Independent Play Activities For Toddlers (30+ activities listed)

At some point in the first year of my kids’ lives, I noticed that they no longer wanted to play alone. They became very clingy and only wanted to play with me. They would cry or get upset when I left the room. 

Sometimes, they would just want to sit next to me while they played. This separation anxiety happened a lot in the first year, but I sometimes still notice it now that they are toddlers.

As parents, we know that it’s important to encourage our children to play independently. The question becomes, how do you encourage this skill? What type of activities can you do to promote independent play in your toddler?

If you’ve ever wondered any of these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’ll outline some simple ways that you can promote independent play for your toddler or preschooler.

Before we jump into the list, let’s describe what independent play looks like. 

What is independent play in childhood?

Independent play is any activity that your child is doing, that doesn’t require assistance from anyone. When a child is engaged in independent play activity, they are focused.  Their concentration is on whatever thing they’re playing with. 

Why is independent play important to toddlers?

I wanted to understand why independent play is so important in childhood. I did some research and talked to some parenting experts. Here is what they had to say.

Letting your children play alone will help them grow into strong independent adults in the future. Through independent play, children learn to rely on themselves for their entertainment. 

They will grow up to be adults who enjoy their own company. They don’t always have to rely on others to have fun.

Independent play activities also encourage concentration in children. When kids are left alone to focus on one task, they tend to be calm, quiet, and introspective as they play.  

Part of learning to concentrate on a task is the ability to problem-solve. When you let kids play alone, they won’t come running to you every time they have a problem. They will learn to find creative ways to problem-solve.

Very Well Mind also states that children who engage in independent play have more imagination than those who don’t. Think about it, if your child is left to play alone, they get a chance to bring to life all the cool imaginations in their young mind.

If you combine all the benefits listed above, you will see that what we’re doing as parents is preparing our toddlers for school. When they get to school, they will need their problem-solving ability, self-soothing ability, imagination, and independence.  

The Champion of Learning Through Independent Play – Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was a physician and educator who created a unique teaching method to help re-engage poor Italian children, whom society believed were unable to learn.

Her teaching method can be summed up in her words “follow the child”. She believed that every child in the classroom has unique interests, skills, and abilities. Children should not be lumped into one category and taught the same things all day.

Some children can learn a new skill in one day, while others need longer. Following the child means observing their interests and skill level, and setting up your home with activities that will build on those interests and skills.

Learning through independent play – skills children should master by age

Through her study of science and her educational knowledge, Maria Montessori determined 4 important skills that children need to master before they reach elementary school.

Although they may have the same name, each skill looks different depending on the age of the child. 

For example, some sensorimotor skills in the infant stage involve using a rattle, grasping objects of different shapes, etc. This same skill in the toddler stage involves standing on a balance beam, climbing objects, etc.

Children ages newborn to 3 years need to master the following skills:

• Control & coordination
• Sensorimotor development
• Practical life skills – care of self, care of the environment, and grace & courtesy.
• Language development.

Children ages 3 to 6 years need to master the following skills:

• Practical life skills – Refinement of movement, care of the environment, grace & courtesy, personal care & health, and food preparation.
• Sensorimotor development (also called sensorial)
• Math skills
• Language Skills
• Culture – geography, physical science, history, natural science
• Creative arts – art, craft, music, and dance.

My personal research into independent play

To compile this list of Montessori-inspired independent play activities, I spoke to some Montessori experts in the industry to help me learn more. I am not an expert in the Montessori method myself, but I have learned a lot since I gave birth to my first child. 

I also spoke to my children’s pediatrician in an impromptu interview to get their perspective on the various activities I had on my list. Their pediatrician completely supports the philosophy behind the Montessori method.

He agrees that children learn best when presented with an environment designed to nurture their skills.

Their pediatrician broke the skills children need to learn into these 4 categories; social emotions skills, cognitive skills (learning, thinking, problem-solving), physical development, and language & communication skills. 

His categories look very similar to that of Maria Montessori. Even his explanations of each category were almost identical.

Now that we’ve learned a little about the benefits of independent play, and how the Montessori method fits into that, let’s jump right in and talk about some independent play activities for children ages 1-6 years.

Independent play activities for 1-year-olds to 23-month-olds

The developmental stage of 1-year-olds to 2-years-olds

The pediatrician I interviewed stated that by the age of 1, children should be pulling up to stand, and walking along furniture (also called cruising). Some may even begin to stand or walk independently. 

As they get closer to 18 months, they gain more control. They will be able to walk upstairs with a railing, walk alone on flat surfaces, and pull toys while walking. They will also be able to eat with a spoon, undress themselves, and drink from a cup.

It is important that parents provide every opportunity for children to have better control when moving their bodies.

To read more about skills you should be teaching your 1-year-old, click here.

1-year-old to 2-year-old Independent Play activities for Control and Coordination

The independent play activities listed below are good for kids between 1 year old to almost 2 years old. It will help them master hand-eye coordination, as well as gross motor skills. Gross motor skills involve learning to move large muscles of the body such as arms and legs. 

Here are some things you can use to encourage control & coordination in your toddler. They’re listed in no particular order.

1. Wagon or other push-toys

They help strengthen the leg muscles. They also help your child with balance & control. I recommend this pushcart from Etsy because it has activities on it to keep them busy. If you get the pushcart, your kids can use it for multiple purposes. They can transport items in it, and it can also be used for toy storage.

2. Rocking horse

Children between 1-2 years love rocking horses. It helps with balance. We loved this rocking horse from Etsy. It was handcrafted by the Amish. They’re known for making quality wooden products.

3. Low climbing obstacles 

Providing simple obstacles helps kids with their problem-solving skills. When my kids were younger, I placed pillows and raised cushions on the floor for them to crawl over. When they started walking & climbing, we used a Montessori climbing triangle like this one from Etsy. Climbing triangles teach kids so many skills including, perseverance, problem-solving, and strength training.

4. Free play outdoors

Take your kids to the playground or park and give let them play. They will get a chance to use their imaginations while enjoying the fresh air. They may even make some friends.

For a list of fun outdoor activities check out my article: 27 Awesome Outdoor Activities For 1 to 2-Year-Olds

5. Stacking toys

One of the recommended activities for developing the muscles of the hand is a stacking toy. Preferably one with different size stackers. This stacking toy from Etsy would be perfect for your child. I used it with both my kids.

6. Object permanence box with drawer

There was a point in his development when my son became obsessed with opening and closing drawers. He would go around the house, open a drawer, then proceed to pull out all the items inside.

I knew he was learning a new skill. To help him, I got this object permanence box with a drawer from Etsy. There are so many variations out there. You can get the one with an opening for coins or balls. They both teach the same skill of object permanence.

7. Opening Cabinet doors and drawers

If you don’t want to get the object permanence box, then you can empty out the most accessible drawer in the house. Place some toys in them for your child to discover when they open it. This will teach the same skill.

1 to 2-years-old Independent play activities for sensorimotor development

Sensorimotor development has to do with the five senses. When kids are provided with activities that develop their sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch, they get the full experience of what it’s like to be a whole person.

8. Smelling different scents

My kids and I loved this activity when they were toddlers. To make it an independent activity, get some pieces of cloth (about 4).

Put a dab of different essential oils in each piece. You can either leave the pieces of cloth out for your child to discover or put it in a drawer. Your toddler will have fun smelling each fabric and learning about different scents.

9. Feeling the textures of different fabrics

This activity introduces textures (smooth, soft, rough, and hard) to your child. Find fabrics with different textures and leave them out in their play area. By exploring each texture, they will be developing their sense of touch.

10. Tasting different foods

You don’t need anything complicated to do this activity. Serve food or snacks of different tastes (sweet, salty, savory, bland, etc.).

Make sure you serve them snacks on an accessible surface such as child-sized furniture. This way, they can determine when they’re done eating and walk away. Your child has more independence this way, compared to being strapped in a high chair.  

11. Musical Instruments 

Get them some Drum, Rhythm Sticks, Shaker Eggs, etc. simple instruments they can play by themselves will be better than complex once. I really like this instrument set from Etsy. We still use ours every day.

1 to 2-years-old Independent play activities for language development

It is important that we help our toddlers and preschoolers build their language skills. This will be essential for when they get into elementary school. 

Having strong language skills is also important for communication as they get older. 

Below are some tools you can use to develop language skills independently.

12. Objects with Identical Cards for matching

Take pictures of familiar objects around your home. E.g. plate, cup, pen, shoe, book, etc. Print out these pictures on paper.  Place the real-life objects in a small bin, and have your child independently match each real-life object to its picture.

This task will allow your child to learn the concept of things being identical, as well as the concept of size. Everything in the bin was exactly identical to the picture.

13. Objects with Similar Cards for matching

To do this activity, we need to find objects that are similar but not identical to the pictures that we take. 

For example, you could print out pictures of different vehicles such as a fire truck, car, dump truck, etc.

In the bin, you present to your child, place some toy cars, fire trucks, dump trucks, etc. that are similar to the picture but not identical in color or size.

Have your toddler or preschooler match them up. This will teach them the concept of “different” and “similar”.

14. Visual Tracking Experiences

Having the ability to track objects from left to right and vice versa will enable your child to read when the time comes.

Toys such as a ball tracker or bead maze will make it easy to teach this skill. I recommend this ball tracker from Etsy.

15. Books

Books are a great tool to help build language. Your child doesn’t even have to be able to read yet for them to enjoy books. They can flip through the pages and look at each picture. When you read together, make sure to point out the names of each object in the book.

Independent Play activities for 2-year-olds to 3-year-olds

The developmental stage of a 2-year-old

In terms of language skills, children should be able to say sentences with 2 to 4 words by the age of 2. They should be able to follow simple instructions such as “pick up your shoes and put them in the closet”, repeat words they overhear in conversations and point to things when they are named.

When it comes to movement, 2-year-olds should be able to stand on their toes, kick a ball, begin to run, and climb up and down furniture without help. 

They should also be able to climb up and down stairs while holding on to a railing. Most 2 year olds should also be able to draw and/or copy a straight line and a circle. 

As children get older, their language, cognitive skill, movement, and sensorimotor skills begin to mature.

The developmental stage of a 3-year-old

3-year-olds will have more imagination than 2-year-olds. They will play more pretend play. 

Their movement will be more developed. They may be able to push buttons on household appliances, open jars with lids, climb very well, run easily, walk up and down stairs and pedal a tricycle.

As far as language skills, 3-year-olds will be able to name a friend, understand the concept of “in, on, and under”. They should be able to say their name, age, and gender.

They will be able to say words like “I, me, we and you”. They can follow instructions with 2 – 3 steps, use 2-3 sentences in a conversation, and be able to talk well enough for most people to understand. 

2 to 3-year-old Independent play activities for motor development

16. Outdoor play

As stated before, outdoor play is a great independent activity for kids. Let your 2 to 3 year old run free at the park or playground. Encourage activities like climbing, sliding, swinging in a jungle gym, and running. These help build gross motor skills.

17. Use of scissor 

It might be scary for you to let your child use scissors, but know that there are kid-safe alternatives out there. Provide your child a kid-safe scissors and some paper and let them cut out whatever patterns and shapes they want.

This will strengthen their wrist and fingers.

18. Scooping/Spooning activities

Learning to scoop and spoon helps develop fine motor skills. You can teach this skill using a water table like this one from Amazon. Place small toys inside and give your kids some cooking spoons to scoop them out.

19. Squeezing activities

Give your kids things they can squeeze such as a turkey baster, sponge, clothespin, or tongs. To use the sponge or turkey baster, give them a bowl filled with water and another empty bowl.

Have them soak up the water (or suck it up with the baster) from one bowl and transfer it to the other.

For a simple clothespin activity, tie a piece of string in a corner of your home. Provide your child with some pieces of cloth or paper. Have them hang each item like you would hang clothes on a line. 

To do the tongs activity, have your toddler pick up each cloth or paper with the tong. They can transfer the items to an empty bowl.

20. Stringing activities

Kids can make a cheerios necklace. This activity is safe for kids to do alone because it uses food instead of small beads

2 to 3-year-old Independent play activities for sensory development

21. Stacking/Nesting Boxes/Nesting Objects

Stacking and nesting objects help develop your child’s sense of sight. You can do this activity by having them help you stack things in the kitchen such as cans of food, and bowls that fit into one another.

I also recommend this Montessori Nesting Peg Dolls Set from Etsy. It teaches your kids to match the dolls with their respective color and “nest”.

22. Montessori Shape Sorting and Color matching

Shape and color sorting is another visual way to engage your toddler’s senses. There are so many activities you can do under this category.

One I really love is this Ulanik Colors and Sizes Montessori sorting toy from Etsy. This game teaches concentration, perseverance, and thinking skills. It comes with a wooden spoon and three sizes of plates to sort with. 

23. Musical instruments

What better way to engage their sense of hearing than with musical instruments? My kids love playing with these Wooden Musical Instruments from Etsy. They still use them every day in their playroom.

24. Texture and Temperature in the Environment

To do this activity you can either take your kids outside or bring the materials indoors. Have them feel warm running water and compare the sensation to cold water.

You could also have them feel the texture of leaves, rocks, and sand. For each, have them describe the textures in their own words. A sand table like this one from Amazon is also a great tool to help children learn textures.

25. Smelling and Tasting experiences 

This activity is fun for kids to do. Gather up some household spices like cinnamon, vanilla, cumin, etc. in individual small containers.

Have your kids smell each one and try to describe what they smell like. They will probably compare them to foods they’ve eaten before by saying “it smells like ice cream”.

When appropriate, you can let them taste the spices.

2 to 3-year-old Independent play activities for language development

26. Songs

Singing is something your child can do independently. I often play nursery rhymes for my children. I have found that they learned to sing before they learned to read.

27. Books

Stories are another way to entertain children. Provide them with a select number of books easily accessible on low shelves. That way, when they are bored, they can read.

28. Matching: Pictures of objects that go together 

Print out pictures of objects that go together such as spider and spiderweb, fish and water, shoe and shoelaces, etc. Scramble the items and have your kids match each picture with the item it goes with.

29. Jumble knob & Small knob puzzles

Puzzles are a great way to teach problem-solving skills and language. You can choose puzzles based on color or shape. Make sure you encourage your child to name the items before solving the puzzle.

I really like this jumbo puzzle from Etsy. My kids started using them from 18 months old, and by the time they were 2, they could solve them independently.

30. Categorization of objects and pictures

Print out pictures of items that can be categorized. For example, apple, banana, truck, fire truck, cat, dog, etc. Have your child come up with the names for each category of items. They should come up with three categories: fruits, vehicles, and animals.

Independent Play activities for 4-year-olds to 5-year-olds

The developmental stage of a 4-year-old

At this age, 4 year olds know some basic rules of grammar. They can correctly use “he” and “she”. They know some songs from memory and can tell stories.

Cognitively, they now understand the concept of “same” and “different”, they understand the concept of time. They can draw a person with 2 – 4 body parts. They understand their colors and some numbers.

As for movement, they can cut, pour and mash their own food. They can also catch a ball when thrown at them.

The developmental stage of a 5-year-old

A five-year-old can speak very clearly and can tell stories in full sentences.

As for language, they can count to 10 or more. They can draw a person with 6 body parts, can print some letters, and draw some shapes.

When it comes to movement, a 5-year-old can use the toilet on their own, hop, and skip. They can also use a knife, spoon, and fork. They can also swing and climb.

4 to 5-year-old Independent play activities for sensory development

31. Broad Stair puzzle

The “broad stair” or “brown stair” is a very common item in the Montessori world. The broad stair is a 10-piece puzzle made of large wood that is all the same length. 

The difference is that they all have different depths. When arranged from small to large, it forms a flight of stairs

This puzzle is designed to teach children visual perception and dimensions.

32. Block tower for stacking

Stacking blocks help develop fine motor skills. I really like these stacking blocks from Etsy. It is commonly referred to as a pink tower. 

33. Sound Matching 

Fill little jars with small items such as rice, beans, beads or acorns. Cover the jar so the items aren’t visible. Label the jars from A – Z. Write down the names of the items in the jar on a note card. Have your child shake the jar and try to match the sound to the correct item in the note card.

34. Mystery Bag 

The mystery bag game is similar to the sound matching game. You will need some small items to place in a dark baggie. Have your child feel the outside of the bag to try to determine the identity of each item. You can tell them the names once the game is over.

4 to 5-year-old Independent play activities for language development

35. Child library w/ fiction and non-fiction picture books

At this age, children can understand fiction stories. Make a small library for your child which includes fiction and non-fiction books. If they can’t read yet, you can read to them.

36. Alphabet puzzle

Alphabet puzzles like this one from Etsy will teach your child their letters. This is what they should be learning at this age to prepare for kindergarten.

37. Simple Word puzzles 

At this age, your child can do simple word puzzles of two, three and four letter words. Get them some puzzles like this one from Melissa and Doug. It helps reinforce their alphabet and teaches them how to spell.

38. Story Box

Provide your toddler with a bin filled with different toys or items. Have them create a story that incorporates each of the items in the bin. This builds on their imaginative abilities.

If they can write, give them a pencil and paper to write the story. If they can’t write, you can write the story for them. As an extension of the activity, have them trace your handwriting with a pencil.

39. Art

Finger painting, brush painting, drawing, or writing with colored chalk are great ways to strengthen your child’s fingers. This will prepare them for writing when they get to kindergarten.

Painting is also fun and a good way to engage the senses.

Conclusion 

To wrap things up, I would like to remind you that every child develops at their own pace. Although the pediatrician outlined the skills a child should acquire at each age, it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with your child if they’re not at that level yet.

If you’re concerned about anything regarding your child’s development, make sure to reach out to your doctor.

To recap, I have explained some independent activities that your child can do from 1 to 5 years old. Each activity is designed to support the skills your child needs to learn at this age. 

All the activities follow the Montessori principle of learning. I hope that you find it helpful in your parenting journey.

Remember to always follow the child, as Maria Montessori would say.

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Resources to help you learn more about Montessori at home

https://montessoriacademy.com.au/montessori-at-home/getting-started/

https://amshq.org/Families/Montessori-and-Your-Child/Montessori-at-Home