101 Toddler Activities ~ Life Skills for Toddlers

Some of the best ways to keep your young child busy is by doing activities that teach basic life skills. At this age, they will see it as a big game. So it’s fun for them, and they are learning! Among my 101 Ideas for Toddler Activities are these easy life skills for toddlers you can be teaching your kids as they grow!

Toddler Activities – Life Skills for Toddlers

Yes, you can be developing toddler life skills through simply playing! Or by turning everyday activities into a game! Or by simply including them in your everyday tasks and chores. Toddlers LOVE to feel important and help out! Let them!

Water plants. A great way to incorporate some nature into their life skill building! Whether outdoors with the water hose, or inside with a little bucket, I think most kids are fascinated with water and plants, so teach them how the two go together. (Makes a great “first chore” too!). If your toddler is overwatering those plants, this might be a great time to set up a simple How to Water Plants Properly activity. You can do this indoors and teach toddlers how to water plants without over (or under) doing it!

Learn to Button. Use large buttons to teach this skill to little ones. There are several children’s toys that encourage buttoning clothing on dolls or stuffed animals. Or have them play with the buttons on an adult coat. Try this great use for old shirt sleeves to create a “button bracelet” for your toddler to play with!

Learn to Zip! My son already loves to zip up plastic Ziploc bags, my coat, whatever… it’s still hard for him to manage, but he tries and it keeps him entertained!

Velcro, Buckles and Snaps! After every meal, our son has to “but-kle” the high chair straps back together after I take him out of his seat. He just love these simple routines!

Matching. Give your child fabric patches cut from scraps and have them match textures or colors. You could match stuffed toys to pictures, or create your own matching game with various small household items or toys!

Open and close. Use various sized jars with screw-top lids to have your child practice screwing and unscrewing. “Op’n-it!” and “F’x’it!” are common phrases we hear anytime we unscrew the cap off a pouch of his baby food or other container. Children love the twisty-turn action.

Pouring skills. Use dry goods like beans, rice or even salt to have your toddler pour from one container to another. Try using plastic measuring cups or pitchers. Vary this activity by using liquids (if you’re daring!), or pour in liquids through a funnel into another container!

Transfer of objects. Use hands, a scoop or a sponge to transfer liquids or solids from one container to another. Sponges are great to squeeze water from one bowl to another. Spoons and scoops work well for pasta, beans, sand, rice, etc. Or for larger objects, try tongs to move pom-poms, cotton balls, peanuts in the shell, etc. These are all good motor skill development exercises!

Sorting skills. After the magic of transferring wears off, have your child sort by color, size, shape, type. Use muffin tins as sorting trays!

Cook! Give your child an egg beater to whip (the hand-crank kind), a spatula and bowl to scrape, or a whisk. Show them the movements of each one. (Fun tip: put a little water and dish soap in a bowl for them to whisk or beat up some bubbles!).

Fold clothes. A great way to teach kids to help around the house – start small by just having them fold washcloths in half. I already have my 18-month old stack up his cloth wipes. Sure, he doesn’t get very far before wanting to go play, but he’s learning!

The great part about all these life skills activities for toddlers is that not only are they basic skills, but they build motor skills, and your child’s independence at the same time!

What other important life skills for toddlers can be turned into fun and games?

Have you checked out all 101 Toddler Activities?

• Water Play with Toddlers
• Summer Reading for Toddlers
• Simple Arts & Crafts with Toddlers
• Rainy Day Ideas for your Toddler
• Road Trip with a Toddler
• Kiddie Workout
• Toddler Activities In the Kitchen
• Life Skills for every Toddler (you are here!)
• Simple Things you can do with your Toddler