games for your toddler

Hanging out with your toddler can be fun – here are some easy, in-expensive ways to play with your toddler. Playing is an important part of learning.

tell them a story

Make up a story, borrow books from the library or buy them from second hand shops and share stories – it’s how your toddler learns about the world.

sing to your toddler,

make music with homemade instruments and dance! Fill a plastic container with rice or stones and make sure the lid is on securely. Your toddler will love making noise with it!

sand play

Toddlers love filling up plastic containers with sand or earth and mixing them with water. Never leave your toddler alone with water.

cardboard boxes are great toys

Tape them together, paint them and decorate them and they can be cars, houses, and tunnels.

go for a walk

As your toddler gets older, they will love exploring – go for a walk around your street, visit local parks and playgrounds and tell them stories about people and places.

play dress-ups

Older toddlers will love dressing up in your old clothes and shoes and playing ‘pretend’ games.

paint!

Your toddler will love to paint with their fingers, brushes, sponges and old toothbrushes onto just about anything – paper, cloth, newspaper, old boxes, paper bags, plates and egg cartons.

teach them new skills

Everyday things like getting dressed, learning how to do up their buttons and shoe laces can be made into a fun game. Get them to help make simple things to eat like Vegemite sandwiches.

make collage with them

Help them collect sticks, leaves, paper, straws, wool, shells, old bits of wrapping paper and stick them onto a piece of cardboard.