The Best Indoor Activities For 18+ Month Old

At this age, toddlers are learning all the time and while playing, they explore the world though it is important. In the first five years their brain make connections faster than any other time.

But being stuck at home all day long with 18+ month old is exhausting. Is giving you Anxiety??? I mean taking out all the toys, dumping it and then moving on to the next bin. It is really exhausting!!!

Does not matter the season, you simply can not do any outdoor activity. So, sometimes parents or caretakers need to know how to keep toddlers busy. Engaging your toddler in a variety of safe indoor games will build those brain pathways. I hope this list of activities will help you to make your 18+ month old engage.

What activities should I do with my 18+ month old?

By 18 months, toddlers know how to walk, climb off a couch, scribble with crayons,  and speak a few words. Indoor activities can build on these milestones in a cozy, parent-friendly way.

So, there are many ways of involving your 18+ month old in your activities throughout the day such as cooking and cleaning. Singing, dancing and reciting the ABCs are such things that you can include into your daily routine to make them busy.

What should I teach my 18+ month old?

Being a Mom, my first and favorite thing is to teach something new to my daughter into the everyday moments. Count your fingers while pooping, sing a rhyme or ABC when you are on walk. Tell a story or talk with them casually.

Make sure your 18+ month old is in simple outfit, so they feel comfy and safe while playing. Toddlers love to move and indoor play can burn off their energy while building strength and coordination. Around 18+ month, many little ones can already run, kick a ball, or climb with supervision.

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The Best Indoor Activities For 18+ Month Old

1. Hide and Seek or Peek-a-boo

These classics never get old for little ones. Your face lighting up as you say “peekaboo” makes them feel loved and engaged. It helps in separation anxiety.

And if you are not feeling the traditional game, simply hide other objects and let your toddler find them.

• Peek-a-boo Toys

2. Ball Play

Make a good use of gross motor skills by throwing, catching and chasing after a ball. Use kicking or tossing a lightweight ball is great for coordination.

Always cheer them by saying good job or very good. There are many ball toys in the market.

• Ball Toys

3. Practicing to Throw

Set up a laundry basket on the ground or buy a ball pool and let your child practice throwing a ball. It builds confidence and accuracy.

• Ball Pool

4. Let your Child Help you

At this age, toddlers love to help you in every way. My daughter help me to clean the floor and hang the clothes. This phase not does not last forever so enjoy it.

Let them help:

• to make easy sweet baby food
• water the plants
• whisk the curd
• in dusting
• fold the clothes
• take the groceries out of the bags
• making roti or chapati

5. Find the Object

Place an object somewhere and ask your child to find it out. Make sure to put it back. Here are the ideas:

• find a car
• find your water bottle
• find a circle
• find something black
• find your shoes

these are the ideas you can use when tired or need some rest.

6. Board Games

Spending time with the toddler is an amazing thing. Introduce them some fun loving board game ideas.

Toddlers love to play Build and Bop and Magnetic Fishing.

7. Sticker Game

Sticker game is interesting but reusable sticker books are best for toddler stage.

8. Sheet or Blanket Swing

This works all the time, when your toddler do not want to do anything. Because Distraction is a key. You just need to take a sheet or blanket, take your toddler on that and swing. It is my personal favorite.

Bad news? Nothing.

9. Bring Outdoor Toys Indoor

If you have sufficient space, bring your toddler’s outdoor toys inside the home but not the full sized but the smaller larger one.

10. Play on the Bed

You will have zillions of fun during this activity with your child. Lay down with them and do fun things. Talk about random things, make them laugh or telling a story can make your connection good and help them to sleep easily.

11. Race with them

18+ month old can easily walk, try to race with them by counting 1 2 3 and run. This helps in burning the energy.

12. Utensils

Children love to be with the mother and she is in the kitchen. So, before spending your money on toys, go to the kitchen and they are gonna find something for sure. Mine is always singing a song with a spoon and plate.

13. Scribble

The first stage of coloring or drawing. So, let your toddler explore the significance of scribbling.

As long as your 18+ month old does not put everything in the mouth, this one is actually great.

14. Reading

Reading is so important in the development of language skills. Reading does not happens at only night, so make sure to place at accessible areas. Try to make it interesting by creating special voices for each character.

And if your toddler asks to read it again?! Just do it! I know this is a torture but you will gonna miss it.

15. Build a home

Pillows, cushions and chairs can help to make a home or fort for your child. Hopefully this play will be longer than it took you to assemble it.

16. Play with their toys

Take one of your child’s favorite stuffed animals or dolls and start playing with it. Just pretend “Oh no, Monkey fell down and got a boo-boo! He needs a hug.” Give your monkey a hug. If you are expecting or have a baby, this is a perfect play as your toddler will copy such actions.

17. Bubbles

Blow bubbles and let them enjoy while pop it.

Sensory activities

18. Water Play

Most of the toddlers favorite sensory activity is water play. Fill up a plastic storage bin with water and give measuring cups and drinking cups. Let the little one pour from one container to another or in any other way.

19. More Bath Time

Want to fun with your toddler? Stay at home Seriously? YES!

If your toddler is enjoying the bath time, let them stay (depends on the weather) and enjoy their enjoyment.

20. Ice Play

Playing and eating with ice cubes is toddler’s favorite thing in water play. Simply put some ice cubes into a container of water and let them play with it. My daughter makes me put ice cubes in the bathtub.

21. Finger Paint

This helps in encourage the imagination. No need to have something extra for this activity. It can be done with what you have around the house.

Food color or whipped cream can be use, just in case they make it eat.

Put some paint inside a zip lock bag and let your toddler squeeze the bag.

22. Play with Dough

Go for some eco friendly or baby friendly dough. Homemade sensory dough can made with flour and water paste. Show your toddler how to squish, pinch, and roll it. Help them to make different shapes and impressions with the stencil.

23. Create a Sensory Bin

Bubble wrap, sand, water, pom-poms like safe material can be fill in the sensory bin. This helps to make them understand about different textures as stamp on the bubble wrap.

24. Wash the Dishes

Make your toddler stand with you or learning tower at the sink. Make some bubbles of soap with the help of water and let them use it. Add kitchen set in their toys and give them few containers, bowl, spoons, etc.

Educational Activities

25. Count Everything

Tell them to count everything you can throughout the day:

• trees when you in a garden or park
• cars as dad is driving his own car
• stairs as climbing it
• hairclips on your hair

26. Rhymes and Dance

Repetition of rhymes and make some moves support memory and language.

Play songs or rhymes such as:

• Baby Shark
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Twinkle Twinkle

Encourage your toddler to clap or dance along. Soon they will start to mimic words like “baa baa” or “hi-ho”

27. Play Name Things

This activity can be used to learn new words or just for fun. Everyday moments like time to change diaper, get your pants, point out body parts and objects by name. Even if your toddler does not repeat, it is ok.

28. Practicing Animal’s Sound

Give them different animal prompts like:

• run like a cheetah
• hop like frog
• sound of pig
• jump like kangaroo
• sound of duck

29. Memory Play

While advanced games are too much, a very simple memory game can work. Use simple tricks by hiding a toy under a pillow in front of your toddler and shuffle them. Let them explore. Never forget to clap and praise for them.

Developmental Activities

30. Obstacle Course

Use whatever is around the house like couch cushions, cones, laundry basket and pillows to create a mini obstacle. Your toddler can crawl, climb, run around, balance on, step between pillows etc.

31. Gymnastic

Practice simple skills like:

• running
• stretching
• throw a ball into the laundry hamper
• somersaults
• jumping
• balancing

32. Potty Training

Pay attention to the cue’s. Seriously! Yes. I might sound early and crazy, but my trained around 18 months old.

Signs of potty training readiness are:

• pulling at a wet or dirty diaper
• place hands down there
• hiding for pee or poop
• making faces

If your 18 month old is showing any of these readiness signs, it won’t hurt to start working toward potty training.

33. Block Stacking

Building towers with blocks or stacking items helps develop hand-eye coordination. Even a small tower of two or three blocks helps a child practice precision.

34. Stress Ball or Pom Poms

Serve some pom poms in different color, size, etc. Let the child transfer it from one to another container. Give your child a stress ball, teach them how to play with it.

35. Laser Chase

This is so helpful if your toddler have way too much energy. Not kidding. Even young toddlers love to catch it. Just take a laser, shine it around and see the magic.

36. Go for Bowling

Gather few empty bottles and balls. Settle and teach them how to bowl indoor.

We can hope, right?

Friendly Tips for Parents

• Take pictures while they are enjoying or achieve something new.
• Talk and narrate what you are doing: “Look, the kite is flying in the sky!”
• Some toddler may have a short attention span, so keep the fun, not the force.
• Observe what they enjoy and do more of it.

Safety Tips for Parents

• Barefoot help to grip surfaces. Use non-skid socks or soft-soled slippers, if floor is slippery.
• Do cushioning as rug or play mat on the floor.
• Avoid small parts like loose buttons, ribbons, or decorations.

I hope you found some different activities to add to your daily routine with this list of indoor toddler activities!!!