Look….I so get it! Everywhere you look, people are telling you that babies and toddlers should be screen-free until they’re at least two years old. It’s frustrating, annoying and sometimes it doesn’t feel realistic.
The advice is everywhere, but the reality is that keeping a tiny human entertained all day, every day, without reaching for the TV can feel almost impossible.
Most of us have spent so many years being adults that we’ve forgotten how magical the world is when you’ve only been in it for a few months. The problem is, while our babies have all the time in the world to explore, we don’t.
We’re trying to parent, keep the house vaguely resembling something liveable, prepare meals, answer emails, earn a living, do the washing, remember everyone’s appointments and somehow find five minutes to drink a cup of tea while it’s still warm.
So yes, sometimes it is incredibly tempting to pop on the television just so you can get something….. anything……done.
There’s absolutely no judgement here. Every parent has moments where they need a breather. You’ve gotta do you to survive.
The reason health professionals encourage less screen time isn’t to make parents feel guilty- even though, sometimes it really does feel that way. It’s because the research consistently shows that babies learn best from real people and real experiences. More screen time has been linked with delayed language development, poorer sleep, less physical activity and fewer opportunities for the conversations, movement and play that help little brains grow. Some studies have also found links between high levels of screen use and attention and emotional regulation later in childhood.
That doesn’t mean you need to become a perfect, screen-free family overnight. It simply means that if you’re looking for ways to swap a little screen time for a little more play, you’re in the right place.
So, whether you’ve got five minutes to fill before lunch, it’s pouring with rain outside or you’ve simply run out of ideas, here are 55 super easy, screen-free activities to help keep your baby or toddler entertained and maybe even make your day a little easier too.
Indoor Activities
- Cushion obstacle course
You don’t need to shell out on fancy soft play equipment. Use what you’ve already got to hand! Cushions are perfect for clambering over and flopping down on.
2. Dance party
This is our absolute FAVOURITE activity and we do it anytime, anywhere, everywhere and all the time! My daughter has the ultimate bum wiggle and surprisingly good rhythm! When she was a baby we would hold her in our arms or in the sling and dance, we would sing to her whilst she was lying on the mat and she would kick her legs to the music. You don’t need to stick to baby songs either….her particular favourite is Insomnia by Faithless!
I don’t know what it is about bubbles, but I don’t think I ever lost the joy of them, even as an adult. Kids absolutely LOVE them too! You can get bubble blowers seriously cheaply in pretty much any toy store or supermarket.
4. Hide favourite toys
Hide and seek, peekaboo, which hand is it in?…..all brilliant games for babies and toddlers. As simple as they seem, these classic games are doing so much more than keeping your little one entertained. They help babies understand that people and objects still exist even when they can’t see them (a skill called object permanence), encourage problem-solving, build memory and concentration, and strengthen the bond between you and your child through shared laughter and interaction.
5.Cardboard box rocket
Cardboard boxes are sometimes more fun that the things that come in them. I can’t tell you how many toys and activities that I have bought my daughter, my cats and sometimes my husband (!!) only for the box to become the favourite thing! Boxes can become anything that you want them to be. Boats, planes, trains and automobiles. My husband still has incredibly fond memories of his grandma making a whole Tardis out of one.
6. Blanket den
This has to be one of the easiest activities on the list, but somehow it’s always a winner. Simply drape a blanket over a couple of chairs or throw a muslin over a play gym, and you’ve instantly created a magical little hideaway.
I don’t know what it is about a cosy den, but to babies and toddlers it’s like stepping into their own secret world. It’s the perfect place to read books, play peekaboo, cuddle up with soft toys or simply enjoy a quiet moment together. Best of all, it takes less than two minutes to make and can keep little imaginations busy for ages.
7. Washing basket train
My daughter loves this! Pop her in a sturdy washing basket and push her around the floor and she’s happy for hours…..or until your back gives in! Make it feel like a rollercoaster ride and she’s in her absolute element.
8. Balloon volleyball
Again another simple one, but batting a balloon around can be entertaining for an incredible amount of time.
When my daughter was a baby (around three/four months) someone got her a helium balloon and she spent a good solid forty five minutes kicking her legs on the weight to get it to move and shrieking with absolute joy! (Obviously, it goes without saying, if you’re going to do this never leave baby alone with either the balloon or the string!)
9. Indoor picnic
Bring your teddy bears, bring a blanket, have a picnic in the living room!
10. Sticker books
Sticker books are probably best suited for older toddlers. My daughter was around 14/15 months before she showed interest, but now she loves stickers. She has no desire to stick them in their designated places mind, which has led to finding them on the furniture, our clothes and the cats, but they keep her entertained! My mom found a reusable sticker pack which is great for getting your money’s worth!
11. Scarf dancing
Scarves weren’t something that I had ever considered using in play until we started going to our playgroup. They used them every week. If your baby is younger, you can gently wave a scarf above them, letting them watch it float through the air or softly brush against their hands and feet. It’s a lovely way to encourage visual tracking and sensory exploration.
As your baby gets older, scarves become even more versatile. Play peekaboo, hide toys underneath them, dance around to music, throw them into the air and catch them, or encourage your little one to wave them around themselves. They’re brilliant for imaginative play too. One minute they’re a superhero cape, the next they’re a river to jump over or a picnic blanket for cuddly toys.
Best of all, they’re inexpensive, easy to pop into your changing bag, and somehow seem to have a magical ability to keep little ones entertained for far longer than you’d expect! Just make sure play is always supervised, especially with younger babies.
12. Hallway bowling
I’m not saying my daughter is any good at bowling, but it’s certainly one of her favourite activities! She hasn’t quite grasped the concept of throwing the ball at the pins yet, but my gosh knocking them over with hands and feet is apparently hilarious!! Cheap plastic sets can be found in most toy shops and online. Don’t worry if you aren’t blessed with a hallway either- we just clear a small space in the living room.
13. Build towers
Use stacking cups, large lego, toys, pillows…..anything that’s not going to hurt if it comes crashing down…..because it will! The best part of building towers is destroying them again!
14. Toy rescue with masking tape
This is one I saw on Tik Tok and just thought “whaaaaatttt?? How can that be fun?” Turns out…it’s brilliant.
Take a few small plastic toys (animals, cars or chunky figures work really well) and use low-tack masking tape to “trap” them onto a highchair tray, the floor, a wall or inside a muffin tin. Your toddler’s mission is to rescue them by peeling off the tape and setting the toys free.
It sounds ridiculously simple, but it keeps little hands busy, encourages problem-solving and is fantastic for developing fine motor skills. Just be sure to supervise your child throughout, and use masking tape that peels away easily without leaving sticky residue.
15. Water play
Water play is a huuugge hit in our house! It takes forever to wash our hands because we have to splish splash and turn the tap on and off three hundred times!
The good news is you don’t need anything fancy to bring the fun indoors. Fill a washing-up bowl or shallow tray with a little warm water, add some cups, jugs, spoons, funnels or floating toys and let your little one pour, scoop, splash and experiment to their heart’s content.
Not only is it brilliant sensory play, but it’s also a fantastic way to develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and early understanding of concepts like full, empty, floating and sinking. Just be prepared for a few soggy sleeves (and perhaps a soggy floor!), and always supervise your child closely whenever they’re playing with water, even if there’s only a small amount. Babies and toddlers can drown in just a few centimetres of water, so stay within arm’s reach at all times, empty the water as soon as play is finished, and never leave your child unattended, even for a moment.
16. Ice cube exploration
This comes back to the point I made about babies and toddlers being brand new to the world and being fascinated in everything! To an adult ice is something you put in a drink, but to a child it’s absolutely incredible!
It’s cold. It’s slippery. It sparkles. It melts before their eyes. They can watch it change from a solid into water, making it a brilliant sensory activity and an early introduction to simple science.
Try placing a few large ice cubes in a shallow tray or bowl and let your little one explore them with their hands. Add spoons, cups or toy animals for them to rescue from the ice, or freeze slices of orange, strawberries or edible flowers inside the cubes to make them even more exciting.
Just remember that ice cubes can be a choking hazard for young children, so always supervise closely and use larger chunks of ice that can’t fit into little mouths.
17. Bug hunt
Spotting butterflies in the garden, peering at bees on flowers or spiders in their webs – it’s all fascinating to babies and toddlers.
18. Stick collecting
We can’t walk anywhere without collecting some stick or other. Even better is when we find a little bridge over water somewhere and we get to live out our Winnie The Pooh life by playing Pooh sticks! If you’ve never played before, each person drops a stick from one side of the bridge, races to the other side and watches to see whose stick appears first. It’s wonderfully simple, completely free and somehow never gets old.
- Leaf Rubbing
All you need is a few interesting leaves, some paper and a wax crayon. Pop the leaf underneath the paper and gently colour over the top to reveal its pattern. It’s like magic the first time your little one sees it! It’s also a lovely way to introduce different shapes and textures found in nature.
- Puddle Jumping
Who decided puddles were only for avoiding? Pull on the wellies, embrace the muddy trousers and let them splash to their heart’s content. It’s brilliant exercise, fantastic sensory play and guaranteed to create huge smiles. Persil was made for this very reason!!!
- Bird Spotting
You don’t need to be a wildlife expert for this one. Sit in the garden, or simply look out of the window and see what birds you can spot. Listen to the sounds they make and point out different colours and sizes. We love visiting our local park because it has a HUGE duck pond with herons, ducks, moor hens and geese. We have spent hours there since my daughter was born, in every type of weather.
- Chalk Drawings
A bucket of pavement chalk can keep children entertained for ages. Draw roads for toy cars, giant rainbows, hopscotch squares or simply let them scribble to their heart’s content. The best part? The rain cleans everything up for you.
- Watering Flowers
Give your little one a small watering can and let them become head gardener. It might take three refills to water one plant, but they’ll love every second of it while learning to care for living things.
- Mini Football
You don’t need goals or expensive equipment. A soft ball and a bit of space are plenty. Kick it, roll it, chase it or simply giggle at it (babies find the weirdest things funny!) We used to roll it to our daughter in the living room when she was really young and she would sometimes manage to bat it back. Now she’s in her throwing era however, we take the ball outside. Any excuse for a bit of fresh air!
- Balance Beam
A piece of wood, a low wall, a high kerb or even a line of tape on the floor can become an exciting balance beam. Holding hands is probably needed for the first few attempts but you can encourage your child to walk heel-to-toe like a circus performer. Brilliant for balance and coordination.
- Collecting Stones
Toddlers seem genetically programmed to fill your pockets with stones. Lean into it! Hunt for smooth ones, tiny ones, giant ones or funny-shaped ones. They can later be painted or used for sorting games.
- Cloud Watching
Lie on a blanket and look up. Can you spot a dinosaur? A rabbit? A dragon? It’s a lovely excuse to slow down together and let their imagination run wild. Surprisingly therapeutic for adults too this one!
- Leaf Throwing
Who says leaves are only for raking? Gather a big pile and throw them into the air together. Repeat approximately one thousand times.
- Running Races
Whether it’s across the garden, the park or your hallway, toddlers absolutely love racing. Just don’t be surprised if the finish line gets moved halfway through.
- Paint
Painting never gets old. Use brushes, fingers, sponges or even toy cars to create different patterns. If you aren’t overly overjoyed at the potential mess and devastation then water paints are a fun and cleaner alternative.
- Sponges
Cut kitchen sponges into different shapes and use them for painting, water play or squeezing games. Yep…..it’s that simple!
- Potato Printing
A classic for a reason. Cut a potato in half, carve a simple shape and dip it into paint. Your child can stamp endless patterns while building hand strength and creativity.
- Nature Collage
Collect leaves, petals, sticks, feathers and grass on your walk, then stick them onto paper when you get home. Every collage is completely unique and doubles as a lovely memory of your adventure.
- Mixing Bowls
Never underestimate the entertainment value of your own kitchen cupboards. Bowls, wooden spoons, measuring cups and whisks can become musical instruments, towers or pretend cooking equipment in seconds.
- Cake Decorating
You don’t have to bake from scratch. Grab a few plain biscuits or fairy cakes, some icing and sprinkles and let the chaos begin. It doesn’t matter what they look like, they all taste the same going down.
- Water Painting #2
Give your child a paintbrush and a pot of water and let them “paint” the patio, fences or walls outside. They’ll love watching their artwork appear and magically disappear as it dries.
- Colour Mixing
Watching yellow and blue become green really does feel like magic when you’re little. Let your child experiment by mixing a few colours together and discovering what new shades they can create. A great way to do this without the mess is to pop the paint inside a freezer bag and seal it shut with tape. Attach it to the highchair tray and let baby go wild! Squishy fun to boot.
- Large Paper Colouring
Roll out a big sheet of paper on the floor and let them colour freely. Bigger paper means bigger movements, which is brilliant for developing early writing muscles.
- Books
I should have put books at number one really. It’s one of our absolute favourite pastimes. I’ve read to my daughter since she was in the womb and now there’s nothing I love more than snuggling up together with a pile of stories.
The wonderful thing about reading is that it isn’t just about learning words. Every story introduces new vocabulary, encourages imagination, builds concentration and helps children begin to understand emotions, friendships and the world around them. Reading together also creates precious one-to-one time, helping your child feel safe, loved and connected.
Research consistently shows that reading regularly with young children supports their language development, communication skills and future learning. In fact, just a few minutes of reading together every day can have a lasting impact on their literacy and school readiness.
Don’t worry if your toddler wants the same book over and over again (and over again!). Repetition is actually how children learn. They begin to recognise words, predict what happens next and join in with familiar phrases, all of which helps build confidence.
So visit your local library, swap books with friends, pick up bargains in charity shops or simply make the most of the books you already have. You don’t need hundreds of stories on the shelf, you just need a few that your little one loves and someone to read them with.
- Matching Socks
Finally… a use for the never-ending laundry pile! Ask your toddler to match pairs of socks by colour or pattern. They’ll feel incredibly helpful, and you’ll get one tiny job crossed off your list.
- Colour Hunt
Call out a colour and challenge your child to find something that matches it. It’s a brilliant game for indoors, outdoors, in the supermarket or while waiting for the kettle to boil.
- Shape Hunt
Can you find a circle? A square? A triangle? Once you start looking, you’ll realise shapes are absolutely everywhere.
- Treasure Baskets
Fill a basket with safe everyday household objects made from different materials like wood, metal, fabric, silicone or natural items. Babies especially love exploring different textures with all of their senses.
- Posting Games
Cut a slot into the lid of a tub or box and let your little one post pompoms, cards, giant pasta shapes or lolly sticks through the hole. It sounds incredibly simple because it is, but toddlers absolutely love it. We also bought a soft play tissue box, which has become one of those surprisingly well-used toys. Instead of tissues, it comes filled with colourful scarves and crinkly fabrics that babies can pull out one by one before enthusiastically stuffing them all back in again (or asking you to!).
Activities like these are brilliant for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving, while also introducing early ideas like cause and effect. Best of all, they’re incredibly engaging without needing flashing lights, batteries or a screen.
- Sorting Colours
Use coloured bowls or muffin trays and ask your child to sort objects into matching colours. Pom-poms, blocks, pegs or toy animals all work brilliantly.
- Counting
You don’t need worksheets. Count the stairs, ducks at the park, flowers in the garden or cars driving past. Real-life counting is often far more fun.
- Sing Nursery Rhymes
It doesn’t matter if you’re convinced you can’t sing, I promise your toddler doesn’t care. I can’t hold a note to save my life, but we have sung together since day one. Songs with actions like Wind the Bobbin Up, Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes are fantastic for language development and memory. Make up songs if you don’t know any (I used to sing “ho, hum stinky bum,” to my daughter when she was a baby…..perhaps not the best thing to sing in hindsight, but it entertained her!)
Start with chunky wooden puzzles before moving on to more challenging ones. They’re brilliant for problem-solving and concentration.
One minute they’re towers to knock over, the next they’re bath toys, hats or pretend teacups. Stacking cups are one of the best-value toys you can buy because there are so many ways to play with them.
Build towers together… then enjoy knocking them down! Before long they’ll start building their own creations, developing fine motor skills, creativity and early engineering without even realising it.
Flash cards don’t have to feel like homework. Use them to chat about animals, vehicles, colours or everyday objects, following your child’s interests rather than testing them. If you have a bit of budget then the talking flash cards are awesome, but to be fair you could make your own or just use picture cards.
- Shadow Play
My daughter is still fascinated by her shadow. Use a torch in a darkened room to make animal shadows on the wall or let your child explore how shadows change as they move. Alternatively just go for a walk on a sunny day and play “jumping on your shadow!”
- Laundry Helper
Little ones absolutely love helping with “grown-up jobs.” Let them pull clothes from the washing machine, hand you pegs or help put clean clothes into a basket. It might take twice as long, but they’re learning valuable life skills.
- Kitchen Helper
Whether they’re stirring pancake batter, washing vegetables or sprinkling cheese onto pizza, toddlers love feeling involved. It builds confidence, introduces new foods and creates lovely memories together.
Print a few family photos and ask your child to name the people they recognise, match duplicates or talk about what everyone is doing. It’s wonderful for language development, memory and helping little ones understand the people who love them most.