Toddler Games

Toddler games give toddler an amazing package of self-reliance: I play, therefore I grow. Your toddler is learning and growing with each stroke of play. You will find top 10 activities which are tested by my students below.

Kitchen Soccer ---- Ranks No.1 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Pack of plastic Wiffle golf balls

Unbreakable container

large plastic laundry basket.

Instruction

Place all the Wiffle balls in the container. Put the laundry basket on its side on the floor, propped up against the wall.( the basket resembles a soccer goal.) Squat down to your toddler's height and give your child a demonstration: Bounce the ball on the floor about 20 inches away from the basket and watch it bounce inside the goal.

Position your toddler 2 to 3 feet away from the basket, and place the container of balls nearby. As you've demonstrated, your child gives each ball a hearty bounce and watches as it bounces into the basket to score a goal. When all the balls have been bounced one by one inside the goal, ask your toddler to gather the balls up, puts them back into the container, and starts over again.

Variation

For older toddler

Hallway bag-ball --- Ranks No.2 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Paper grocery bag

Plastic balls or tennis ball

Instruction

Have your toddler sit on any un-carpeted floor. Fully open the paper grocery bag and place it on the floor on one of its long sides, several yards away from your child. Squat down next to your child and give him or her a play demonstration, such as roll the ball so that it goes inside the paper bag.

Once your children sees how to play, he or she will simply roll the balls and retrieve them from inside the bag. Both parts of the game, hitting the target and retrieving the balls, are equally enjoyable.

Note: Don't use tennis ball for younger toddlers who often put things into their mouth.

Box Ball ---- Ranks No.3 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

This game is best for older toddler who has no longer eat paper

What you need

Medium size cardboard box

Sheet of colored construction paper or copy paper

Instruction

Place the cardboard box a few feet away from your child.

Ask your child to crumple the colored paper into balls (they will happy to do this), then have them toss the balls into the cardboard box to score a basket, and dump all the paper balls back onto the floor to start all over again.

Variation

For older toddlers, make outdoor box ball for a few minutes of high-energy fun. First, work with your child to make an assortment of paper-balls; then, find an suitable container to act as the catching basket. You hold the container, your child tosses the ball in your direction, then you chase and capture it in your container. For creating more fun, make a tossing line on the lawn with masking tape. Stand back a few feet and toss the ball one by one over the line.

Edible Finger Paint ---- Ranks No.4 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Flour

Water

plastic tray

tiny drops of food coloring

Instruction

In a small mixing bowl, stir a small quantity of flour and some warm water together until the substance reaches the consistency of runny pudding. Add a drop of food coloring. Wait until the mixture to cool before your child plays with it.

Position your toddler in her high chair and snap the tray in place. Dump the contents of the goop on the tray and let your child's finger paint to her or his heart's content.

Scarf Magic --- Ranks No.5 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Large, rigid plastic cup with sturdy plastic lid

3 or 4 long, narrow silk scarves

Instruction

Cut a silver dollar size hole in the lid of the large to-go cup. Tie the scarves together end to end (by knotting the corners) to create one humongous, long scarf. stuff the giant scarf into cup, leaving one end of the scarf on top then put the lid on the cup

When your child is ready to play, thread the end of the first scarf through the big hole in the top of the lid. Help your toddler grab the end of the scarf and begin pulling it out the cup, you will need to hold the lid in place while she pulls the long scarf all the way out of the cup. Your child will delight in the perception that her/ his tugging action seems to make the scarf "grow" right before her or his very eyes.

Pat a cake ---- Ranks No.6 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

Instruction

patty cake, patty cake, baker's man

clap baby's hands together.

Bake me a cake as fast as you can

Roll it and pat it and make it with a B

Move baby's hands in a circle. clap them together, and write an imaginary B on baby's hands

And put it the oven for baby and me!

Put baby's hands together, move them toward your mouth, and kiss, or pretend to nibble tops of baby's hands

Ride a Wagon ---- Ranks No.7 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

Wagons let your toddler transport lots of things from place to place. Indoors, toddlers can fill up a wagon with toy cars,

trucks, blocks and books. Outdoors, rocks, leaves, dolls, and stuffed animals could be good choices to fill up the wagon.

What you need

Assorted items to haul indoors, such as blocks, books, toys,etc.

Assorted items to haul outdoors, such as leaves, bottles of water, sand,etc

Instruction

Indoors, designate one low, kitchen cupboard to hold all the containers for wagon loading. Or add dolls or stuffed animals to transform the wagon into a portable doll-house to barn. Outdoors, fill the wagon with an inch of two of water and expect a bit of splashing and wet clothes. Add floating toys and measuring cups for portable water play. Create a giant " car wash" for your child's plastic cars, trucks,or plastic balls, with plastic cups for rinsing. Add seashells or rocks that need a good bath, and provide a baby toothbrush for some soap-free scrubbing

Mailbox --- Ranks No.8 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Scissors(For parents use only)

Cardboard shoe box(with lid)

Deck of child-size playing cards

Junk mail envelopes

Rubber stamp

stuffed animals or dolls

Instruction

Use the scissors to cut a long, wide slit in the lid of the box for your child to drop each letter inside the mailbox

Have young toddler put each playing card in the slot of the shoe box mailbox. Spread the cards out on the floor and supervise and help as needed to get all the cards inside the box. When all the cards are inside, take off the lid and let your child explore the cards, put them out, and start all over again.

Older toddlers can arrange the letters in piles, have them use the rubber stamp to "stamp" the letters with "ink", mail the letters, and even deliver the mail to parents, siblings or the stuffed animals seated around the room.

Fix-Upper ---- Ranks No.9 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Plastic children's tools, such as hammer, wrench, screwdriver, etc.

Plastic toolbox with a handle

One objects that require "fixing"

Ride-on toysToy shopping cart, wagons, doll stroller, toy lawn mower

Instruction

Young toddlers will enjoy dragging the tools around from place to place in a toolbox that they can open and close on their own. Putting the tools out and putting them back in the box again is a big part of the fun. Young toddlers will enjoy banging and pounding with these tools, so get ready for a bit of noise

Older toddler love to pretend to fix any toy that has wheels.(This is particularly true if your child has ever seen you fixing a car, bike, or lawn mower) They may also use their tools to repair the hinges and handles on low kitchen cupboards, and other safe furniture around your home. A set of wooden blocks can easily be integrated into fixer-upper play to fix or build things in your child's "shop" as well. Busy toddles don't stay in one place very long, so it's likely that everything is sight will be "fixed" in very short order!

Restaurant ---- Ranks No.10 On List of top 10 toddler-tested toddler games

What you need

Unbreakable bowl, cups and small spoons

Empty juice boxes

Food or pretend foods

Plastic soda bottles

Cloth napkins

Instruction

Set up the temporary restaurant for your child. Help her or him fold the napkins and show her how you set the table. Your younger toddler's restaurant play may end up looking more like the feast of a caveman than that of a four-star diner, but banging the bowls with a spoon and moving things from place to place are all part of the exploratory play experience.

Older toddlers might get the hand of folding clothe napkins and pouring water as they"serve" their boss

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