Toddlers brains grow tremendously every day. Here are our favorite learning activities for toddlers that can be incorporated easily into everyday play. I promise – these fun activities for toddlers will keep them engaged and educated!
I received product and compensation from Mead Johnson Nutrition to create this post written by me. All experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Mead Johnson Nutrition. You can contact Mead Johnson Nutrition with product related questions or comments toll free at 1-800-BABY-123 (1-800-222-9123).
How to Incorporate Learning Activities for Toddlers into Everyday Play
I’ll be completely honest with you all: I work a lot. Being at home with Blake every day, though, has made me incredibly aware of how I’m spending my time and taught me very quickly how to be intentional with her and the learning activities for toddlers that we incorporate into our day. My goal is to be able to help support her brain growth and give her the foundation that she needs to take what she learns with me to help her eventually transition to solitary play.
I’ll admit that I’m not as much of a hands-on mom as I wish I could be. With limited hours in the day, I’m sure that there are plenty of you who are reading this and feeling the same. But, I also have a few tricks up my sleeve. We incorporate these learning games for toddlers into our everyday activities so that we can do them at the park, in our living room, when we’re traveling – wherever. And I always rest assured that her brain is being challenged. And just like I shared whenever Blake first hit these toddler years, we’re still using Enfagrow® Toddler Next Step™ to help us along the way.
Why are learning activities for toddlers so important?
It all boils down to the facts. 85% of brain growth happens in the first three years of life, so it is important to ensure your toddler is learning all the time, plus getting important DHA to help nourish this brain growth. Experts recommend that toddlers have 70-100 mg/day of DHA to help support early brain and eye development. A source for DHA is fish something that most toddlers aren’t eating. On average toddler diets only include about 25% of the recommended amount of DHA, there’s a nutritional gap that’s left. This is where Enfagrow Toddler comes in. Blake is a great eater, but I’ve realized that since she’s not eating foods that contain DHA, Enfagrow Toddler is a great choice for her.
You can easily find Enfagrow Toddler at most retailers, available now in convenient 32 oz. liquid bottle and 32 oz. powder tub, and you can even grab a free sample on the Enfagrow site.
These fun activities for toddlers that also promote learning help strengthen everything that Enfagrow Toddler is doing for your little one’s brain development. They honestly work hand in hand to grow and help support this very important organ.
Our favorite learning games for toddlers
Ok mamas, I know how tough it can be to keep everyone in this toddler age group engaged. Here’s a few key things we do whenever we are at home or on the go that helps Blake have fun while she’s learning.
- Making homemade play dough and letting her play while sitting in her high chair (homemade means nontoxic and I don’t have to worry about her eating it!) Kneading the dough helps her work on her fine motor skills and strengthens sensory skills, too.
- I have her bring things to me. As silly as this one sounds, it’s easy play when I need to work and helps her identify different objects.
- We play “I spy.”
- We sort objects. If we’re out at the park, we’ll sort rocks and sticks and dried leaves, at home we might use things like spoons or marshmallows.
- We build toddler busy boxes.
- We sing songs like “The ABCs” everywhere we go. She thinks she’s just having fun, but really, these letters are being instilled in her brain.
- We love to do mess-free finger painting (she’s even learning to choose colors!)
- We use empty paper towel rolls to be explorers and spot amazing new things wherever we go.
Looking for more fun activities for toddlers? I’ve got you covered!
- How to Make Busy Boxes For Toddlers
- Educational Busy Boxes Tutorial
- Indoor Activities For Rainy Days
- Educational Games For Kids That Mom Approves
- No Mess Crafts For Toddlers
- The Temper Tantrum Myth
- Toddler Meltdowns: The Funny Emotions That All Parents Go Through
- Our Next Steps With The Busiest of Toddlers
I know that raising toddlers is tough stuff, (believe me, I’ve got Miss Sassy on my hands), but I’ve found that incorporating these really simple but fun activities for toddlers into our every day has helped through tough moments when Blake is confused, tired, or just plain can’t make up her mind. I’ve used them as a tactic to get through toddler meltdowns, too. And with every step of the way, I know that her mind is expanding and that she’s learning basic things that she will build on every day so that she’s always hitting those important milestones as she grows.
What learning activities for toddlers do you incorporate into your day?
XOXO,
Allison
This is sponsored by Enfagrow® Toddler Next Step™.
These are great! Making learning a part of play at an early age is an excellent way to help stimulate little minds and develop a love of learning!
I had no idea Enfagrow had a product for toddlers. That’s so cool, and adding these activities into every day activities is so smart.
Kids learn so much from everyday play. My kids were such little adventurers when they were under 3ish.
Kids are so eager to explore and learn new things at a young age. Learning through play is so much fun for both the kids and the adults.
So important to help kids learn on their own, by exploring! Love that you add activities!
Keep toddlers busy with educational toys and activities is really so important. I really like your idea of making your own kids busy boxes, to keep kids occupied.
It’s important that kids have fun while learning. These are really fun learning game ideas!