Play ideas for babies and toddlers
Short, screen-free play with things you already have. Pick your child's age.
Play is how little ones learn, and it doesn't need toys you buy. The American Academy of Pediatrics says infants under 18 months learn best from real-world interactions. Each idea here uses things from around the house, takes a few minutes, and has a safety line where it matters, such as small parts and water.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Play ideas by age
- 0 to 3 months17 ideas
- 3 to 6 months17 ideas
- 6 to 9 months17 ideas
- 9 to 12 months17 ideas
- 12 to 18 months17 ideas
- 18 to 24 months17 ideas
- 2 year olds17 ideas
- 3 year olds17 ideas
- 4 and 5 year olds17 ideas
Play ideas by kind
- Rainy day playIndoor play for a day stuck at home, with things you already have.
- Sensory playTouch, sound, sight and smell: play that lets little ones explore with every sense.
- Outdoor playPlay for the yard, the park, the sidewalk or a walk around the block.
- Play with siblingsGames a big brother or sister can play with a little one, with a grown-up close by.
- Quiet playCalm play for before a nap, after a busy morning or the hour before bed.
Is it safe?
Under 3, the Consumer Product Safety Commission treats small parts as a choking, aspiration or ingestion hazard, and the AAP says young children can drown in an inch or two of water. Stay close, choose pieces bigger than your child's mouth, and follow the safety line on each idea.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Small Parts for Toys and Children's Products (16 CFR part 1501) (checked October 29, 2026)
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Choking Prevention (updated 27 Feb 2026) (checked October 29, 2026)
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Drowning Prevention for Curious Toddlers (updated 18 May 2026) (checked October 29, 2026)