear tape and attach it to an object. Take the other end and attach it to another nearby object. I like to make sure theres support behind my piece of tape so when my toddler sticks things on, he has something to press against.
Have your toddler go around the yard, patio, deck and collect different nature objects and have them stick each object to the tape.
8) Pipe cleaner in a box
Supplies:
Cardboard box
Pipe cleaner
scissors/knife
How to set it up:
Grab any cardboard box you have lying around. Make sure it’s stable enough that it can still be folded into a box. Take your scissors or knife and create holes in the box. I did this by taking one end of the scissors by piercing the box and then twisting to create a hole.
Lay the pipe cleaner next to the box and have your toddler take each piece and string it through the holes!
9) Rock Transfer
Supplies:
Rocks
Buckets/bowls/cups
How to set it up:
Grab two different bowls/cups/buckets. Have your toddler go around the yard and find different rocks and fill one of the items. Once it’s full, have them individually take each rock and transfer it to the other.
10) Cleaning supplies
Supplies:
Feather duster or any sort of cleaning tool (mop, broom, scrubbing brush)
How to set it up:
Toddlers love mimicking their parents. Give them a cleaning tool and watch them go to town and potentially actually clean some of your home! My son personally loves feather dusters the best.
11) Card drop
Supplies:
Clean oatmeal/cottage cheese/yogurt container
Scissors
Deck of cards
How to set it up:
Take a container such as some sort of cardboard box or recycle food container and cut a small rectangular slot(s) at the top or side. I use a card to measure and make sure it’s the right length. Show your toddler how to put the cards in the slot at the top and have them work on it. Ideally, the container you choose is long enough to fit all the cards.
12) Car line paths
Supplies:
Paper
Toy cars
Crayons/markers
Optional: clear tape
How to set it up:
Take a large sheet of paper or even connect a few pieces together with tape so that it appears longer. Use crayons or markers to draw wild lines all over the paper that match each car color you have. If you have a blue car, use a blue line for sure. If you have an orange car, make sure to use an orange crayon or marker too.
Then line up each car at one side of the line on the piece of paper. Encourage your toddler to use the lines as tracks for each cohesive car to their assigned line color.
This independent play activity works best if you tape the paper to the floor too so it doesn’t move.
13) Ice skating figurines
Supplies:
Metal cake pan
Ice cube tray
Water
Toys figurines
How to set it up:
This activity will need to be prepped hours or a day in advance.
Take a large metal cake pan and fill it with water to the level of your preference. Put this in the freezer right away for about 6-12 hours.
Next, fill up an ice cube tray with water. Fill each individual square halfway with water. Then stick your toy figurines inside so that the water slightly rises, and most of the toy is submerged. Put this in the freezer once finished.
Once everything is completely frozen, take it out of the freezer and put in a place where you don’t mind if water gets around. Take each individual ice figurine out of the ice cube tray, and just place them on top of the frozen metal cake pan.
Show your toddler how each toy can ice skate and move across the ice.
14) Straw structures
Supplies:
Plastic straws
Play-Doh
Scissors
How to set it up:
Grab a few plastic straws , and cut each straw up into little pieces. You can choose to make some of the pieces smaller (about 2in) and mix it up and cut one straw in half to make bigger pieces if you wish.
Show your toddler how to make little balls with the Play-Doh as they will be used as connectors. Take each straw and push it into the ball of Play-Doh and attach them together until you create fun shapes and objects.
15) Color sticker dots
Supplies:
Color dot stickers
Paper
Optional: tape
How to set it up:
Set a piece of paper on the floor or taped to the wall. I used black so it made the colored stickers stand out more. Encourage your toddler to color sort the stickers by sticking them to the paper in colored sections. Have them to multiple pages of stickers so that they’re playing independently longer.
16) Electricity Busy Board
Supplies:
How to set it up:
There’s not much to set up here, but I included this because this was one of the first toys my toddler played independently with for hours on end. He was so fascinated by the lights and gadgets.
17) Magnatiles fridge drop
Supplies:
Magnetic tiles
Pom Poms
How to set it up:
Switch up how you play with magnetic tiles but having your toddler play with them on the fridge. They can make small ramps, and drop pom poms down them and watch them bounce.
18) Water mat coloring
Supplies:
How to set it up:
The instructions are simple to follow. All pens get filled up with water. Once water touches the mat, different colors and images can appear. You’re free to also draw whatever you want in the middle!
I like to draw with my son for about 10-15 minutes, and then he will continue to play with it after I walk away.
19) Window clings
Supplies:
Window clings
How to set it up:
Have your child take off the window clings and attach them to the window wherever they want. They may need help getting some of the clings off, so you can partially peel some of them up for them so they can do the rest independently.
20) Washing Dishes
Supplies:
How to set it up:
If you want more independent play in your 2 year old, this real running water sink is a great option. All kids love water, and helping with chores around the house like washing dishes. This is the perfect way for them to build independence!
21) Hit the balloon
Supplies:
Balloon
Ribbon/String
Fly swatter
Tape
How to set it up:
Manually blow up a balloon, or use a pump. Attach a thin ribbon to if you can. Make sure it’s long enough that the ballon would be able to hang upside down and be at your todder’s level.
Tape the end of the string to the ceiling so that the balloon is hanging upside down. Then find a hitting mechanism (we used a light fly swatter but a plastic baseball bat will work) and have your toddler hit around the balloon. Watch it bounce a fly all over!
22) Tool building
Supplies:
Other “safer” tools around the house
How to set it up:
This is an activity that doesn’t use all supplies from home, but it was a great one to encourage independent play in my 2 year old.
23) Pumpkin painting
Supplies:
Pumpkin
Paint brushes
Tempera Paint
Newspaper/cardboard
Old clothing to wear
Optional: Smock
How to set it up:
Definitely a more Fall related activity, but my son wasn’t even 2 here yet, and he had so much fun! We chose to do this outside so that he was able to make a messes if it came to it.
Grab some paint brushes! Ours were from the Dollar Tree, but really were not ideal at all. They ruin so easily. Here are some that are a little bit thicker and higher quality.
Lay out a piece of newspaper or cardbox box and then place the pumpkin on it. You can squeeze out all the paint colors onto a pallette or on your newspaper/box/etc.
Go to town with painting!
24) Water chalk spraying
Supplies:
Sidewalk chalk
Spray bottle
Water
How to set it up:
Grab your spray bottle and fill it up with water. Take it outside with you. Use your sidewalk chalk to draw different shapes, lines, objects. Then begin to spray the chalk and watch it as it expands on the ground!
25) Large coloring sheets
Supplies:
Scrubbing brush (ours is from Dollar Tree)
Bucket
Soap
Water
How to set it up:
This activity keeps my toddler busy for so long! Fill a bucket or bin with soap and water. Take it outside and have your toddler dip the scrub brush and use it to scrub the ground, a deck, railing, anything!
27) Fine Object Cleaning
Supplies:
Scrubbing brush (ours is from Dollar Tree)
Bucket
Soap
Water
Easter eggs, play food, monster trucks, race cars, figurines
How to set it up:
This is just about the same as last activity, except your toddler will be holding objects and using skills for more fine cleaing. Fill a bucket or bin with soap and water. Take it outside and have your toddler dip the scrub brush and use it to “clean“ the eggs. You don’t have to use eggs though. As my child has gotten older, we now use Hot Wheels cars and monster trucks! He finds it so fun.
28) Color organize dot stickers
Supplies:
Construction paper (preferably black so that color stand out better)
Sticker dots
How to set it up:
Take your piece of construction paper and lay it on a floor or table. Show your toddler how to sort the sticker dots by color by doing a few and then have your toddler sort and finish the rest.
29) Water painting
Supplies:
Paint brushes
Small cup/bowl
Colored construction paper
Optional: Painters tape
How to set it up:
One of the very first activities I ever did with my baby! Love the idea of painting with your baby but hate the idea of the mess? Instead, set out the construction paper for them with paint brushes and a small cup/bowl of water and let them just go for it and “paint“ with the brushes! Ideally, the paper is lighter, as the water contrast will show up better. Watching the paper change color will be a fun effect for them. You can use painters tape so attach the paper to the floor so it doesn’t move.
30) Paper bridges
Supplies:
Construction paper or posterboard paper
Toy cars
Painters tape
How to set it up:
Your toddler will love watching their cars zoom under these paper bridges! Take your paper and put painters tape on each end. Bend the paper and attach it to the floor so that they make a upside-down U shape and that the size cars can fit underneath. Watch your toddler have fun racing their cars underneath! Painters tape works best, all we had was duct tape here and it did not come up well.
31. Place the stickers
Supplies:
Construction paper
Scissors
Stickers
Clear tape
How to set it up:
For this activity I made a tree, and gave my toddler a bunch of stickers and place them wherever on the tree. This is fun to get corresponding stickers to whatever scene you set up. For our tree, I used stickers such as fruits, bugs, animals that made sense with a tree. If you make an ocean you could use stickers like seashells, fish, plants, and more.
Cut out a scene of your construction paper by using scissors. Once finished, tape it to the wall. I used clear tape for this so that other tape wouldn’t cut off the scene. Then show your toddler how to place the stickers on the scene and watch them decorate it!
32. Monster truck block tunnel
Supplies:
Stacking blocks/toys (we used Mega Bloks, but Magnatiles or something else works well too)
Toy cars
How to set it up:
My son LOVED this one! So simple, but so good. Build a tunnel with openings using your blocks and connecting them together. Show your toddler how to drive the cars through the tunnel and let them have their imagination run wild.
33. Potion making
Supplies:
Muffin tin or small containers
Baking soda
Vinegar
Food coloring
Spray bottle
How to set it up:
A real life science experiment! Your child will love seeing the chemical reaction. Fill each area of the muffin tin, bowls/containers with different colors of food dye. Pour a little baking soda over top of the food coloring. Make sure to fill the squirt bottle with vinegar.
Once you Spray the vinegar onto the baking soda, you’ll slowly be able to watch the food dye, vinegar and baking soda collide and the color underneath will reveal itself. You may need to spray a bunch for it to turn more liquid-y.
34. Beach day sensory bin
Supplies:
Bin
Kinetic sand (moldable sensory sand here)
Toy figurines
Beach themed toys or decor
How to set it up:
Start by laying out the sand in your sensory bin. I covered half of my bin with sand in hopes that I would use the other half to make more of an ocean, but I never did. You could potentially use blue construction paper and lay it down. Or add another small bin of water inside.
Then place your beach toys/decor around in the sand to make a small scene and add the figures. Show your toddler how they can play with it, and then let their imagination go!
35. Mess free bubbles
Supplies:
Bubble wands (these are the cheap ones we used)
Zip ties or tape
How to set it up:
This activity is perfect because we’ve all been there where we give our kids a bubble wand, and then they angle it the wrong way, or drop it and then bubbles are spilling out everywhere. And if you haven’t had this happen yet, let me help you prevent it.
Take your bubble wand and secure it to the leg of a patio table, chair, fence or deck post so that it’s not able to come out or slide around much. Then show your toddler how to take our the wand and blow the bubbles!
36. Cooking in the kitchen
Supplies:
Play cooking and cutting set (exact version on Amazon)
Easy food to cut (bread, cheese sticks, grapes, etc)
How to set it up:
Is your toddler always being your shadow and wanting to do everything you do including helping you cook? This is one of my son’s favorites! Grab a play cooking and cutting set so they can mimic you safely!
This kit already comes with 2 plastic cutting boards. All you need to do is select the food you’re okay with your toddler playing with and slicing and lay it out on a floor, table, or counter.
Show your toddler the different way they can use all the pieces, and let them try! They’ll have a blast and probably keep begging for more food!
37. Break the ice
Supplies:
Large mixing bow
Small toys/figurines/cars
Water
Freezer
Tools/cooking utensils/etc
How to set it up:
Grab some of the smaller toys your toddler loves. Fill the mixing bowl with water and dump the toys in the bowl with water. Place it in the freezer for 6-12 hours or until frozen solid.
Then act all surprised like all their toys are stuck and you need help getting them out! This one will definitely take a bit longer for them to get through, so it may keep them busy for awhile.
Have them use some sort of heavier object that they can use to begin chipping at the ice slowly to rescue the toys out of the ice.
38. Color Dropper Mixing
Supplies:
Plastic cups
Science droppers
Food dye
39. Water Hot Wheels Track
Supplies:
Hot wheels straight tracks
Water table
Pipe cleaer
Hot wheels cars
40. Unwrap The Letters
Supplies:
Alphabet puzzle (this is a great option)
Aluminum foil
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