How to Entertain a Toddler Without Toys

The unexpected arrival of a toddler in your home can leave you wondering just how to entertain this child and keep him safe at the same time. Toddlers are curious and will get into anything and everything, unless you find a way to keep her busy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pots and pans
• Plastic containers and lids
• Wooden or plastic spoons
• Large cardboard box

1. Confine the toddler to a single room if possible. This makes it easier to keep your eyes on them and prevent them from getting into something dangerous. Move any breakable or precious objects in the room to high shelves.
2. Take the large cardboard box to the kitchen. From your shelves, pull out several pots or pans with lids. Choose older pots and pans in case of scratches. Put these in the box.
3. Add several plastic containers with lids. Attempt to choose different sizes so the containers can be stacked.
4. Grab a few wooden or plastic spoons. Add them to the box.
5. Give the box to the toddler. If necessary, lay the box on its side to give the child access to the contents.
6. Show the toddler that the pots and pans can be used as a drum set. The plastic containers can be used as drums or can be stacked inside each other or turned upside down and stacked as blocks.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an angel food cake pan and mason jar rings, this makes a terrific toy that teaches a child to stack. Bangle bracelets will work for stacking also.
• Empty paper towel cardboard holders make great toys to bang on furniture or the floor. Kids love the sound and they can’t hurt themselves with them.
• For an older toddler, clean out a lower cabinet and let the child use the empty space as a fort. Or build a fort, using two chairs and a blanket.
• Got an old cell or dead cordless phone lying around? Let the child make pretend calls on it.
• Tell the child a story. Almost all children love to be told a fairy tale or other story. Use a story you remember from your own childhood or be creative and make up one.
• If all else fails, find the local PBS channel on your television. The kids programming during the day is fantastic and can help entertain a young child.
• Never let a toddler play with sharp objects. Glass objects are also a threat, as the item could get broken.
• Remember that young children will put almost anything into their mouths. Move any object in the room that could be swallowed. A good rule of thumb is that if the item is smaller than a tennis ball, it should be out of reach.