Toddlers and preschoolers need plenty of time to just run around and play – adventure playgrounds, parks and the beach are all great places for kids this age. If you don’t have access to a safe outdoor space, perhaps look into local soft play areas. I know that some of our local ones offer discounts to children who attend during school hours and also advocate special rates to encourage parents to bring their child for their daily 60 active minutes.
Activities for children 2-5 years
- Start teaching the basics of throwing, catching and kicking using a large, soft ball.
- Provide different types of bats and racquets for your child to try out.
- Give them gardening implements and have them help you do planting, weeding or watering.
- Chase bubbles.
- Get them to help do household chores, toddlers love to copy their parent wiping and dusting.
- Play different kinds of music to encourage creative dancing and a sense of rhythm.
- Create a music centre by laying out all the music instruments and let your child blow, bang and press to make a happy noise.
- Build an obstacle course out of cushions and blankets and have your toddler climb under, over and through.
- Invent some silly walks and runs with your child, such as running like a monkey, hopping like a bunny, and flapping like a bird.
- use masking tape and stick it on the floor/carpet in paths or patterns for your toddler to “balance” along.
- Encourage your child to ride bikes and scooters and play with push toys such as trucks, doll prams and toy lawn mowers.
- Make cookies together. Your toddler will love rolling out the dough and using cutters to make different shapes.
- Play games that involve rolling, skipping, hopping and chasing.
- Make homemade play dough, a great sensory activity!
- Put the buggy away and walk to the library, park or shops even if it takes you double the time!
- Draw or lay out ribbon or string in a hopscotch pattern and have your them jump in and out.
- Garden equipment can be great too. A slide, swing set and trampoline can be great ways to be active-under supervision of course!
There are many other things that you can do with your toddler. Try to remember that they love to move and the activities you choose to do should reflect this.
I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.
