50 Fun and Simple 18-Month-Old Activities

Looking for fresh ways to keep your busy 18-month-old engaged? At this age, your little one is soaking up new skills daily – grabbing, pointing, babbling, and maybe even saying a few words.

Your child’s brain is growing fast right now, making simple play time incredibly valuable. The right 18-month-old activities don’t need to be complex or costly – they just need to spark curiosity and bring you together.

In this guide, we’ll share easy, fun 18-month-old activities that support your toddler’s growing body and mind.

These simple ideas use items you likely already have at home and turn everyday moments into learning chances that you’ll both enjoy.

What Makes a Great Activity for an 18-Month-Old?

The best activities for this stage are those that support their growth while being fun, safe, and manageable. Here’s what to look for:

Safety comes first: Avoid small parts that could be choking hazards and always supervise activities, even the seemingly harmless ones.
Short attention spans matter: An 18-month-old may only focus for a few minutes at a time. Choose activities that can be finished quickly or paused easily.
Match their energy: Plan a variety of activities, such as crawling games after nap time and sticker play before bedtime, to meet them where they are in the moment.
Include active play: Movement is how toddlers learn about their bodies. Set up obstacle paths with cushions, roll balls back and forth, or have a dance session.
Add quiet-time options: Quiet activities like flipping through board books, building simple block towers, or nesting toys help your toddler wind down and practice focus.
Repeat is good: If your toddler wants to do the same thing over and over, that’s great; it means they’re mastering a new skill or concept.

Sensory Play

Toddlers love to explore the world with their senses. These activities are perfect for hands-on fun.

1. Water Play Bin

Let your toddler splash, scoop, and pour with a shallow water bin.

What you’ll need: A shallow plastic bin, water, cups, spoons, small toys
How to do it: Fill the bin with water and place it on a towel or mat. Add scooping tools and toys. Supervise and let them play freely.

2. Rice Dig

Create a mini digging site indoors with dry rice and hidden treasures.

What you’ll need: A large bin, uncooked rice, small toys or spoons
How to do it: Pour rice into the bin and bury small toys inside. Let your child dig through with their hands or tools.

3. Jello Treasure Hunt

Add a sweet twist to sensory fun with toys trapped in Jello.

What you’ll need: Prepared Jello, small toys, a tray
How to do it: Set small toys in Jello overnight. Let your toddler squish and dig to find the hidden items.

4. Shaving Cream Swirls

A foamy fun experience for tiny hands to explore texture and movement.

What you’ll need: Shaving cream, tray, food coloring (optional)
How to do it: Spray shaving cream onto a tray. Add a drop of color and let your toddler swirl with their hands.

5. Nature Texture Walk

Bring the outdoors in for some barefoot exploring.

What you’ll need: Leaves, pinecones, grass, a towel or tray
How to do it: Arrange nature items on a towel. Encourage barefoot walking and touching to explore textures.

Fine Motor Fun

These activities help little hands get stronger while keeping your toddler happily engaged.

6. Sticker Pull

A peel-and-stick game that boosts coordination.

What you’ll need: Stickers, a notebook or cardboard
How to do it: Place stickers on a surface and help your toddler peel and stick them onto the notebook.

7. Pom-Pom Push

Turn an empty container into a colorful fine motor challenge.

What you’ll need: An empty wipes box, pom-poms
How to do it: Cut holes in the lid of the container. Show your toddler how to push the pom-poms through.

8. Pipe Cleaner Threading

Great for hand-eye coordination and quiet play.

What you’ll need: A colander, pipe cleaners
How to do it: Flip the colander over and let your toddler poke pipe cleaners through the holes.

9. Button Drop

Drop and collect buttons for a satisfying motor task.

What you’ll need: Large buttons, a jar or bottle with a wide opening
How to do it: Show your child how to drop each button through the opening and shake it up afterward.

10. Clothespin Clip

A simple activity that’s great for grip strength.

What you’ll need: Clothespins, a basket or cardboard edge
How to do it: Demonstrate clipping the pins onto the edge. Let them try and explore.

Active Games

Keep your toddler moving and giggling with these fun physical games.

11. Balloon Chase

Chase the balloon as it bounces in the air.

What you’ll need: One or two balloons
How to do it: Blow up a balloon and toss it in the air. Encourage your toddler to chase or tap it.

12. Animal Crawls

Pretend to be different animals together.

What you’ll need: Open space
How to do it: Call out animals and show how to move like each one (hop like a bunny, crawl like a bear, etc.).

13. Hallway Bowling

Knock ’em down with a soft ball and makeshift pins.

What you’ll need: Plastic cups or bottles, a soft ball
How to do it: Set up pins in the hallway and roll the ball to knock them over.

14. Bubble Catch

Chase and pop bubbles outdoors or in the bath.

What you’ll need: Bubble solution, bubble wand
How to do it: Blow bubbles and encourage your toddler to run, pop, or stomp on them.

15. Obstacle Crawl

Create a soft obstacle course for crawling and climbing.

What you’ll need: Couch cushions, blankets, tunnels
How to do it: Arrange soft items into a safe path. Guide them through climbing, crawling, or stepping.

Creative Play

Spark imagination with colorful, open-ended activities.

16. Crayon Scribbles

Introduce early drawing with chunky crayons.

What you’ll need: Large paper, toddler-safe crayons
How to do it: Tape paper to the table or floor and let your toddler scribble freely.

17. Dot Stickers Art

Peel, stick, and decorate with colorful dots.

What you’ll need: Dot stickers, paper
How to do it: Show your child how to stick the dots to the paper. Create patterns or shapes together.

18. Finger Painting

A messy but delightful way to explore color.

What you’ll need: Washable paint, large paper, apron
How to do it: Squirt paint on paper and let them use fingers to spread and mix colors.

19. Paper Tearing Collage

Tearing paper is both satisfying and skill-building.

What you’ll need: Colorful paper, glue stick, cardboard base
How to do it: Help tear paper into pieces. Let your toddler glue them onto a cardboard base.

20. Play-Dough Fun

Squish and shape for open-ended creativity.

What you’ll need: Play dough, cookie cutters, plastic knife
How to do it: Provide dough and tools. Demonstrate simple shapes and let them explore.

Quiet Time Ideas

Perfect for winding down or staying calm indoors.

21. Soft Book Time

Explore cloth or board books with textures and flaps.

What you’ll need: Soft books or board books
How to do it: Sit together and turn pages slowly, talking about each picture.

22. Blanket Fort Hideaway

A cozy corner just for quiet time.

What you’ll need: Blankets, pillows, a few books or stuffed animals
How to do it: Drape blankets over chairs to create a fort. Add pillows and toys inside for a snug retreat.

23. Stuffed Animal Picnic

Pretend play with plush buddies.

What you’ll need: Stuffed animals, play food, blanket
How to do it: Lay out a picnic blanket and let your toddler feed and hug the animals.

24. Sensory Bottle Gazing

Watch swirls and sparkles inside a calm-down bottle.

What you’ll need: Plastic bottle, water, glitter, oil, beads
How to do it: Fill the bottle with glitter and water (add oil for slow motion). Secure the lid and let your child shake and watch.

25. Puzzle Time

Simple puzzles that engage and teach.

What you’ll need: Wooden toddler puzzles
How to do it: Sit and show how pieces fit. Encourage your child to try matching shapes or images.

Music & Rhythm

Little ones love to make noise and move to beats these activities channel that energy creatively.

26. DIY Drum Set

Let your toddler bang to the beat on homemade drums.

What you’ll need: Pots, pans, wooden spoons
How to do it: Set up a few overturned pots and show your toddler how to tap rhythms with spoons.

27. Dance Party

A fun way to shake out the wiggles together.

What you’ll need: Kid-friendly music, open space
How to do it: Play upbeat music and dance together. Add simple moves like clapping or stomping.

28. Shake the Bottle

Create your own toddler maracas.

What you’ll need: Empty plastic bottles, dried beans or rice, tape
How to do it: Fill bottles partway, seal tightly, and let your child shake to the beat.

29. Follow the Beat

Build listening skills through rhythm imitation.

What you’ll need: Hands and feet!
How to do it: Clap or tap a rhythm and encourage your toddler to copy. Switch to stomping or slapping knees.

30. Sing-Along Time

Singing familiar songs helps with language and bonding.

What you’ll need: Favorite songs (like “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)
How to do it: Sit together and sing a few nursery rhymes using hand motions.

Outdoor Play

Fresh air and sunshine can make even the simplest activities magical.

31. Sidewalk Chalk Scribble

Let your toddler draw on the world outside.

What you’ll need: Chunky sidewalk chalk
How to do it: Show your toddler how to scribble on pavement. Encourage shapes, swirls, or simple pictures.

32. Toddler Gardening

Digging in the dirt is both calming and stimulating.

What you’ll need: Small shovel, potting soil, flower pots
How to do it: Give your child a scoop and let them move dirt around or water plants.

33. Water the Plants

A chore that’s also a calming, purposeful activity.

What you’ll need: Small watering can, outdoor plants
How to do it: Fill the can and guide your toddler to pour gently over plants.

34. Bug Hunt

Explore the tiny world under rocks and leaves.

What you’ll need: Plastic jar with holes, magnifying glass (optional)
How to do it: Look under leaves or stones and talk about the bugs you find. Let them observe safely.

35. Push-Pull Walk

Encourage movement with wheeled toys.

What you’ll need: Push toy, wagon, or toddler ride-on
How to do it: Go for a short walk and let them push or pull their toy along.

Everyday Learning

Turn your daily routine into opportunities to build skills and confidence.

36. Sock Sort

Match and pair socks for a fun sorting game.

What you’ll need: Clean socks in various colors
How to do it: Show your child how to find matching socks. Let them sort by color or size.

37. Laundry Toss

A simple indoor game to build coordination.

What you’ll need: Clean laundry, basket
How to do it: Roll up clothing and toss them into the basket together like a game.

38. Spoon Transfer

Practice careful hand control while transferring.

What you’ll need: Two bowls, dry cereal or beans, spoon
How to do it: Help your toddler scoop from one bowl to the other.

39. Wipe the Table

Toddlers love to help let them clean like a grown-up.

What you’ll need: Damp cloth or sponge
How to do it: Show them how to wipe a low table or tray after snack time.

40. Snack Sorting

Let your child organize their food before eating.

What you’ll need: Finger foods (e.g., crackers, fruit, cheese)
How to do it: Ask your toddler to sort snacks by type or shape onto a plate.

41. Matching Lids

Find the right lid for each container.

What you’ll need: Plastic food containers with lids
How to do it: Mix them up and let your child try matching lids to containers.

42. Color Hunt

Spot and gather items by color.

What you’ll need: Colored toys, blocks, or clothes
How to do it: Call out a color and help your child find something around the house that matches.

43. Animal Sounds Game

Learn through fun mimicking and memory.

What you’ll need: Animal toys or pictures
How to do it: Show each animal and say its sound. Encourage your toddler to repeat.

44. Cup Stack

Stacking helps toddlers learn about balance and size.

What you’ll need: Plastic cups or stacking blocks
How to do it: Show your child how to stack, then knock them over together for fun.

45. Picture Pointing

Build vocabulary with real-world images.

What you’ll need: Board books or family photo albums
How to do it: Ask your toddler to point to familiar objects or people you name.

46. Toy Clean-Up Time

Make tidying up into a playful routine.

What you’ll need: Toy bins or baskets
How to do it: Sing a clean-up song and guide your toddler to put toys away with you.

47. Simple Puzzle Sorting

Use shape sorters to develop matching skills.

What you’ll need: Shape sorter or beginner puzzles
How to do it: Help your child learn how each shape fits, praising their efforts.

48. Mirror Fun

Play with facial expressions and self-awareness.

What you’ll need: Safe mirror
How to do it: Sit together in front of a mirror. Make faces or point to eyes, nose, etc.

49. Toy Wash Station

Clean plastic toys in a soapy bin.

What you’ll need: Plastic bin, water, mild soap, toys, sponge
How to do it: Let your toddler help “wash” the toys using a sponge and water.

50. Tap to the Beat

Simple tapping games help with timing and attention.

What you’ll need: Hands or wooden spoons and table
How to do it: Tap out slow and fast beats. Encourage your toddler to copy you or come up with their own rhythm.

Benefits of Play for 18-Month-Old Toddlers

Play isn’t just about keeping toddlers busy; it’s how they learn about the world. At 18 months, every stacking block or peekaboo game supports major developmental milestones.

Here’s how play helps toddlers grow:

Boosting motor skills: Whether it’s crawling through a tunnel, pushing a toy car, or placing pegs in a board, play helps strengthen both fine and gross motor skills.
Supporting early communication: Talking, singing, and interactive games like pretend play or naming objects help toddlers build vocabulary and understand language.
Encouraging curiosity and independence: Activities that allow them to touch, test, and figure things out like filling containers or exploring textures nurture independence and problem-solving skills in a fun, low-pressure way.

Final Thoughts

At 18 months, your toddler needs simple things: you, time, and freedom to play.

These moments of laughter, mess, and small experiments build the foundation for growth. Every crayon mark, silly song, and water splash helps your child learn about their world.

Enjoy this playful stage. Slow down. Laugh often. Let your toddler show you the way—ordinary things often bring the most joy.

What’s Next?

Which activities did your little one enjoy most? Share in the comments below!

Loved these tips? Check out our “2-Year-Old Daily Schedules That Actually Work” guide to prepare for your child’s next stage!