18+ ways to entertain your toddler without tv and videos

Washable Crayons and Paper make a good way of promoting writing skills in the little one. They can do it independently and will enjoy hours of fun. Give them a slate or a small white board if they tend to get bored with the same old things every other day!

Magnetic Alphabets on the Fridge Door: promote recognition of the letters and colours. Keep talking to them to find various letters in the pile and to make simple words on the fridge. A good entertainment source for your toddler while you cook

Water in a pool: In summer of course, they would absolutely love this but never leave them unattended and always check for temperature and water depth so that falling in it wont hurt them.

Snack time: leave them alone with their safe to eat snacks and make sure they are seated safe and hungry enough for a snack and some juice or milk. They would develop the skill to eat independently and this is something which will help you a lot during meal times if they are still not self feeders. Do not encourage eating while running around or playing. Teach them to respect their food at an early age.

Be close enough to see or hear any choking hazards if any.

They could also count their snacks before they eat it - another math lesson

Stickers: Some kids love pasting stickers on books and rough paper. You could make a story out of it and the messes are not hard to clean up.

Songs and dancing: They would absolutely love singing and dancing with you to rhymes and easy to pick up baby songs

Finger play and poems: Children love rhymes that have actions in them and they love it even more when you do it with them. A good entertainment method in the vehicle when you are on the go or even while shopping if they sit in a boring shopping cart.

Puppet shows out of soft toys: if you change your voice and speak like the animals along with the sounds they make they will eventually pick up all the names of the animals and make their sounds. If they hardly meet kids and people they befriend stuffed animals fast. If your child wants to take a stuffed animal to bed at night be careful that he or she does not have it too close or that you remove it when they fall asleep.

Bath time: Leave them under a running shower with bath toys. Do not leave them alone

Card board boxes: you can use them as a stage to get our toddler to perform on. They would also like to get in and hide there but if this the case make sure the box has some holes in case he/she decides to close it up for too long.

Creaming themselves: Toddlers would love it if you give them a dab of lotion in their hands and ask them to rub it on themselves instead of you doing it. Name their body parts as they do it and before long they would be able to name all parts from head to toe!

The good old story time: Children love colourful books. Tell them stories. Point to the pictures and ask them simple questions like ”What Color is his shirt” or “What is the teddy bear eating?” Before bed is a good time for books and prayers.

Make use of the Library: Make a habit of taking your little one to library. They learn that reading is an important part and will be interested by different books you bring home.

Parks and play areas: Children lobe a walk or run in the park. Swings and slides can keep them exercising and having for fun quite a good time. You could also get some time for yourself for a quiet picnic, some fresh air, a book or even some quick browsing. The fresh and air and sunlight is good for them and you too.

Kites, fans and spin wheels: Simple and home made toys are good enough to impress them too.

Puzzles: These can be home made too. The wooden puzzles with animals and shapes that you can make or buy are a great source of entertainment for kids of many ages.

Enjoy cuddling your little one: They love cuddles and kiss them. 10 on each cheek and counting loudly gives them love and lesson on math. Try it and they would love it.

Talk to them: Engage in serious conversations and develop their speaking skills. Use words and not bzby language so they pick up fast. When giving them a drink say “Delicious Juice” and when changing them say: “Your clothes are dirty and you need fresh ones”. Also ask them to do little chores “can you bring me the phone please?” or “close the door for mummy please”

Enjoy your little one and spend as much time as you can with them... they would be grown ups before you know it and no matter how much you want to you wont have a chance to do the things you could have done with them.

There are many more entertainment tools that you could add to this list and I would love to hear them too! Happy toddling!