63 Daycare Activities For Toddlers You Can Do All Year Long

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Best Daycare Activities For Toddlers

Hey there, daycaring Mama.  Yes you!  I see you and everything you are doing. 

Keep up the fantastic work, I am so proud of you.  We both know being a daycare provider isn't for the faint of heart.

Before we get into these fantastic daycare activities for toddlers, you should know that 1 activity can fall into many skill-building categories.  I love that about toddler learning!

For example, coloring a picture can help build fine motor skills and it can be educational if there is something to learn from the picture - like the kiddo's name.  Kids can also work on learning their colors when coloring.

Also, toddlers are like sponges.  The rate at which they learn never ceases to amaze me. 

So don’t be lazy and skip doing activities.  Their success depends on you!  This is such a prime time in their life to get them excited about learning through activities.

I know it's easy to get stuck in a rut, too (I have been there).  To help combat all of this, create a schedule.  It will be your saving grace for sure.

Fine Motor Skills Activities

I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to help your daycare kiddos build fine motor skills.

If you are new to the term fine motor skills, it has everything to do with gaining control of all the fine movements you do with your hands. 

Some examples of this include writing, using scissors, being able to use utensils to eat, and so much more.

These are skills that your kiddos will carry with them throughout their entire life.

Do you know what else fine motor skills activities help toddlers with, their patience?  It's true.  Some of these activities take time and most kids want to complete their projects.

Fine motor skill activities can also be calming for children.  Have you ever tried adult coloring?  It is calming and relaxing.  Coloring even helped calm down preterm labor I had with my 3rd kiddo - no joke!

What I find interesting about kids doing any of these activities is how different they can be about them.  Some kiddos take their time and want to produce the best product possible while others go 100 miles an hour so they can move on to the next thing.

Either way, they are still practicing fine motor skills so don’t skip over this.

You can do many daycare activities that will help your toddlers master their fine motor skills.

Art Projects

Play-Doh

Coloring

Painting

Dot Markers

Sticker Play

Stamps

Putting beads on pipe cleaners

Water Wow Pads

Putting pom poms in a cup

Paper Plate Crafts

Water Drawing Mat

Festive Holiday Crafts

Rainbow Scratch Paper

Boogie Boards

Puzzles

Magnetic Dolls

Sensory Bin

Connect Blocks

Stacking Cups

Lego Party

Cars

Little People

Potato Heads

Train Tracks

Magnet Blocks

Gross Motor Activities

It is just as important for toddlers and kids to build gross motor skills as it is to build fine motor skills. 

So, to build these skills, every kid needs a chance to get their body on the move.  We also like to call it exercise!

It doesn’t hurt when we join in either, am I right?  Heaven knows I don’t get enough steps in during my day.

Gross motor skills are when anyone can control the muscles of their body for large movements.  These large movements include crawling, walking, climbing (even if it is just up some steps), running, jumping, and so on.

Gross motor skills are not only practiced on a playground!

You can help your daycare kiddos build these skills inside and outside.  

So get those toddlers outside as much as possible.  You know they need it even when you don’t feel like going out.

Hide and Seek

Running around Outside

Bubbles

Water Table

(when it is warm enough)

Sledding

(if you get snow as I do)

Shoveling

(Once again, if you get snow.  Toddlers want to help with this task more than you think.)

Playset

Riding Toys

Sports Balls

Swings

Sandbox

Sidewalk Chalk

Stomp Rocket

Dance Party

Yoga for Kids

Brain Breaks

Create an Obstacle Course

Visit a local Park that has a playground

Educational Activities For Toddlers

Learning should be fun!  Who’s with me? 

And there is so much for toddlers to learn – colors, numbers, letters, shapes, writing, reading, taking turns, and so much more!

But how boring would it be for toddlers to just sit there and go through flashcards?  Nope!  Their attention is going to turn anywhere but there in a hot second.

When you add in a bunch of fun (and repetition), your toddlers won’t even realize they are learning so much along the way.

I had children’s music playing every single day.  There are so many YouTube stations that are perfect for toddlers.

Some of my favorites include Jack Hartmann, The Learning Station, Super Simple Songs, The Kiboomers, and Pinkfong.

Sometimes we would watch the songs and try to copy the actions, other times we would just listen and try to sing along.

Also, learning can be done anywhere so don’t be shy about taking it outside!

Reading 

SO IMPORTANT!!!  Do not skip this.  Reading needs to happen every day, multiple times a day.

Visit your Public Library

Did someone say FREE!!!

Build a Reading Nook

Magnetic Fridge Letters

Have your toddlers start by spelling out their names.

Group Circle

Welcome everyone, and talk about the weather, letters, numbers, shapes, and more.

Games

Simon Says, Duck, Duck Gray Duck, Colors, What Time is It Mr. Fox?

Board Games

Our favorites are Hi Ho Cherry O, Let’s Go Fishing, and Candy Land

Hands On Activities for Toddlers

Let your daycare toddlers get as involved and hands-on with your activities as possible.  They want to help you out anyway. 

Who cares if they get dirty?  They are just kids after all and that is their job!

And toddlers are way more capable than adults give them credit for.  Sure, it will take time to get things completely right but that is how they learn.

Hands-on activities also let toddlers use their imagination and brain power.

Put on a Puppet Show

Play Busy Zoo

Play house with Baby Dolls

Nutty Toys Pop Tubes

Play Restaurant

If you don't have a play kitchen yet, this is a must-have!

Build a Fort and then let them have flashlights

Birthday Party Game Day

Pin the Tale on the Donkey, Bean Bags

Musical Instruments

Ask them to help make the music for the songs you are listening to.  You can teach them how to keep the beat.

Scavenger Hunt

I like to hide Easter eggs all over and then have them find them all.  Count them before you hide them!

Science Experiment

This is such a favorite.  My kids love doing elephant toothpaste the most.

Dress Up

Boys and girls love playing dress up at this age.  Old Halloween costumes are amazing for this.  Really, how else are they going to get worn out?

Doctor Office

You will end up being the patient but your toddlers will be such fabulous doctors.

This post was all about the best daycare activities for toddlers that they will never be bored with.

Let me know in the comments below what you love best about being a daycare provider and what you could do without.

I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.