cognitive problem solving activities for toddlers

Discovery Play with Littles

2:01 pm ·

15 Powerful Problem Solving Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

I looked over to her table and she’s crying. Again. While everyone else is happily working away, she sat there, unable to move, just crying. 

Not asking for help.

Not trying to solve her problem.

Just crying.

I took a deep breath before heading over. We’ve already been at this for several months…isn’t it about time the problem-solving has kicked in yet?

One glance and I could tell what her problem was. She didn’t have her pencil.

Know how I knew?

It laid on the floor beside her. In plain sight.

As a kindergarten teacher, I don’t jump right in and solve problems for kids. It’s good for them to try to solve the problem themselves. This is something she struggled with. 

I reminded myself of the need for patience and empathy as I walked up to her. “What’s wrong, Amanda?” 

“I…can’t…find…my…pencil….” she sputtered out between sobs. 

“Ok, that’s a problem we can solve. What have you tried?” 

“I don’t know.” 

After a long time trying to first, calm her down, and second, come up with some strategies she could try, she finally found her pencil. At that point, everyone else had finished the project. 

What is Problem Solving?

Problem-solving is the process of finding a solution to your problem . This can be quite tricky for some young children, especially those with little experience in finding more than one way to solve a problem.

Why is Problem Solving Important? 

Problem-solving skills are used throughout childhood into adulthood. As adults, we solve problems on a daily basis. Some problems we solve without thinking much- I wanted to make tacos for dinner but forgot to buy the ground beef. What are we going to have for dinner now?

Other problems are significantly more complicated. 

Problems for kiddos can be problems with friendships, the inability to find something that’s needed, or even what to do when things don’t go your way. 

Kids who lack problem-solving skills struggle to maintain friendships or even begin to attempt to solve their own problems. 

Children who lack problem-solving skills are at a higher risk for depression as well.

What Are Problem-Solving Skills?

Problem-solving skills are:

• Breaking Down a Problem into Smaller Parts
• Communication
• Decision-making
• Logical Reasoning
• Perseverance

That’s a big list to teach toddlers and preschoolers. Where do you begin?

The Problem-Solving Steps

Sometimes kids are so overwhelmed with frustration that it affects their ability to solve problems.

Kids feel safe in routines, and routines help them learn and grow. After a few times of repeating this routine, you’ll find your kiddo starts to do this on their own. 

It’s important not to skip straight to solving the problem , because your kiddo needs to be in a calm state of mind to solve the problem, and also they need to know their feelings are valid. 

• The first thing to do when your kiddo is struggling with problem-solving is to validate their emotions.

In doing this, they will feel more understood and learn that their emotions are okay. There are no bad feelings, and we must learn how to manage our emotions. 

This might sound something like “Oh, I can see you are really frustrated that the block won’t fit on there right. Let’s take some deep breaths to help us calm down before we think about what to do next.”

• Next, work through your calm-down process . This may be taking some deep breaths together, hugging a stuffie, or giving your kiddo some quiet time to calm down their heart and mind.
• Identify the problem . This sounds like something you may have already done (before the meltdown) but it’s important to be very clear on the problem you’re solving. Have the child tell you their problem out loud.
• Move on to solution-finding . When your kiddo is ready, talk about what the problem is and three possible solutions. When possible, let your kiddo do all of the talking. This allows him to practice his problem-solving skills. It’s important to remind him that the first thing he tries may not work, and that’s ok. There’s always another way to solve the problem. If he’s prepared for this, solutions that don’t work won’t be such a frustrating experience. 
• After you’ve done that, test your solutions one by one. See what works. If you haven’t found a solution yet, go back and think of different ways you might be able to solve your problem and try again.

Are you tired of hearing “It’s TOO HARD!” followed by a meltdown?

Using this one simple phrase you’ll get in this powerful lesson, you’ll not only be able to help your kiddo not give up but you’ll:

>Activate their superpower of perseverance so that they can turn around a meltdown and keep trying

>Inspire them to use perseverance …even when it’s hard

>Teach them to recognize the warning signs of giving up , and how to turn it around by taking control of their choices.

Grab your powerful FREE video lesson to teach your kiddo one of the most powerful keys to perseverance.

Powerful Activities that Teach Problem-Solving Skills to Toddlers & Preschoolers

These activities below may look simple, but don’t let that deter you from trying them. A lot happens in little developing brains and these powerful activities help toddlers and preschoolers make connections and develop {many} essential skills-more than just problem-solving.

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Puzzles are fun and a great way to encourage cognitive development in children. They are great for spacial reasoning and strengthening problem-solving skills. They also develop memory skills, critical thinking, and the ability to plan and execute the plan. Toddlers will enjoy the simple puzzles, and preschoolers will do great with floor puzzles with larger puzzle pieces.

Doing Simple Chores

Doing simple chores is a great way to teach children problem-solving skills, and it strengthens responsibility and perseverance as well. 

During the toddler years , you may start with just picking up their toys, or helping you put their dirty clothes in the hamper. 

Preschoolers can take their dirty dishes to the sink (or load them in the dishwasher), collect the trash, dust, wipe baseboards, and do their own personal care items like making their bed, taking care of their dirty clothes, and putting clean clothes away.

Stacking Rings

When watching a toddler play with stacking rings it doesn’t look like much is happening, but playing with these toys is full of ways to encourage development. It helps with visual and spacial perception and planning ahead, but it also with balance control, crossing the midline, creative play, and gross motor skills. Not to mention it’s a great opportunity to practice problem-solving. 

Playing Hide-and-Seek

Hide and seek has many surprising benefits for kids. Playing hide and seek is like a treasure hunt that helps develop gross motor skills and encourages physical development, as well as problem-solving skills. It also helps young children develop visual tracking, working memory, and social-emotional skills.

Imaginative Play

Imaginative play (also called role-play) builds important skills. Through pretending to be in different situations, kids develop social skills, emotional skills, better communication, and problem-solving skills. Imaginative play is a great idea for young toddlers all the way to older children.

Free Play 

Many young children don’t have {enough} time for free play. Free play is important for healthy brain development , not only developing imagination, cooperation, physical skills, and independence but also providing a great opportunity to strengthen problem-solving skills. 

Playing with Wooden Blocks

Building blocks are a fun way for children to develop creative thinking, imagination, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and if working with others, cooperation, communication, and friendship.

Playing Memory

Memory games improve attention, focus, visual recognition, and concentration. It helps children recognize details and of course, strengthens problem-solving skills. 

Ask Questions

When I see my son struggling with something, my first instinct is to give him choices or at least lead him in the right direction. The better thing to do is to ask very open-ended questions that lead his process, not his thoughts.

Questions like “What’s one way to solve your problem?” are much more effective in teaching problem-solving skills than “Well, where did you last see your stuffy?” 

Read Books and Social Stories

Reading books is one of my favorite ways to teach any skill. It’s extremely effective at teaching, and it’s also an amazing bonding time with kids.

When we read stories, our brain reacts as if we’re living in the story. This is why reading books about skills such as problem-solving is so effective. 

Kids of all ages learn from the people they love . (Yes, even those older kids who you don’t think are paying attention.) Often as adults, we’re too busy going through our daily routine to think about talking about the way we solved the problem at work that day.

Talking about how you use skills such as problem-solving, perseverance, and integrity is a great way to set an example, and an expectation that this is how we do things, and it will provide encouragement for your kiddo to do the same.

Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are a great group activity that can strengthen your child’s logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

When Your Kiddo is Ready, Add These Activities

Preschoolers would benefit from all of the fun activities on the list above and when they’re ready, feel free to add in the following activities.   

Mazes are great for problem-solving and perseverance, but your kiddo will need to have decent fine motor skills to do these activities. Mazes are one of our favorite activities. We love to take our activity book of mazes in the car with us for road trips. 

Board Games  

Board games are a good way to strengthen problem-solving, teamwork, planning skills, patience, sportsmanship, and communication skills. They also strengthen family relationships by providing some intentional time of connection .

Any board game can also be turned into an academic game with just a deck of cards for whatever skill you’re working on. If you’re working on the alphabet, put one letter on each card. Before each player’s turn, they draw a letter card and say the letter’s name. (You may accidentally forget the name of a letter every now and then to see if your kiddo is really paying attention!) 

Allow Opportunities for Hands-On Investigations

Kids are tactile. They love to touch and explore things with their hands. This is a good activity for toddlers also, as long as they are out of the putting everything in their mouth stage. Hands-on exploration is great for language development, sensory exploration, and problem-solving.

Allowing kids to investigate with their hands allows them to see how the world works up close. It also gives them time and space to try to make things work…and problem-solve when it doesn’t go as they think it should.

The Most Difficult Way (and Most Important Way) To Strengthen Problem-Solving Skills

Watching our kids struggle is hard ! We don’t want to see them having a hard time…and most of the time we don’t want to deal with the impending meltdown. Standing back and giving our kids time and space to work through even simple problems is hard to do. It’s also the most important way to strengthen problem-solving skills. 

As parents, we’re like frogs in boiling water. When our kids are infants, they need us to recognize their needs and solve them immediately. As they get older, they can point to what they want, but we still have a lot of interpreting and problem-solving to do on our own. If we aren’t careful, we stay in this stage and don’t teach our kiddos the steps to problem-solving for themselves. 

The next most difficult thing? Allowing natural consequences to happen. (As long as your child is safe of course.) If your child saves their money for a long time to buy a new toy, but walks down the toy aisle and picks up something you know they’ll be disappointed with, let it happen. It will teach a valuable lesson that will last for years to come.

Another Essential Part of Problem-Solving

Perseverance is a big part of problem-solving. We are rarely able to solve problems the first time, and it’s essential that kids can find more than one solution to a problem. Studies have found that perseverance is actually the biggest predictor of success, even more than aptitude or raw talent. 

An entire module is dedicated to perseverance in our course for kids, Super Kid Adventures . Your kiddo will get 25 teacher-led lessons on character traits (perseverance, empathy, friendship, responsibility, and wellness) and activities that take their learning further. 

Want a free preview? Grab a FREE Perseverance video lesson that teaches your kiddo one of the most important secrets that help them use perseverance.

Want More? 

If you like this, you’ll love: 

The Ultimate List of Books that Teach Perseverance

7 Simple Ways to Encourage Independence in Young Children

How to Help Your Child Develop Self-Help Skills

Your Turn 

What are your favorite ways to teach problem-solving skills?

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a mama of two boys, a former teacher, and the founder of Discovery Play with Littles. Her mission is to make raising kids with character simple and fun. Join us for our best learning through play ideas, character growth activities, and family connection ideas so you can watch your child thrive.

Reader Interactions

As a SLP trying to guide parents as I work with their child. I would like to know what toys to recommend to my parents as I assist in guiding their child’s development in cognition and expressive language.

Perseverance is the biggest predictor of success, even more than raw talent or aptitude.

Grab a FREE lesson to teach your kiddo one of the keys to perseverance...which is how we talk to our brains.

They'll learn what to say when they encounter something difficult, and why it's so important.

PLAY is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. -Mr. Rogers

Helping Your Baby Reach Greater Wonders

25 Cognitive Activities for Toddlers to Boost Development

• Your child’s brain grows the most during toddlerhood than during any other time of their lives.
• There are many factors that affect cognitive development—genes, relationships with caregivers, screen time, nutrition, sleep, learning disabilities, physical activity and environment.
• There are certain cognitive milestones your toddler should reach by the time they are three years old.
• There are many fun cognitive activities to help your child reach their milestones.

Do you feel like crying when your toddler asks you to sing the same song you’ve been singing for the past hour? Do you want to hide the book you’ve read three times a day for the past month? 

I have good news for you! Every time you sing or read to your child, you’re boosting their cognitive development! This may be of little comfort to you when you’re on your tenth rendition of “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” but once you learn how important toddler cognitive skills are, you’ll muster up the strength to sing until your voice is hoarse.

If you need a break from singing, there are tons of cognitive activities for toddlers that you can do to boost their development! 

All About Your Toddler’s Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to how children think, develop fluid reasoning , explore, gain knowledge and problem solving skills, and learn more about the world around them. 

As toddlers develop cognitive skills, their memory, attention, adaptability, understanding of cause and effect, language skills, intelligence, and critical thinking improve. 

Toddler cognitive development is hugely important in laying the groundwork for these skills. It was highlighted in a 2021 article published by the University of Minnesota that by three years of age, a child’s brain is already 80% developed! 

While your child is still in their toddler years, you have the perfect window to develop their cognitive skills. Since most brain growth and connections happen in the first three years of a child’s life, it is more difficult for children to develop their cognitive skills later in life. Even early literacy skills can be gained through cognitive activities for toddlers. 

Factors That Can Affect Cognitive Development During Toddlerhood

You’ve probably heard the term “nature vs. nurture.” Nature refers to the genes our children inherit from us, and nurture refers to our children’s experiences, interactions with others, and general upbringing. 

When it comes to cognitive development in toddlers, both nature and nurture affect their cognitive abilities. 

Our genes are out of our control, but they are only one piece of the puzzle. There are many other factors within our control that promote cognitive development during toddlerhood, including:

• Warm, affectionate, positive interactions with dependable caregivers
• Limited screen time with exposure to cognitive toys 
• Early intervention for children with learning disabilities
• Good nutrition with balanced meals and vitamin supplements if necessary to aid in brain development
• Quality sleep to help the brain remember information
• Physical activity, especially outdoors, improves cognitive skills
• Limited exposure to chronic, toxic stress (neglect, abuse, certain types of punishment and unreliable caregivers)
• A physically safe environment with head protection to prevent brain injuries during falls
• Limited or no exposure to toxins such as lead
• Vaccinations to protect against infections, including those that prevent brain swelling 

What Are the Cognitive Developmental Milestones for Toddlers?

Every child develops at their own rate, but these are some of the cognitive developmental milestones you can expect in early childhood:

From 1 to 2 Years

• Tries to imitate adults
• Points out familiar objects in picture books
• Understands the difference between “me” and “you”
• Knows what everyday items are used for
• Points to items to get attention
• Pretend plays with dolls or stuffed animals (i.e. pretending to feed them)
• Points to one body part
• Scribbles independently
• Follows 1-step directions
• Puts things in containers and takes them out 
• Has memories of past events
• Recognizes familiar people by name
• Finds easily hidden objects

From 2 to 3 Years

• Imitates more advanced adult actions like washing dishes or doing laundry
• Names objects, colors, animals, and letters in picture books and everyday life
• Sorts objects by category
• Stacks rings on a peg in size order
• Understands their own reflection in a mirror
• Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers
• Completes sentences or rhymes in familiar stories
• Plays make-believe games (pretend play)
• Builds towers of at least four blocks
• Follows two-step directions (e.g. “Pick up your toy and put it in the bin.”)
• Finishes puzzles with 3-4 pieces
• Draws a circle after watching an adult draw it

3 Years Old

• Helps get themselves dressed
• Knows their name, age, and gender
• Follows step-by-step directions
• Uses buttons, levers and moving parts on toys
• Does imaginative play (e.g. pretends they are a dog or makes up stories for their dolls)
• Builds towers of more than six blocks
• Screws and unscrews lids or turns door handles

What Can You Do to Boost Your Toddler’s Cognitive Development? 

Play is key! Toddlers learn the most from playing, and your job is to support that play. This means exploring with your child, playing with them when appropriate and giving them space for independent play when needed. 

As your child is playing, describe new objects they encounter and ask questions about what they’re doing. When it comes to play, your toddler is the leader, and you’re there to make sure they’re getting the most out of it.

During play, refrain yourself from helping your toddler too much. Instead, give them tips for what they might try when they get frustrated.

There are many different types of play you can organize for your toddler—free play, pretend play, outdoor play, play with cognitive activities and toys (cause-and-effect toys, matching games , sorting games, categorizing games, puzzles), and social play with other children. Each type of play is beneficial to toddler cognitive development and should be encouraged. 

Also, spend some time focusing on vocabulary and language skills. Use a variety of words when interacting with your toddler. Sing songs and nursery rhymes together and read to them often. Most importantly, show patience and warmth when responding to your toddler.

If you’re concerned with your toddler’s cognitive development, talk to a doctor or therapist to see if early intervention is needed.

25 Fun Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Providing quality cognitive activities for toddlers may have you feeling overwhelmed. We’ve got you covered with fun cognitive development activities that will boost your toddler’s development and keep you both smiling along the way!

• Provide wooden blocks for stacking and building.
• Go on a scavenger hunt looking for specific things (things that start with a certain letter or are a certain color).
• Provide a bucket of soapy water and sponges outside to wash toys with.
• Go on a treasure hunt outside (collect acorns, rocks, leaves, etc.) and have them make art with their treasures. 
• Play games to practice following directions like “Follow the Leader” or “Simon Says.”
• Throw rocks into a body of water and predict how big the splashes will be.
• Let them pretend play with kitchen utensils.
• Write letters on post-its and have your toddler stick them to objects whose names begin with each letter.  
• Make animals out of playdough with your child.
• Let them match their socks or sort their toys by color.
• Go outside and try to figure out which direction the wind is coming from.
• Gather items and have your toddler sort them based on color, category, shape, etc. 
• Provide matching games and puzzles .
• Draw a simple picture and then cut it into a few pieces. Have your toddler put the pieces back together. 
• Practice counting throughout the day—how many stairs they go up or down, how many times they go down the slide at the park, how many cheerios they eat, etc.
• Cook with your child to teach them how to follow directions, measure, and learn numbers. 
• Cut post-its into shapes and have your child stick them to objects they find that match each shape. 
• Go outside during each season and make notes of what you hear, see, feel, and smell. 
• Create an art box with scrap paper, crayons, markers, and other materials and let them have free time to create. 
• Sing songs and come up with actions to do during each song that your toddler can imitate.
• Take your toddler to a local children’s museum, a local farm, library, or even the grocery store to provide for exploration. Ask questions while you both explore.
• Have other children come over for playdates to help with social skills. 
• Look in the mirror with your child and have them make faces to show different emotions. Playing with mirrors helps children develop their self-image and learn nonverbal cues.  
• Bury treasures (small toys, rocks, acorns, etc.) in sand or wood chips outside and have your child find them.
• Add fun containers to the bath for pouring, measuring, and experimenting with which items float and which items sink .

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Easy Problem Solving Activities For Toddlers

Problem solving activities for toddlers are not only a great way to boost their critical thinking skills but also provide playtime fun for curious little minds.

These daily activities help toddlers develop important cognitive and motor skills while enhancing their creativity and imagination. By engaging in problem solving activities, toddlers learn to think logically, make decisions, and develop a growth mindset.

In this article, I have curated a list of easy problem solving activities for toddlers that help your kids learn through the power of play. These activities require minimal preparation and offer maximum fun for your child – all while promoting language skills and social skills.

This post may contain affiliate links. Full  privacy policy and disclosure here.

Key Takeaways:

• Problem solving activities promote critical thinking and cognitive development in toddlers.
• Engaging in problem solving activities helps toddlers develop important motor skills.
• These activities enhance creativity and imagination in toddlers.
• Toddlers learn logical thinking and decision-making through problem solving activities.
• Curated a list of 50 easy problem solving activities for toddlers to enjoy.

The No-Stress Prep Principle to Toddler Activities

When it comes to toddler activities, the key is to keep it simple and stress-free. The last thing parents need is complicated setups and multiple materials to juggle. That’s where the no-stress prep principle comes in. By providing activities that require minimal preparation and materials, parents can ensure low-effort, high-reward fun for their toddlers.

Table of Contents

These no-stress activities not only provide entertainment but also contribute to cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, as well as creativity and imagination. Toddlers engage in problem-solving tasks such as sorting and matching, which promote cognitive development and critical thinking.

At the same time, these activities focus on refining fine and gross motor skills. Toddlers can practice pinching small objects or jumping and hopping, enhancing their physical coordination and strength.

Moreover, these low-stress activities foster creativity and imagination in toddlers. Through open-ended play, they have the opportunity to express themselves and explore their ideas. Whether it’s building a tower with blocks or creating a pretend play scenario with dolls, these activities encourage imaginative thinking.

By following the no-stress prep principle, parents can provide their toddlers with enriching and enjoyable activities that support their cognitive, physical, and creative development. Let’s take a look at some examples of these easy and rewarding toddler activities.

Benefits of the No-Stress Prep Principle

With these no-stress activities, parents can create a fun and enriching environment for their toddlers while minimizing the effort needed to set up and prepare. Finding the balance between simplicity and engaging experiences is key to ensuring that both parents and toddlers can enjoy quality time together.

Sticky Wall Art

Looking for a simple and mess-free activity to engage your toddler’s senses and enhance their fine motor skills and creativity? Look no further than sticky wall art! With just painter’s tape and a few pieces to stick and re-stick, your little one can enjoy endless fun while developing important skills.

Sticky wall art offers a sensory experience that captivates toddlers as they explore the sticky texture of the tape. This tactile exploration stimulates their senses and encourages curiosity. As they peel and stick the pieces onto the walls or floors, toddlers also develop their fine motor skills by practicing grip and hand-eye coordination.

But that’s not all—sticky wall art is a fantastic opportunity for your toddler to unleash their creativity and imagination. They can arrange the pieces in any way they like, creating their own unique artwork. This open-ended activity allows them to express themselves and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their creations.

Create a designated area in your home for sticky wall art, whether it’s a wall or a large piece of cardboard on the floor. Stick the painter’s tape in various shapes and patterns, leaving plenty of space for your toddler to stick the pieces. Provide your child with a variety of materials they can use, such as foam shapes, fabric scraps, or even cut-up pieces of construction paper.

Encourage your toddler to explore the stickiness of the tape, experiment with different arrangements, and peel and re-stick the pieces as many times as they like. This interactive and sensory-rich activity will keep them engaged and entertained for hours while fostering their cognitive and motor development.

In conclusion, sticky wall art is a fantastic activity for toddlers that offers a sensory experience, enhances fine motor skills, and sparks creativity. With just painter’s tape and a little imagination, you can provide your child with a fun and educational sensory play opportunity that will keep them coming back for more.

Colander Pipe Cleaners

If you’re looking for a simple and creative activity to keep your toddler entertained, colander pipe cleaners are the perfect solution. All you need is a colander and some pipe cleaners. Show your little one how to thread the pipe cleaners through the holes in the colander, creating a colorful and tactile masterpiece. This activity not only helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination but also encourages creativity and imaginative play.

By manipulating the pipe cleaners and exploring different ways to thread them through the colander, toddlers can experiment with shapes, patterns, and colors. It’s a hands-on sensory experience that stimulates their senses and engages their curious minds.

Watch as their concentration levels increase while they focus on the task at hand. The satisfaction of completing their unique creation will bring a sense of accomplishment and boost their confidence.

Colander pipe cleaners are an excellent activity for both solo play and interactive play with siblings or friends. You can even turn it into a friendly competition, challenging your little ones to create the most elaborate designs.

So grab a colander and some pipe cleaners and let your toddler’s creativity run wild!

Nature’s Paintbrush

Are you looking for a creative and sensory painting activity for your toddler? Look no further than Nature’s Paintbrush! This activity allows your little one to explore the wonders of nature while enhancing their sensory perception and unleashing their creativity.

To get started with Nature’s Paintbrush, all you need to do is step outside and collect some leaves or twigs. These natural materials will serve as your toddler’s paintbrushes, providing a unique and textured painting experience.

With Nature’s Paintbrush, your toddler can create beautiful artwork using the vibrant colors and shapes of leaves or the interesting patterns and textures of twigs. This activity not only engages their senses but also encourages their artistic expression and imagination. As they experiment with different strokes and techniques, they will discover new ways to use nature’s paintbrush to bring their ideas to life.

Nature’s Paintbrush is a wonderful way to connect your toddler with the natural world and foster a love for nature. It provides a hands-on experience that allows them to appreciate the beauty of the outdoors while developing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

So, why wait? Let your toddler’s creativity bloom with Nature’s Paintbrush and watch as they create masterpieces inspired by the beauty of nature.

Mega Block Jumping

Mega block jumping is a fun and interactive gross motor activity that promotes active play and coordination in toddlers. This simple yet engaging activity allows little ones to burn off energy while developing their physical skills.

All you need for mega block jumping is a few large building blocks and a soft surface. Set up a line or a small platform using the blocks and encourage your toddler to jump from one block to another. This activity challenges their coordination and balance while providing them with a sense of accomplishment as they successfully land on each block.

Mega block jumping not only helps toddlers build their gross motor skills but also promotes the development of strength and agility. It gives them an opportunity to explore their physical abilities and improve their balance and spatial awareness.

Benefits of Mega Block Jumping:

• Enhances coordination and balance
• Promotes active play and physical development
• Builds strength and agility

Mega block jumping is a fantastic way to incorporate active play into your toddler’s routine. It provides them with an enjoyable and stimulating experience while supporting their physical development. So grab some large building blocks and watch your little one have a blast while jumping to new heights!

Snowball Pick Up

Snowball pick up is a festive and engaging indoor activity for toddlers. All you need are some soft balls or crumpled pieces of paper to represent snowballs. Spread them out in a designated area and encourage your toddler to pick them up and put them in a container.

This activity is not only a great way to develop fine motor skills but also provides sensory play as toddlers feel the texture of the “snowballs.” It’s a fun and interactive way to bring a touch of winter magic into your home.

As your toddler engages in snowball pick up, they will develop their hand-eye coordination and grasp control, honing their fine motor skills. The sensory experience of touching and holding the “snowballs” stimulates their tactile senses, providing a multi-sensory play opportunity. It’s a wonderful indoor activity that keeps toddlers entertained while also promoting their physical and cognitive development.

The Big List Of Problem Solving Activities For Toddlers

• Sorting Games: Provide objects or toys for young children to sort by color, shape, or size, encouraging critical thinking and classification skills – there all kinds of possible solutions for shape sorting games.
• Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins filled with various materials like rice, beans, or water along with scoops and containers, prompting toddlers to explore and problem-solve through sensory play. You can use open ended questions to prompt the play scene, or encourage free play to help encourage independent play.
• Obstacle Courses: Set up simple obstacle courses using pillows, cushions, and other household items, challenging toddlers to navigate and problem-solve to complete the course.
• Water Play: Offer water play activities with cups, funnels, and toys, allowing toddlers to experiment with pouring, filling, and problem-solving through water exploration.
• Nature Walks: Take toddlers on nature walks, encouraging them to observe and problem-solve as they encounter different elements like rocks, leaves, and insects.
• Shape Matching: Provide shape sorting toys or puzzles for toddlers to match shapes to corresponding holes, promoting spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
• Cooking Together: Involve toddlers in simple cooking activities like mixing ingredients or assembling sandwiches, fostering problem-solving and following instructions.
• Animal Matching: Introduce matching games with pictures or figurines of animals for toddlers to pair together, enhancing memory and problem-solving abilities.
• DIY Crafts: Engage toddlers in age-appropriate DIY crafts using materials like paper, glue, and recycled items, encouraging creative problem-solving and self-expression.
• Story Sequencing: Use picture cards or storybooks to prompt toddlers to sequence events in a story or solve a basic problem, enhancing comprehension and problem-solving through storytelling.
• Pattern Recognition: Create patterns using blocks, beads, or stickers for toddlers to replicate, promoting critical thinking and pattern recognition skills.
• Sensory Exploration: Offer sensory exploration activities with materials like playdough, slime, or kinetic sand, encouraging toddlers to encourage problem solving skills  through tactile experiences.
• Block Stacking Challenges: Encourage toddlers to build tall towers or structures with blocks, fostering spatial reasoning and problem-solving as they balance and stack and come up with creative solutions with creative thinking. Building toys are a must have for every toddlers toy box!
• Color Mixing: Provide paint or colored water for toddlers to experiment with mixing colors, promoting problem-solving and exploration of cause and effect.
• Shadow Play: Use flashlights or natural light to create shadows, prompting toddlers to explore and problem-solve by manipulating objects to create different shadow shapes.
• Music and Movement: Engage toddlers in music and movement activities like dancing or playing instruments, fostering problem-solving and creativity through rhythm and movement.
• Outdoor Scavenger Hunts: Organize scavenger hunt in the backyard or park, challenging young toddlers to find and collect items based on visual cues or descriptions – focusing on developing cognitive skills.
• DIY Sensory Boards: Create sensory boards with textures like sandpaper, fabric, or bubble wrap for toddlers to explore and problem-solve through tactile stimulation.
• Building Bridges: Provide materials like blocks, cardboard, and tape for toddlers to construct bridges or ramps for toy cars or animals, encouraging problem-solving and engineering skills.
• Imaginative Play Prompts: Offer props or costumes for toddlers to engage in imaginary play scenarios, prompting problem-solving and creativity through role-playing.
• Number Games: Introduce simple number games or counting activities using toys or everyday objects, promoting numeracy skills and problem-solving through counting and sorting.
• Shape Hunt: Go on a shape hunt around the house or outdoors, challenging toddlers to find and identify different shapes in their environment. This is a really simple activity that doesn’t require toys for young learners.
• DIY Marble Runs: Create simple marble runs using cardboard tubes, ramps, and tape for toddlers to design and problem-solve as they experiment with gravity and momentum. This is so great for brain development and fine motor skills as well.
• Building with Recyclables: Provide recyclable materials like cardboard boxes, tubes, and bottles for toddlers to build and problem-solve as they construct imaginative structures.
• DIY Puzzles: Make homemade puzzles using pictures or drawings mounted on cardboard for toddlers to assemble, promoting problem-solving and visual-spatial skills.

How can problem solving activities benefit toddlers?

Problem solving activities for toddlers are a great way to boost their critical thinking skills while also having fun. These activities help toddlers develop important cognitive and motor skills, as well as enhance their creativity and imagination. By engaging in problem solving activities, toddlers can learn to think logically, make decisions, and develop a growth mindset.

What is the no-stress prep principle for toddler activities?

When it comes to toddler activities, the key is to keep it simple and stress-free. The no-stress prep principle focuses on providing activities that are easy to set up with minimal materials, while still offering maximum fun and learning opportunities for toddlers. These activities promote cognitive development by involving sorting, matching, and simple puzzles. They also help toddlers refine their fine and gross motor skills through activities like pinching and jumping. Additionally, these activities encourage creativity and imagination, allowing toddlers to express themselves through play.

How can I create sticky wall art with my toddler?

Sticky wall art is a simple and mess-free activity that toddlers will love. All you need is painter’s tape and some pieces for your toddler to stick and re-stick on the walls or floors. This activity provides a sensory experience as toddlers explore the stickiness of the tape and work on their fine motor skills by peeling and sticking the pieces. Additionally, it allows toddlers to use their creativity and imagination as they create their own art on the sticky wall.

What is the nature’s paintbrush activity for toddlers?

Nature’s paintbrush is a fun and sensory painting activity for toddlers. Simply step outside, collect some leaves or twigs, and use them as paintbrushes. This activity not only allows toddlers to explore different textures and sensations, but it also promotes creativity as they create unique artwork using natural materials. It’s a great way for toddlers to connect with nature while also engaging in a fun and creative activity.

How can I engage my toddler in mega block jumping?

Mega block jumping is a simple yet engaging activity that helps toddlers burn off energy and develop their gross motor skills. All you need are some large building blocks and a soft surface. Encourage your toddler to jump from one block to another, challenging their coordination and balance. This activity promotes active play and helps toddlers build strength and agility. It’s a great way to keep your little one entertained while also promoting physical development.

What is snowball pick up for toddlers?

Snowball pick up is a festive and engaging indoor activity for toddlers. All you need are some soft balls or crumpled pieces of paper to represent snowballs. Spread them out in a designated area and encourage your toddler to pick them up and put them in a container. This activity is not only a great way to develop fine motor skills but also provides sensory play as toddlers feel the texture of the “snowballs.” It’s a fun and interactive way to bring a touch of winter magic into your home.

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I'm a mom of 3 and has a passion for helping children reach their human potential. She enjoys helping parents raise confident and healthy kids by explaining how to handle situations using positive and peaceful parenting. I believe that creating strong bonds through small daily interactions is super powerful in changing behavior to the positive direction. It really only takes a few moments a day! Welcome to my blog, and I hope you find a lot of value here.

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8 Engaging Problem Solving Activities For Toddlers

Learning to problem solve is an important life skill that is learned through years of practice and patience. These 8 problem solving activities for toddlers and preschoolers are proven ways to help give your child a head start with this skill.

We can not always be there to help our little ones solve their problems. We CAN, however, provide them with the right tools and resources to help them learn to solve problems independently.

What is Problem Solving?

Problem solving is essentially the process of finding a solution to a problem. To successfully problem solve, children first have to analyze the problem in detail, think about it critically, figure out what needs to be done, brainstorm different strategies to remediate the issue, and then evaluate if the solution was successful.

For children, this can be a very complex and difficult process simply because of their lack of experience.

Since we draw on our knowledge and experience when faced with obstacles, it is important we expose our children to activities that will help give them both the knowledge and experience they need to help face these challenges.

Why Problem-Solving is Important for Young Children

Learning to problem solve is incredibly important during early childhood. Not only does it play a major role in a child’s cognitive development , but it is also a critical component of their academic success and ability to maintain healthy relationships.

When children can effectively solve a problem, it drastically improves their self-esteem and self-confidence. This is especially important when it comes to academics.

Children who can not effectively problem solve tend to get frustrated easily and they may begin showing signs of avoidant behaviors. This can cause children to feel incompetent in school and with relationships which can ultimately lead them to falling behind academically.

Luckily, children learn at an incredible rate, especially during those first couple of years. As you expose your child to different problem-solving activities they will gain the confidence needed to face any challenge they may encounter.

Problem Solving Skills in Early Childhood

Problem-solving skills require the cognitive capabilities to think through a problem and take appropriate action. Some problems may need a simple fix while others may require the use of many of these skills.

Examples of Problem Solving Skills:

• Adaptability and flexibility
• Analytical thinking (being able to break a complex problem down into more manageable parts)
• Communication
• Creativity and innovative
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Logical Reasoning
• Negotiation

How to Teach Problem Solving Skills (+ Strategies)

The best way to teach this skill is to expose your child to various activities that will require a bit of critical thinking and problem-solving.

The problem solving activities for toddlers listed below is a great place to start!

While this skill can be learned during free play , children will develop even stronger problem-solving skills if you encourage this type of thinking and reasoning during certain activities.

Strategies For Parents, Caregivers, or Teachers:

1. Model problem solving by talking out loud in front of your child

Since children lack the experience, they may find it difficult to problem solve. Try modeling this skill when you run into daily problems.

For example: ”I ran out of sugar to make my coffee sweet. Since I do not have any more sugar, what can I put in my coffee to make it sweet? I will put some honey because honey is naturally very sweet!”.

2. Ask open-ended questions

When children approach you with a problem, try asking open-ended questions to help them solve the issue on their own.

Here are some example questions:

• Why did your blocks fall over? What can we do next time to make it stronger?
• What other games you can play with your ball?
• What are some other things can you use to make the fort bigger?

Sometimes children just need a little push to help them find creative solutions.

3. Avoid fixing every problem for your child

One of the best things you can do for your child is to avoid fixing every problem for them.

Whether it is a toy-related issue, a difficult math equation, or a social conflict with a friend or sibling. Try to encourage your child to solve some of these issues with as much independence as possible.

8 Problem Solving Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Here are 8 simple problem solving activities for toddlers and preschoolers. While these activities may seem to be very simple and basic, do not let that fool you. Learning through play is the best way to ”teach” our children the skill of problem solving.

Puzzles are a great activity to encourage skills like trial and error, persistence, and patience. Each new puzzle presents a new set of challenges that the children have to work through.

When children are around 2 years of age you can start with plastic or wooden shape sorters. As they get older and their skills develop, you can give them more complex puzzles to complete like 9 or 12-piece puzzle sets.

2. Sorting Activities

This activity is so simple because you can sort anything including toys, clothes, and even fruits and veggies.

Children learn to compare, contrast, and classify based on what they are observing. This helps with logical thinking, analytical thinking, and it gives children a sense of order. This type of systematic thinking is very helpful for problem solving because it teaches children to perform tasks in a structured manner, much like the steps to solve a problem.

3. Board Games

Board games are a great problem solving activity for toddlers and preschoolers! I love that it can be interactive with young children and adults!

When children are younger, it is best to start with simple games like Zimboos . This is a stacking game that requires children to analyze, critically think, and collaborate with others to make sure the pyramid stays balanced.

As children get older you can advance to more complex games like Quirkle . This game includes a puzzle-like component that allows children to develop their spatial recognition, planning, and problem solving skills. 

4. Construction Play

Construction play using mega blocks, wooden blocks, or even train track sets is an amazing way to help support your child’s brain and cognitive development.

Everything from planning what they want to build to figuring out what to do when certain pieces don’t fit together helps children learn the foundational skills for problem solving.

These are the types of toys I would encourage all parents to have readily available for their children.

5. Story Time Questions

There are so many amazing benefits of reading to your child and it is one of the best listening activities for kids !

As you read to your child, try making it an engaging experience. You can start by asking them open-ended questions to really help them think through certain problems and scenarios.

Here are some examples of the types of problem-solving questions that can be asked during a read-aloud:

• What healthy foods should the caterpillar have eaten to not get a stomach ache?
• The Duck and Penguin don’t like each other, what can do they to work it out and become friends?
• If you lost your shoe, how would you try and find it?
• If your kite got stuck in the tree, how would you try and get it down?

6. Fort Building

I remember always building forts as a child and constantly running into problems. The blankets were always too small, or I couldn’t get them to stay in place!

This is why it is such a great activity for problem-solving! Children have to plan, make decisions, analyze, evaluate, and solve problems. The best part is that most kids will persevere through despite all these challenges because the end result is so much fun!

7. Simple House Chores

If there is one thing I have learned since becoming a mom is that kids love to help! I really enjoy involving my toddler when I am doing work around the house.

To encourage practice with problem-solving, ask your child questions so they can think of solutions to your problems. If your child is still young, this is a great opportunity to model problem solving by simply talking out loud.

Here are some examples:

• These clothes are really dirty, what should we do?
• How can we make our clean-up time faster?
• There are so many toys on the floor, how can we sort and organize them?

8. Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are an incredible learning activity for kids. Since kids learn best through play , it is important to make learning an enjoyable experience for them.

I love scavenger hunts because of how many different skills are involved. Children have to use their observational skills, critical thinking skills, and imagination to solve the problem and complete the tasks.

These are also very customizable. You can use words, pictures, or even descriptions depending on your child’s skill level.

I hope can incorporate some of these problem solving activities for toddlers into your daily routine to help your child become a master problem solver!

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17 Valuable Problem Solving Activities for Toddlers

Posted on February 24, 2023

Problem solving activities for toddlers don’t need to be overly complicated.

I would sit there watching my toddler as he was playing with his toys during his playtime . He would be trying to fit a block into one of those circular toys with the shapes cut out.

He was trying to put a square into a circle cutout.  After a couple of attempts, he clearly couldn’t get it to work and he absolutely lost his cool.

There is yelling and screaming and the toy was eventually thrown some distance across the room. This was not a one-off event.

My second child didn’t seem to have such a lot of trouble with these kinds of situations but my third child is very much the same as her older brother.

Problem-solving skills come easier to some people than they do two others.

However problem-solving skills are an important asset to have no matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in.

Life can be complicated and challenging and we often come across situations that we’re not comfortable in and we’re not sure how to handle.

But is it really that important to start working on problem-solving skills when our kids are still just toddlers?

Why are Problem-Solving Activities for Toddlers Important?

Layers. Let’s think about problem-solving skills in layers.

You may feel as though it’s not very important for your toddler to be working on problem-solving skills but that is the furthest thing from the truth.

The toddler years build-up to the childhood years build-up to teenage years and the teenage years built up to adulthood.

Each stage contains its own unique set of problem-solving that needs to happen and problem-solving skills are a crucial part of toddler cognitive development.

The problem-solving skills that a toddler must learn are not going to be the same as what a teenager is going to need to learn.

However, the skills that a toddler learns are going to directly impact the skills that a teenager is going to be able to learn and how easily they’re able to learn them.

What your toddler learns now is going to make their problem-solving so much easier when they are a teenager.

To put it frankly you want to allow your toddler to be learning problem-solving skills now in order to make their future that much easier. 

Important Skills that Problem-Solving Offers

Let’s just take a moment to really consider everything that your child will gain from having some problem-solving skills. Problem-solving is great but it isn’t the only thing that your child is going to gain.

They will gain the ability to be more creative, have more flexibility, patience, and lateral thinking. 

Your toddler will gain skills such as resilience, level-headedness, and persistence. These may be basic skills, to begin with, but over time they will grow and get stronger and hugely benefit them in the long run.

Your child’s ability to increase their critical thinking skills and work out their own problems is made much easier if they’re given the opportunity to practice these skills as young children.

A List of Problem-Solving Games and Activities for Toddlers

As parents, we can sometimes overthink how our children are going to learn specific skills. An important thing to remember is that a child’s work is play. Play is a child’s work. Children need very little to learn important skills.

However, you can definitely help set up certain scenarios where your toddler can practice the art of problem-solving.

Because children learn through play I am listing a lot of games and activities for toddlers that are meant for building up problem-solving skills. 

I have also included at least one general life activity that takes place in the home. Children do learn through play but there are also just daily activities that are going to help hone their problem-solving skills. Sometimes we just need them to be pointed out.

We often just need some new ways suggested to us when we’re at a dead end for what the best way and most fun way is to teach these kinds of cognitive skills.

This seems like a really obvious answer but it is sometimes the simplest things that make the most difference.

There are there is an abundance of puzzles out there that are perfect for toddlers to home their problem-solving skills with.

My one piece of advice would be to make sure that it is age appropriate. If you pick one that is too advanced you’re only going to end up with a very frustrated toddler. 

#2 Asking Open-Ended Questions (Imaginary Games)

This is something that can be a really fun activity to do with your toddler and there are different ways to do it. You could set up a storytime where they are going to be telling the story themselves. To help them with this you simply ask them open-ended questions. In my experience kids absolutely love this.

You can also make this in an imaginary game. We all know how much our children love for us to play with them and to play imaginary games specifically.

Let them run the narrative by asking them questions. Young toddlers very often come up with the most hilarious storylines.

#3 Scavenger Hunts

This is an activity that all of my children love even my kids who are well out of the toddler stage. For that reason, it can be a really great family activity to do together.

 Create your own scavenger hunts or find one on Pinterest or Google. Make it into a treasure hunt if you really want to up the excitement level. Your older children will love this too.

 Your toddler will have so much fun hunting for things around your house or your yard. It’s a great way of developing their problem-solving skills as they have to think about where certain things would be.

You could even have them create a scavenger hunt for their siblings are friends to do. This is one of those fun activities that can be rehashed many times over.

#4 Creative Play

Creative play isn’t necessarily a toddler activity that you have to set up because they naturally fall into it all on their own. However, it is important to acknowledge how wonderful creative play is for helping to develop problem-solving skills.

Have you ever had a child come to you and complain that their sibling or friend is not playing by the rules of the game that they themselves created?

This is a perfect example of how they are developing their problem-solving skills.

Children naturally create scenarios and situations that are promoted by their life experiences and the things that they see around them.

Creative play gives them the opportunity to role model the examples that they have been exposed to and to work out different scenarios. This is a vital skill for them to develop at a young age.

Most kids can come up with all sorts of games without any toys at all however if you do want to provide toys for the specific kind of play look under toys listed as role play or creative play.

Consider a toy kitchen dress-up clothes play money. All of these things can have open-ended uses for play and learning vital skills. 

When they practice this kind of creative free play with other children, they’re also practicing their language development and working on solving difficult situations. It’s a really good way to overhear what they really are learning.

#5 Creating Patterns

I homeschool my children and one of the things that they all really in have enjoyed doing is learning about patterns. However, this is not something that you have to wait to teach your child until they are school-aged.

Toddlers are more than capable of recognizing patterns around them.

You can get free printables or printables that are very affordable that are specifically made to use with toddlers.

You can get them to continue the pattern or create their own pattern using flashcards.

This is an excellent way of developing problem-solving skills using simple games and even small objects. Use chocolate chips and cheerios to create a pattern. It’ll be great for their fine motor skills and they’ll love the treat when you’re finished the game!

Now, this is obviously not a game or specific activity for toddlers however chores are a normal part of life. In our home, everyone does their bit to help the home run smoothly.

You can totally give your toddler some basic chores that they are responsible for. Simple things like taking a rag and dusting the baseboards. My toddlers have always loved to be helpful in this way. It’s a great way to teach them problem-solving skills. They will learn about the tools they need to use the job to complete the job and how to get the job done well.

As they get older their skills will also get better. 

#7 Stacking Blocks

Stacking blocks are a pretty staple part of many toddlers’ toy chests. It’s an open-ended imaginative toy that your toddler can learn great problem-solving skills from.

The simple act of having to balance blocks on top of one another without them falling over is a skill in and of itself. These were a favorite toy in our home when I had really little kids.

Using building materials such as wooden blocks helps them to problem solve and learn important concepts such as balance, spatial reasoning, and many other great skills.

Little minds can be seen working through the thought process of all the possible solutions for what they want to build.

This was a toy that I often had set aside for independent play (a great tool to have during the early years!).

#8 Magnatiles

Magatiles are another great toy option for open-ended imaginative play. Again your toddler will have to make sure that they understand how to get the tiles to fit together and create the shapes that they’re trying to achieve.

#9 Hide n Seek

Playing hide n’ seek honestly holds some of the fondest memories I have of my kids. There is just something about hearing their little giggles as they are trying their best to hide from me that just melts my heart. Ultimately I end up in fits of vehicles myself.

In all seriousness, your toddler can learn some great problem-solving skills by playing this game with you their siblings or friends.

#10 Grouping Activities

Another simple activity that teaches great problem-solving skills is having your toddler practice grouping specific items based on either their shape color or other identifying thing.

#11 Playing Playdough

Play-Doh is one of the cheapest and most accessible open-ended play items that you can give to your child. You can either just leave them to play with it or you can give them playdough mats where they can create specific shapes with their player.

This is a great activity for developing hand dexterity and also problem-solving skills amongst other things. 

#12 Reading Together

You might not consider reading together an activity that would develop problem-solving skills. However, as your child goes through the story with you and the character that you are reading about is struggling with specific issues your toddler is also going to be thinking about how those issues might be resolved.

A way to make this activity even better is to have a discussion with your toddler as you’re reading a story or after you’ve finished it. 

#13 Gardening

Gardening is a really wonderful activity for your toddler to be involved in.

Not only are they going to learn about plants how they grow and what they can produce for us but they can also learn some valuable problem-solving skills as they help alongside you in the garden. 

#14 Shape Insert Toys

Remember that toy that my son was really struggling with at the beginning of this article? Well despite his frustration it is actually a really fantastic toy for teaching toddlers problem-solving skills. 

#15 Games (Think, Fun, Roll)

There are different games that you can play with your toddler that can also help with problem-solving skills. One that we really love in our home is Think, Fun, Roll .

But there are also board games such as Candyland that toddlers really love and will teach them great skills. 

#16 Playing Memory

Some toddlers may find it a little frustrating playing the game memory . However, if you’re smart and modify it and make it a little easier then this can be a really really wonderful game for toddlers to build up their problem-solving skills.

They’ll learn the process of elimination. They also work on extending their concentration and obviously they’ll be working on their memory skills too.

#17 Daily Activities

Finally, I just want to address one of the most obvious things and that is daily activities. Your child will be doing things like getting dressed brushing their teeth picking up their clothes taking their plate to the kitchen and many other simple tasks like this every single day.

Do not fail to see the wonderful skillset that they will gain from doing these basic tasks.

Toddlers can learn great problem-solving skills simply by getting dressed in the morning.

We really don’t need to overcomplicate things.

Problem-solving is such a vital skill to have especially in adulthood but the things that we provide for our children now will make a big difference in the future.

It can take patience on our behalf and a lot of grace at times to give them the space to really practice their problem-solving skills.

It’s not fun having to listen to your toddler frustrated and whining as I try to learn something new and not step in to fix it for them.

However, you have to see how good is for them to learn these skills. There will be times when you will need to step in and help but a lot of the time it will be great for them to figure it out on their own.

I hope these toddler activity ideas give you a great jumping-off point for a way to teach a child really great problem-solving skills. 

Hi! I’m Christine – a homeschooling mom of three. I see homeschooling simply as another facet of parenting. Just as you teach your child to tie their shoes, you can also teach them how to read and do arithmetic. As a second-generation homeschooler, I know the endless benefits that homeschooling offers. I went on to complete a Bachelor of Nursing and have now chosen to stay at home with my children (while also running an online business).

I have a heart for mothers that feel as though they are just existing from day to day and are longing for more. You can find out more about me and my family over on my ‘ About Me ‘ page.

As well as the abundance of posts you’ll find on my blog, you can also find me over at iHomeschool Network and Today Parenting .

13 Growth Activities To Raise Critical Thinking Toddlers

Table of contents, the most important skills .

Hi friends! As a homeschooling mama of a busy two-year-old, I’m always looking for one more great way to nourish her growing mind. The most important skills are critical thinking skills, and  I’m incredibly passionate about helping young children grow up to be critical thinkers. 

I wanted to share the critical thinking activities for toddlers and techniques I’ve found most helpful for promoting critical thinking in my little one. As she interacts with the world around her, I try to encourage her to ask questions, make observations, and draw logical connections. 

First, I set up our learning space with open-ended toys like blocks, puzzles, and sensory bins. This gives my toddler the freedom to explore materials, test theories, and engage her problem-solving skills. I also take her outdoors often so she can examine nature up close. A nature scavenger hunt is a fun way to exercise those observation abilities! 

In our daily life, I look for chances to engage in critical thinking. Bath time becomes an opportunity for sinking/floating experiments. At mealtimes, we discuss food attributes like colors, textures, and tastes. And I try to read interactive stories that ask thought-provoking questions.  

Play is super vital besides independent play, I make time for free play, pretend play, and imaginative play.  We do group activities to build social skills and teamwork. The other day, we did a collaborative marble run challenge with some friends that required planning, testing, and creative problem-solving. So fun to see their little minds at work!

I don’t expect expert-level analysis from a toddler, but fostering this mindset from a young age builds confidence and cognitive skills over time. My kiddo seems to love exploring ideas and figuring things out. And nothing warms this homeschooling mama’s heart more than seeing that look of discovery on her face! 

Let me know if you have any favorite critical thinking activities for the toddler bunch. I love to hear different perspectives!

 How to assess your child’s reading level at home: The Five Finger Test

What is Critical Thinking for Toddlers?

For young minds, critical thinking is the ability to observe details, ask questions, problem-solve, and make connections through exploring their world. It’s about nurturing natural curiosity and independence. My daughter shows this when she examines objects like bugs or flowers up close, asks “why” questions non-stop, or figures out how to build a block tower through trial and error. 

Why Build Logical Skills Early On? 

The toddler years are the perfect time for honing basic critical thinking skills. Their brains are primed for establishing thinking pathways and making cognitive connections. When we engage toddlers in activities that exercise observation, questioning, and problem-solving, we equip them with skills that will benefit them down the road academically and socially. 

Cognitive Skills: The Building Blocks of Critical Thinking

Language Development is an essential life skill

I nurture language development by narrating our day and expanding on my toddler’s statements. This strengthens communication skills crucial for critical thinking.

Problem-Solving Abilities

Simple games that involve cause and effect, sequencing, or sorting help hone early problem-solving skills and logical reasoning skills. I see my kiddo light up when she figures something out!

Fostering an Enriching Learning Environment

Dedicated Play Space

We converted our spare room into a playroom filled with open-ended toys, art supplies, and hands-on materials like sand tables. This space encourages curiosity and discovery. 

Open-Ended Toys 

Some of our favorites include blocks, puzzles, sensory bins, and pretend play sets. These toys allow for imaginative experimentation rather than having a fixed outcome. 

Outdoor Exploration

We spend lots of time outdoors examining plants and insects, splashing in puddles, and going on nature scavenger hunts. Outdoor time spurs curiosity about the natural world.

Everyday fun Activities 

Problem-Solving activities

Puzzles, matching games, and shape sorters encourage logical thinking and perseverance through trial and error. We also love imaginary games like going on a bear hunt!

Sensory Play

Activities like playing with kinetic sand, water beads, or finger painting different objects can be a critical thinking exercise for the senses and promote open-ended experimentation and problem-solving. 

Storytelling 

I ask thoughtful, critical thinking questions and involve my toddler when reading stories. We talk about the characters’ feelings, make predictions, and discuss creative solutions. 

Artistic Expression 

Our favorite art supplies include crayons, play-dough, paper, glue, and child-safety scissors. Creating art fosters really great skill for creative thinking and problem-solving skills in creative ways by using creative ideas. 

Digital Activities in Moderation

Educational Apps 

I limit screen time but do let my toddler play with a few trusted apps focused on critical thinking, like simple puzzle games and creative drawing programs. 

Balance with Offline Play

While some digital activities can engage her mind, hands-on exploration, movement, and social play are crucial. I aim for minimal screen time.  

Incorporating Critical Thinking Into Everyday Life

Mealtime Choices 

I present two healthy food options and ask my toddler questions to help her consider the choices. This gets her thinking and promotes autonomy in simple ways, but it makes a huge impact.

Bathtime Experiments  

Bath time becomes a chance for critical thinking with sink/float challenges, pouring games, and even some supervised mixing of water and bubbles is an excellent way to practice problem solving.

Using Bedtime Stories To Enhance Critical Thinking

I’ve found bedtime stories to be a fantastic way to nurture critical thinking in my toddler before she drifts off to sleep. 

When we crack open a book at bedtime, I make sure to choose stories that have some problem-solving element or dilemma for the characters. 

Then I engage my toddler in the story by asking the right questions that are open-ended questions about what she thinks will happen next or what she would do if she were the character. We talk through different choices the characters could make and the potential consequences. This helps my little one learn to be an active learner and think critically about decision-making and reasoning without just accepting things at face value and ultimately make good decisions in life. 

After we finish reading, I sometimes have her retell parts of the story in her own words to build her comprehension and narrative skills. Reading interactively at bedtime stretches her thinking and lets her snuggle up with a curious mind.

 I recommend choosing picture books with fun problem-solving plots if you want to turn bedtime stories into stimulating brain-building sessions!

As parents, we can model critical thinking and problem-solving in our everyday actions to demonstrate these skills for our toddlers. When tackling problems, I think out loud so my toddler can follow my thought process. For example, when building something I might say “Hmm, this piece doesn’t fit here. I wonder if turning it this way would work better?” I narrate how I’m testing different solutions so she can see the step-by-step reasoning. 

During daily tasks like cooking or cleaning, I also involve my toddler in the problem-solving. If I’m trying to organize my toolbox, I’ll ask her questions like “Which of these tools is the biggest? Where do you think it should go?”Guiding her through the decision analysis demonstrates how to work through a challenge. I always explain my rationale for the choices I make too. The more I demonstrate thoughtful problem-solving, the more my toddler sees critical thinking in action. Leading by example helps these cognitive skills become ingrained from an early age.

Nurturing A Critical thinking Mindset At Home

Here are some of the techniques I use to nurture critical thinking:

– We turn daily routines like cooking, laundry, or errands into learning opportunities by talking through the steps and asking questions.

– I provide open-ended toys like blocks, puzzles, crayons and other art supplies that allow for creativity. 

– We read interactive stories where my toddler can fill in the blanks or make predictions. 

– Outside time is great for curiosity and critical thinking – we examine flowers, clouds, and insects up close during nature walk. 

– Independent play allows my toddler to problem-solve without interference as she explores the world. 

I’m careful not to provide too much direct instruction at this young age. Instead, I see my role as setting up an enriching environment and letting her imagination take flight!

These early thinking skills will give her confidence in preschool and beyond. I’m so proud to see her make connections or figure something out independently. The toddler years are fleeting so I’m cherishing each “aha” moment!

 Unlock the Secret of Your Perfect Parenting Style Now!

Cheat Sheet: How To Foster Critical Thinking in Toddlers

Chart: 13 critical thinking activities for toddlers chart.

13 activities that promote critical thinking skills for toddlers, preschoolers and young children.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach my toddler critical thinking?

You can teach critical thinking skills by encouraging observation, curiosity, and hands-on exploration. Provide open-ended toys and ask questions that stimulate reasoning. Allow time for independent play and problem-solving. Narrate thought processes during daily activities. Set up cause-and-effect experiments. Introduce age-appropriate logic puzzles and games. 

What activities develop critical thinking?

Activities that promote critical thinking include sensory play, imaginative play, sorting/matching games, open-ended art projects, reading interactive stories, participating in daily tasks, outdoor scavenger hunts, science experiments, and any opportunity for your toddler to ask questions and figure things out independently.

What are creative thinking activities for toddlers? 

Creative thinking activities allow toddlers to come up with innovative solutions. Examples include: open-ended art like painting or play-dough, building structures with blocks, pretend play scenarios, completing puzzles in different ways, exploring musical instruments, storytelling, and hands-on science experiments. 

What is an example of critical thinking for preschoolers?

An example of critical thinking for preschoolers is asking them to figure out how to retrieve a ball that rolled under a piece of furniture. They must analyze the situation, strategize a solution, and problem-solve based on logic. Other examples include sorting toys by specific attributes, arranging sequences of pictures, and answering reasoning questions after reading a story.

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Developing Thinking Skills from 12-24 Months

• May 19, 2016

Toddlers are little scientists. They are eager to figure out how everything works. They do this through “experiments.” They might throw a ball to the ground and see that it bounces, then throw a doll to see what it will do. They also learn to use objects as tools—for example, using a stick to try to get an out-of-reach toy. And their growing memory takes on an important role in helping them learn. For example, they imitate what they see others do, even hours or days later. So watch your toddler hold a cell phone up to her ear and have a chat, grab your briefcase and put on your shoes, or even pick up the newspaper and “read” it just like she’s seen you do.

Create lots of chances for your toddler to “test out” the new ideas and concepts she is learning.

Your child will begin using her new physical skills, strength, and coordination to conduct “experiments” on the new ideas and concepts she is learning. She may stack blocks up in a teetery tower just to see how high it can get before she knocks it down. Or she may practice pouring and filling in the bathtub, which requires a steady hand and lots of hand-eye coordination.

You can see how all areas of development are connected when you see your toddler use their physical skills to explore and learn. They dump and fill, pull and push, move things around, throw and gather items, and much more. Your child’s new physical skills help increase her understanding of how things work by giving her the chance to “test out” the new ideas and concepts she is learning. So, if she carefully pours water out of her sippy cup onto the floor, it is not meant to be naughty, but is probably an experiment to see: What will happen if I do this? (Which will in turn help her learn about the use of paper towels…)

What you can do:

• Follow your child’s lead. If your child loves to be active, she will learn about fast and slow, up and down, and over and under as she plays on the playground. If she prefers to explore with her hands, she will learn the same concepts and skills as she builds with blocks or puzzles.
• Offer your toddler lots of tools for experimenting–toys and objects he can shake, bang, open and close, or take apart in some way to see how they work. Explore with water while taking a bath; fill and dump sand, toys, blocks. Take walks and look for new objects to explore—pine cones, acorns, rocks, and leaves. At the supermarket, talk about what items are hard, soft, big, small, etc.

Play pretend!

As your child gets closer to 2, he will take a very big step in his thinking skills as he develops the ability to use his imagination. This means that he can create new ideas and understand symbols. For example, he offers his bear his sippy cup showing he understands that the stuffed bear is a stand in for a real bear who can eat.

You will see your child’s ability to use his imagination in action as he goes from using objects in they way they are intended to be used–a comb for combing hair–to using them in new, creative ways. The comb might become a toothbrush for a stuffed animal. Other examples of symbolic thinking skills in action would be seeing your toddler hold up a stuffed dog and saying ruff ruff, or babble into a toy phone. He now understands that his stuffed dog is a symbol for a real dog. When he babbles into a toy phone, he understands that this is a “stand-in” for a real phone. Symbolic thinking skills are critical for learning to read as well as for understanding math concepts.

• Play pretend with your toddler. When you see him cuddling his stuffed animal, you might say: “Bear loves it when you cuddle him. Do you think he’s hungry?” Then bring out some pretend food. These kinds of activities will help build your child’s imagination.
• Provide props. Offer your child objects to play with that will help him use his imagination: dress-up clothes, animal figures, dolls, pretend food.

Help your toddler become a good problem-solver

Toddlers can use their thinking and physical skills to solve complex problems by creating and acting on a plan to reach a goal. For example, if they see a toy out of reach, they might climb on a child-safe stool to get it. Or, they might take your hand, walk you to the shelf, and point to what they want.

Your toddler is learning to solve problems when she:

• Tries to flush the toilet
• Explores drawers and cabinets
• Stacks and knocks down blocks
• Pushes buttons on the television remote control or home computer
• Pokes, drops, pushes, pulls and squeezes objects to see what will happen

Being goal oriented also means that toddlers are much less distractible than they may have been earlier. While at 9 months they may have happily turned away from the stereo if shown an interesting rattle, now most toddlers will glance at the rattle and then turn right back to the stereo. Time to do another round of child-proofing!

Your toddler can also solve problems by using her memory to apply ideas to new situations:

• Pull the cover off a toy hidden from view
• Go find the kitchen stool when she wants to reach the countertop
• Blow on her food when you say that her dinner is “hot”
• Try to get her own jacket on
• Use early sharing skills and simple language (with the help of adults) to solve problems with their peers.
• Provide the support your child needs to solve a problem but don’t do it for him. If he’s trying to make a sandcastle but the sand won’t stick, show him how to add water but don’t make the castle for him. The more he does, the more he learns. This builds thinking skills and self-confidence.
• Child-proof your house—again! Get down on your child’s level and explore in all the ways he is able to now. This will help make sure you identify and move all the things he can get to. Doing this helps ensure your child is safe and also reduces the need for lots of No’s.
• Encourage your child to take on some self-care activities—combing hair, brushing teeth, or washing her face. This helps her learn how familiar objects work and solve problems like how to hold the brush.
• Give your child the chance to help around the house. She can wipe down the counter with a towel or sponge, push a broom or mop, rake leaves. These activities give your toddler many chances to solve problems such as how to clean up messes or get rid of the leaves. They also help your toddler feel helpful which builds their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Nurture your toddler’s growing memory

As their memory improves, toddlers are able to remember some past experiences, favorite objects and people. They develop clear preferences about who, what, and how they like things. For example, your toddler may now be able to:

• Show a preference for a favorite clothing item, color, book, toy, or “lovey”.
• Show dislike or disinterest, such as moving away from something scary, like a vacuum cleaner, and then showing a fear of the vacuum some time later, even when it is off.
• Point or gesture to communicate his thoughts and feelings; for example, when given a choice between two boxes of cereal, he may point or reach toward the one he wants.
• Give your child choices. Hold up two different pairs of pajamas and say: “Do you want the rocket ship or the motorcycle pajamas tonight?” Ask your child to pick out which story he wants to hear from a selection of a few books you have chosen.
• Make a “My Day” book. Take pictures of your child doing all her everyday activities: brushing teeth, eating breakfast, playing, napping, going to the park, taking a bath, going to sleep. Snap photos of her with her caregiver or family members, like grandparents, that she is close to. Glue each photo onto a sturdy index card, punch a hole in the corner of each card, and tie securely with a short piece of ribbon. After you talk about each page, ask: What comes next? Your child will come to recognize the people, places, and activities in the book, will begin to anticipate what happens next in her day.

Allow for lots of repetition

Toddlers like to repeat actions over and over again. That’s a good thing because repetition provides the practice children need to master new skills. Repetition also strengthens the connections in the brain that help children learn. Young toddlers are learning through repetition by:

• Asking for their favorite song or story over and over
• Trying to feed you, bite after bite
• Pressing the button on an interesting toy many, many times
• Returning, again and again, to an “off-limits” activity or object—like climbing the stairs
• Follow your child’s lead. Let him do things over and over again (even if you find it tiresome!) He will let you know when he is bored and needs a new challenge. If the activity he wants to repeat is unacceptable to you (like jumping off the couch), offer another, similar activity such as jumping outside or jumping over an obstacle course you make inside using soft pillows.
• Add a new twist. If you child loves pushing buttons over and over again, find other things he can push to make something happen, like the button on a flashlight. This will expand his thinking skills even more as he sees how the same action can have a different outcome based on the object.

Be predictable.

As toddlers identify patterns in their lives, they develop expectations about the world. A child who has always been comforted when she gets a bump is likely to approach her caregiver for a kiss when she falls down. Daily routines, like naptime, bedtime, and mealtime, also help children develop sequencing skills—understanding the order in which events happen– an important literacy and math skill. The added benefit of knowing what to expect is that it helps toddlers feel safe and secure, which makes them feel confident to explore their world.

• Create predictable routines (as much as possible.) For example, bath, books, lullabies, bed. And warn your child about changes. If grandma is picking him up from childcare instead of dad, let your toddler know in advance. This shows you are sensitive to his feelings and helps him prepare for the change.
• Point out the patterns in your child’s life. For example, as you prepare for a trip to the playground: First we fill our bag with toys and snacks. Then we get our coats and shoes on. Then we lock the door behind us. Then we walk to the playground. This also shows your child how to plan and act on a series of steps to reach a goal—an important thinking skill.

Encourage your child to explore how things are similar and different

During this second year, one key way toddlers learn how the world works is by recognizing the features of different objects. This leads to the ability to start to sort and categorize. Toddlers often enjoy grouping objects that look similar, such as all their wooden blocks in one basket and all the plastic blocks in another. Your toddler is categorizing when she:

• Figures out how to fit different shapes into holes or stack rings in the right order
• Sorts objects by color, shape, size or function
• Calls all furry, four-legged animals “dogs” or all men “daddy”
• Make everyday moments chances to categorize. Have your child help with the laundry and put all socks in one pile and shirts in another. Go for a nature walk and collect leaves, pine cones, and rocks in a bag. Then sort them when you get home.
• Involve your toddler in everyday tasks. For example, setting the table together is a matching activity since each family member gets a fork, spoon, napkin, and placemat (save the knives for a grown-up). Help your child put each item on the table. Be sure to thank him and tell him what a big help he is.

What You Can Do to Encourage Your Baby’s Thinking Skills from 12 to 24 Months

Follow your child’s lead..

If your child loves to be active, she will learn about fast and slow, up and down, and over and under as she plays on the playground. If she prefers to explore with her hands, she will learn the same concepts and skills as she builds with blocks or puzzles.

Offer your toddler lots of tools for experimenting

This includes toys and objects he can shake, bang, open and close, or take apart in some way to see how they work. Explore with water while taking a bath; fill and dump sand, toys, blocks. Take walks and look for new objects to explore—pine cones, acorns, rocks, and leaves. At the supermarket, talk about what items are hard, soft, big, small, etc.

Play pretend with your toddler.

When you see him cuddling his stuffed animal, you might say: “Bear loves it when you cuddle him. Do you think he’s hungry?” Then bring out some pretend food. These kinds of activities will help build your child’s imagination.

Provide props.

Offer your child objects to play with that will help him use his imagination: dress-up clothes, animal figures, dolls, pretend food. Provide the support your child needs to solve a problem but don’t do it for him. If he’s trying to make a sandcastle but the sand won’t stick, show him how to add water but don’t make the castle for him. The more he does, the more he learns. This builds thinking skills and self-confidence.

Child-proof your house–again.

Get down on your child’s level and explore in all the ways he is able to now. This will help make sure you identify and move all the things he can get to. Doing this helps ensure your child is safe and also reduces the need for lots of “No’s.”

Encourage your child to take on some self-care activities

Such as combing hair, brushing teeth, or washing her face. This helps her learn how familiar objects work and solve problems like how to hold the brush.

Give your child the chance to help around the house.

She can wipe down the counter with a towel or sponge, push a broom or mop, rake leaves. These activities give your toddler many chances to solve problems: Is the spill all wiped up? How do you pull a leaf bag out of the box for Daddy? They also help your toddler feel helpful which builds their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Give your child choices.

Hold up two different pairs of pajamas and say: “Do you want the rocket ship or the motorcycle pajamas tonight?” Ask your child to pick out which story he wants to hear, from a selection of a few books you have chosen.

Make a “My Day” book.

Take pictures of your child doing all her everyday activities: brushing teeth, eating breakfast, playing, napping, going to the park, taking a bath, going to sleep. Snap photos of her with her caregiver or family members, like grandparents, that she is close to. Glue each photo onto a sturdy index card, punch a hole in the corner of each card, and tie securely with a short piece of ribbon. As you look at each page, ask: “What comes next?” Your child will come to recognize the people, places, and activities in the book, will begin to anticipate what happens next in her day.

Let him do things over and over again (even if you find it tiresome!) He will let you know when he is bored and needs a new challenge. If the activity he wants to repeat is unacceptable to you (like jumping off the couch), offer another, similar activity: jumping outside or jumping over an obstacle course you make inside using soft pillows.

Add a new twist.

If you child loves pushing buttons over and over again, find other things he can push to make something happen like the button on a flashlight. This will expand his thinking skills even more as he sees how the same action can have a different outcome based on the object.

Make everyday moments chances to categorize.

Have your child help with the laundry and put all socks in one pile and shirts in another. Go for a nature walk and collect leaves, pine cones, and rocks in a bag. Then sort them when you get home.

Involve your toddler in everyday tasks.

For example, setting the table together is a matching activity since each family member gets a fork, spoon, napkin, and placemat (save the knives for a grown-up). Help your child put each item on the table. Be sure to thank him and tell him what a big help he is.

Parent-Child Activities that Promote Thinking Skills

Create an obstacle course..

Lay out boxes to crawl through, stools to step over, pillows to jump on top of, low tables to slither under. Describe what your child is doing as he goes through the course. This helps him understand these concepts.

Play red light/green light.

Cut two large circles, one from green paper and one from red. Write “stop” on the red and “go” on the green, and glue them (back to back) over a popsicle stick holder. This is your traffic light. Stand where your child has some room to move toward you, such as at the end of a hallway. When the red sign is showing, your child must stop but when she sees green, she can GO. Alternate between red and green. See if your child wants to take a turn being the traffic light.

Build big minds with “big blocks”.

Gather together empty boxes of all sorts—very big (like a packing box), medium-sized (shirt or empty cereal boxes), and very small (like a cardboard jewelry box). Let your child stack, fill, dump and explore these different boxes. Which can he fit inside? Which are the best for stacking? Can he put the big boxes in one pile and the small boxes in another?

Make a puzzle.

Make two copies of a photo of your child. Glue one of the photos to sturdy cardboard and cut it into three simple pieces. Put the puzzle together in front of your child. Show her the uncut photo. Put them side by side. Wait and watch to see what she will do. Eventually, she will touch or move the puzzle. With your guidance and help, is she able to put it back together?

Frequently Asked Questions

My 18-month-old is obsessed with our remote control. why does she always go back to it, even when i try to distract her with other toys.

Such is the way with toddlers: Their most frustrating behaviors are often both normal and developmentally appropriate. At this age, your child is working very hard to make sense of her world. One of the most important ways she does that is by watching and then imitating what you do. You are her first and most important teacher. She sees you say “thank you” to the grocery clerk so she learns to say “thank you” too. She watches you sweep the floors and she picks up a broom to help. Unfortunately, you can’t turn this desire to imitate on and off. So when your child sees you touching the remote control, she wants to touch it, too. After all, it must be a good thing if you’re doing it!

What do children love electronics so much?

You’ll notice that many toys designed for children this age have features they can explore through touch, such as buttons and raised textures—just like most electronics. However, toddlers almost always prefer to play with the real life objects they see you using which is why they go for remotes, cell phones, etc. Toddlers are learning that to be successful, they need to find out how things work. And electronics make for very interesting props. After all, playing with buttons on the remote offers the exciting possibility that–poof!–the magical machine will come alive. Think of how empowering and exciting this is for your child. But it can also drive you crazy! So now is the time to make sure that all “off-limits” electronics are child-proofed or kept out of the way of little hands. However, be sure to offer your child other objects or toys with buttons and other gadgets that he can make work.

How can I get my toddler to stop going for off-limits objects?

Unfortunately, toddlers simply lack the self-control necessary to resist the wonderful temptation of electronic gadgets and other off-limits items (like shiny picture frames or pointy plugs that fit so nicely into those holes in the wall). While toddlers can understand and respond to words such as “no”, they don’t yet have the self-control to stop their behavior, or to understand the consequences if they don’t. Patience is important, since after telling your toddler 20 times not to play with the remote, chances are she’ll still go for it again. Most children don’t even begin to master controlling their impulses until about age 2 ½.

If the object your child is after isn’t likely to pose a danger to him (such as a remote control–although the batteries are a danger if she puts them into her mouth), the decision of how to set limits is yours. Some parents choose to keep all of these gadgets out of reach and don’t allow their children to touch them until they are older. Or, you could allow your child to use them under your close supervision, such as having your child turn the TV on when you’re planning to watch a show and turning it off when you’re through. This models for your child that there are times when using this equipment is okay and times when it’s not.

What’s most important is that you recognize your child’s needs (learning cause and effect, imitating you) and help her meet them in ways that are acceptable to you.

My father recently died, and I’ve been dealing with it okay, but I’m not sure what to do concerning my 20-month-old. When we go to my parents’ house, she asks for Pop-Pop and we tell her he’s not home. However, I can’t keep doing this. I don’t want her to forget her grand-dad, but how can you explain to a baby that someone has died?

This must be a difficult time as you cope with your own feelings and try to make sense of it all for your young child. Helping her understand what has happened to Pop-Pop is indeed a challenge, as 20-month-olds can’t comprehend the idea of death, or even that they will never see someone again. At the same time, children are very tuned in to the feelings of the important adults in their lives, so it is likely that your child, no matter how well you’re handling your Dad’s death, understands that something sad has happened. It is important that what she is sensing is acknowledged.

Since a 20-month-old can’t understand death, trying to explain it to her would probably cause her more confusion and anxiety. Instead focus on addressing her feelings. What’s most important for your daughter at this time is for you to say something like, “Pop-pop isn’t here. I miss him too.” At this time she won’t be able to understand more.

As your child gets closer to 3, she will likely start to ask questions about what happened to her grandfather. You can then explain that Pop-pop is not coming back; that he died, which means that his body stopped working. Tell her this happens when people are very old or sick and doctors and nurses can’t make their bodies work anymore. You can explain that Pop-pop couldn’t do things like eat or play outside anymore. This gives her a context she can relate to. If she asks whether Pop-pop will ever come back, you should tell her the truth–that he won’t. If your child asks whether you or she or others that she loves will die, you can explain that your bodies are healthy and strong so you are not going to die now.

How should I answer my child’s questions about where her Pop-pop is?

Answer your daughter’s questions based on what you think she can understand. Start with something along the lines of: “Pop-pop isn’t here. I miss him too.” As your child gets older and her questions get more mature, your responses will change accordingly until you feel you are ready to tell her: “Pop-pop died. That means that his body stopped working and the doctors and nurses couldn’t make him better.”

Keep your responses brief. A mistake many parents make is giving more information than their child can process. On the other hand, some parents are tempted not to talk about a deceased person for fear that it will upset the child or themselves. But, of course, avoiding the topic doesn’t make the memories or feelings go away. It just deprives your child of the opportunity to make sense of the experience.

How can I help her keep the memory of her grandfather alive?

When your daughter is old enough, share photos, tell stories, and draw pictures of Pop-Pop. You can also have her do something in your father’s memory. Send off a balloon that says, “I love you”. Or have her help you plant a rose bush, for instance, if her grandfather loved flowers. Reading books about loss can also be very helpful. Some good books include When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers (Puffin, 1998), When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny and Marc Brown (Little Brown & Co., 1998), and About Dying by Sara Bonnett Stein (Walker & Co., 1985).

Does my toddler have a “short attention span” because she won’t sit for a story for more than a minute?

It is perfectly normal for toddlers to not sit still very long–period. Most don’t like to stay in one place for long now that they can explore in so many new ways– by running, jumping and climbing. So, an adult’s idea of snuggling on the couch to hear a story may not be the same idea a toddler has for story-time. You may only be able to read or talk about a few pages in a book at a time.

Here are some ways to engage active children in reading:

• Read a book at snack times when your child may be more likely to sit for longer.
• Offer your child a small toy to hold in her hand—such as a squishy ball—to keep her body moving while you read.
• Read in a dramatic fashion, exaggerating your voice and actions. This often keeps toddlers interested.
• Get your child active and moving by encouraging her to join in on familiar phrases or words, act out an action in the story, or find objects on the page. These “activities” can help their attention stay focused.
• Choose stories that have the same word or phrase repeated. The repetition helps toddlers look forward to hearing the familiar phrase again and also develops their memory and language skills. Encourage her to “help” you read when you get to this refrain.
• Try books that invite action on the part of the child, such as pop-up books, touch-and-feel books, and books with flaps and hidden openings for them to explore.

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Unlocking Your Toddler’s Potential: 23 Activities To Promote Cognitive Development

Welcome to the world of toddlers, where every moment is an opportunity for learning and growth. Cognitive development is a critical aspect of a child’s early years, laying the foundation for their future. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 23 engaging and imaginative activities to promote cognitive development in toddlers. These activities will help enhance your child’s problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and creativity while having a blast.

Table of Contents

Understanding Cognitive Development in Toddlers

Cognitive development encompasses the intellectual growth and mental capacities that toddlers build. It involves memory, problem-solving, reasoning, and language skills. These cognitive abilities form the basis for a child’s ability to absorb, process, and understand information as they grow.

The Significance of Cognitive Activities

Cognitive activities are not just fun and games for toddlers. They are critical in stimulating brain development during this formative stage. By participating in these activities, children foster essential skills such as memory retention, problem-solving, creative thinking, and effective communication. Furthermore, these activities play a crucial role in building a child’s self-esteem and confidence.

Creative Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Here are 23 creative and engaging activities that can supercharge your toddler’s cognitive development. You can effortlessly incorporate these activities into your daily routine, making learning a fun and seamless part of your toddler’s life.

1. Puzzle Play

• Age-appropriate puzzles improve problem-solving and fine motor skills.
• Start with simple shapes and progress to more complex puzzles.

2. Creative Block Building

• Blocks inspire creativity and spatial reasoning.
• Encourage building different structures using various shapes.

3. Magical Storytime

• Reading nurtures language skills, imagination, and critical thinking.
• Opt for colorful picture books and engage in interactive storytelling.

4. Shape and Color Scavenger Hunt

• Turn everyday life into a learning adventure with shape and color hunts.
• Challenge your toddler to find objects that match your cues.

5. Sorting Sensation

• Sorting games with objects like buttons or beads improve categorization skills.
• Toddlers can arrange items by color, shape, or size.

6. Nature Exploration

• Foster observation and appreciation for the natural world through outdoor adventures.
• Collect leaves, rocks, or examine insects while discussing your discoveries.

7. Cooking Adventures

• Baking and cooking provide lessons in measurement, following instructions, and exploring different ingredients.
• Let your toddler help with simple tasks like stirring or pouring.

8. Artistic Expressions

• Arts and crafts encourage creativity and fine motor skills.
• Provide materials such as colored paper, crayons, and glue for open-ended art projects.

9. Hide-and-Seek

• This classic game enhances memory and problem-solving.
• Begin with simple hiding spots and gradually make the game more challenging.

10. Musical Moments

• Singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments promote language development, rhythm, and coordination.
• Encourage your toddler to make their own musical instruments from household items.

11. Number Fun

• Teach numbers through games and counting everyday objects.
• Incorporate numbers into daily activities, such as counting steps or apples at snack time.

12. Family Storytelling

• Encourage grandparents, parents, or older siblings to share family stories.
• This fosters a love for storytelling and strengthens family bonds.

13. Shadow Play

• Create simple shadow puppets using hands and a light source.
• Discuss shapes and movements, sparking imagination.

14. Rhyme Time

• Reading nursery rhymes and singing songs with rhymes improves phonemic awareness.
• Your toddler can even create their rhymes.

15. Animal Adventures

• Learn about animals, their habitats, and sounds.
• Visit a petting zoo or explore animal documentaries together.

16. Planting Seeds

• Gardening provides a hands-on lesson in life cycles and nurturing.
• Grow simple plants like flowers or herbs together.

17. Pattern Play

• Recognizing patterns is a crucial cognitive skill.
• Use toys or everyday objects to teach patterns.

18. Scavenger Hunts

• Create scavenger hunts around your home or in the backyard.
• Offer clues and encourage toddlers to solve riddles to find hidden treasures.

19. Science Experiments

• Conduct simple, safe experiments that explore scientific concepts.
• For example, create a volcanic eruption with baking soda and vinegar.

20. Memory Games

• Play games like Memory or Simon Says to enhance memory and focus.
• As your toddler progresses, increase the complexity of the games.

21. Digital Exploration

• Utilize educational apps and games on tablets or smartphones.
• Choose apps that focus on cognitive development while monitoring screen time.

22. Learning a New Language

• Introduce basic words and phrases from a different language.
• Explore educational videos or use language-learning apps together.

23. Encourage Curiosity

• Foster inquisitiveness by welcoming questions.
• Provide clear and age-appropriate answers, encouraging critical thinking.

FAQs about Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Q 1. how do cognitive activities benefit toddlers.

Ans 1: Cognitive activities enhance memory, problem-solving, reasoning, and decision-making skills in toddlers, laying the foundation for their academic and personal development.

Q 2. Can I start these activities with my toddler even before they can talk?

Ans 2: Absolutely! Many of these activities are suitable for non-verbal toddlers and can enhance their cognitive development.

3. Are there cognitive activities that can be incorporated into daily routines?

Ans 3: Yes, activities like counting steps, narrating your day, or identifying colors in daily life can naturally promote cognitive development.

4. Is screen time considered a cognitive activity?

Ans 4: While some educational apps can be beneficial, it’s essential to limit screen time for toddlers and balance it with other activities like reading and outdoor play.

5. How can I track my toddler’s cognitive development progress?

Ans 4: You can monitor your toddler’s progress by observing their ability to solve puzzles, answer questions, and use language skills. Remember that every child develops at their own pace.

Cognitive activities for toddlers are a powerful tool to support your child’s development. Through play, exploration, and bonding, you can lay the foundation for a bright future. These 23 activities are just the beginning of a wonderful journey of learning and growth. Get ready to witness the incredible cognitive development of your toddler as they explore, inquire, and discover the world around them. Happy learning!

Visit Parentology for more parenting tips and advice.

Remember, the most important aspect of these activities is to have fun with your toddler. By making learning enjoyable, you’ll be giving them the best gift of all: a lifelong love of learning.

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Cognitive Activities to Do With Your Toddler

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Why it's helpful: Employing your toddler's help for everyday tasks around the house gives her a chance to practice following directions . Entrusting her with jobs also fosters a sense of independence and feeds her desire to be curious and explore.

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Some skills gained from the problem-solving activities include lateral thinking, analytical thinking, creativity, persistence, logical reasoning, communication skills, and decision-making skills. 

The Importance of Problem-Solving Activities for Toddlers

In almost every stage of growth, children are likely to encounter some difficulties. How they handle these challenges depends on the skills they have built over time.

That’s why every parent should invest in quality problem-solving activities for their child. The skills mentioned above are critical for toddlers, and it can be challenging to develop them.

Early ages are the best time for children to learn how to solve different problems in a fun way. 

In many cases, many young mothers are students who dream of spending as much time as possible with their children, but they are held up with advancing their knowledge in their areas of specialization.

To have more time for toddlers as young mothers, you can use the online essay writer service EduBirdie to have your research papers written by top writers. EduBirdie has great writers, and you will receive quality work at the right time. This automatically translates to excellent scores.

If you have more time with your child, you are likely to notice the challenges they are going through and choose the best problem-solving activities for them.

The more problem-solving activities they perform, the more likely the child will develop excellent skills that will enable them to navigate most of the challenges in their lifetime. Here are some simple problem-solving activities for toddlers:

1. Building a maze

Building a maze is fun outside and one of the best activities for 2-year-old toddlers. Since toddlers can’t yet do a maze in an activity book, this is a great way to use their problem solving and navigation skills.

Draw a big maze on the pavement with sidewalk chalk . Then, make passages, including a few that end in a dead-end. Teach your toddler how to walk through and find their way out.

Allow them to try it on their own. The more trials, the better the child gets at figuring out the best way out. If the child gets used to the simple maze, you can draw a more complex one, adding more dead-end passages to make finding their way out more complicated.

This way, you will enhance their cognitive skills, which are vital for success in their life.

Puzzles are some of the best sensory activities for toddlers. They help a lot in enhancing the thinking capabilities of toddlers.

A puzzle is a big set of muddled-up things that must be sorted out and put back together.

The best type of puzzle for children is wooden puzzles , as they last longer, and the frame provides a structure to guide the child while playing. Inset puzzles are perfect for toddlers, especially ones with familiar objects (transportation, animals, colors, and shapes).

So, make an effort to sit with your child and help them play different puzzles. It’s even better than leaving your toddler to play with fancy toys with flashing lights and music.

Solving puzzles is real learning and allows the students to build their skills at their own pace. It’s ok to let them get a little frustrated! The more you leave them to independently figure it out, the quicker they will gain the skill.

3. Following patterns

Following patterns is just a simple activity that can be played with colored blocks, counters, or shapes. In this case, the child should simply make a pattern with the blocks and vary it by changing the patterns’ colors, shapes, or sizes.

At first, you can demonstrate how to make simple patterns to your child and then make the patterns more complex as they get used to the simple ones. Following patterns train the toddler to analyze given information, make sense of it, recognize the pattern it should follow, and then recreate it.

For the complex patterns, carry out the first few steps and then ask your child to continue.

4. Board games

Playing board games is an excellent way to develop your problem-solving skills, and your child can quickly start with simple games. This could be CandyLand ( a huge hit with little ones) or Chutes and Ladders .

Board games teach toddlers the skill of following rules and moving logically.

With time, you can introduce games that require deeper thinking and planning, like Monopoly Junior. This game will require you to explain a lot, and sometimes you will have to play with the child.

You can also let your child play Go Fish to teach them how to think ahead and solve the problems they will encounter in the future.

Related Post: Perfect Board Games for 2 Year Olds

5. Storytime questions

Stories are a great way of teaching children moral values and the problem-solving skills they require for their lifetime. During storytelling, develop a habit of asking questions to help the child develop higher-order thinking skills like comprehension.

It’s simple: pause for a few minutes and pose questions about the story. Start with simple questions, like “What did the boy say?” or “Where did the family go?.”

Then move onto more abstract thinking, problem solving questions, like “what will the boy do now that his pet died?” or “what can the girl do to find her lost toy?”

You can also pose an unexpected question to make the child more attentive. Storytime questions teach toddlers to pay attention to details and concentrate on one activity at a time.

It also reinforces the message you were trying to pass to the toddler. As a result, the toddler will easily remember the story’s moral lessons and apply them when faced with challenges in their lifetime.

6. Building with construction toys

Construction toys could be engineering blocks, Legos, or a proper set of wooden blocks that can be used to construct simple structures.

Everything the toddler will build is challenging as it requires critical thinking in brainstorming what to build and how to put the different pieces together.

The design built should be functional and work as expected. So, let the child construct freely and occasionally set for them a challenge to be completed within the set time with specific conditions.

This could be building two towers with a bridge joining them or building a creature with three arms standing on its own. Let the kids exercise their brains until they find a way to make the structure work.

7. Classifying and grouping activities

Classifying and grouping activities are among the best sensory activities for toddlers. You can easily do this with a tin of buttons or by unpacking the dishwasher. The idea behind classifying and grouping activities is to teach the skill of categorizing information.

There are several button activities for your kids that you can adopt, and they include a messy play tray, making a nameplate, sorting buttons, ordering buttons, or making a button necklace.

Each activity will teach the child an important skill they need to solve problems in the future.

When was the last time you engaged in any of the activities discussed above with your child? Start young with these problem-solving activities that help them navigate most of the challenges in their lifetime.

Take time and choose one of the activities discussed above for your toddler. 

Author’s Bio

Helen Birk is a magnificent writer who creates beautiful stories that leave her readers asking for more. She’s been a wonderful storyteller and her years of experience help her do even better every time she takes up a new book to write. She’s currently planning a book that talks about the role of AI in the development of school education.

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26 Fun Cognitive Games and Activities for Preschoolers

By: Author Tanja McIlroy

Posted on Last updated: 7 April 2024

Categories Activities for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners

A child’s cognitive development is just one part of their holistic development, along with their social, emotional and physical growth. As with all skills, the best way to boost cognitive development in childhood is through play.

Here are 26 simple cognitive games and activities for preschoolers. Many of these games can be played with kindergarteners and older children, or simplified for younger kids.

1. I Spy With My Little Eye

I Spy With My Little Eye is the perfect game for young children as it teaches them to listen and think. 

Give clues for children to guess the object you have spotted, such as:

• I spy with my little eye something round that we use to tell the time.
• I spy with my little eye something wooden that we eat our lunch on.
• I spy with my little eye something that starts with a “b”.

Use this game to teach children concepts like colours, shapes and initial sounds of words.

2. Matching Cards Memory Game

A picture memory game helps children develop visual memory , which is the brain’s ability to remember what it sees. It’s an important pre-reading skill . 

Place pairs of matching picture cards face down on a table and shuffle them. Take turns to turn over two cards at a time. If they match, you keep them, if they don’t match, turn them back over. 

The point is to try and memorize the placement of the cards to find more matches.  

3. Hopscotch

Physical games like Hopscotch can also be a great way to build number skills. 

Draw a basic Hopscotch court with 8 to 10 blocks and get children to hop into the blocks, calling out the numbers as they go. 

4. Kim’s Game

Build cognitive abilities with a brain game like Kim’s Game . This game also builds visual memory.

Place a few toys or household items onto a tray and challenge kids to remember the items on the tray. Then, remove one of the items and see if they can identify the missing item. 

5. Magic Cup Game

This simple game will teach kids to maintain their focus.

All you need is three cups – turned upside down – and a small coin or other object. While the child is watching, place the object under one of the cups and shuffle the cups around on the table. Can they identify which cup the object is under?

6. Shape Hunt

Teach kids about shapes while playing a game. Get them to explore the environment, finding and naming different shapes. They can also point out shapes of objects indoors, such as a round clock, rectangular rug or square window.

Puzzles are one of the best cognitive activities. They build problem-solving skills , fine motor skills and visual perception . 

Offer age-appropriate puzzles, starting with simpler puzzles with larger pieces and gradually increasing in complexity. The right puzzle is challenging but doable.

8. Sorting and Categorising

Matching , sorting and categorising are important cognitive skills to learn and can be practised in a fun way.

Provide a variety of objects (blocks, beads, toys, etc.) and get kids to sort them by colour, shape or size. Or find the match with matching pairs of socks while packing away the laundry.

9. The Telephone Game

One of the best ways to build attention span is with a listening game such as the Telephone Game , also called Broken Telephone .

Kids sit in a circle and the first person (or adult) whispers a short phrase into the next person’s ear. The phrase gets passed around the circle until the last person calls it out, to see if the correct message was delivered around the circle.

Here are some fun Telephone Game phrases .

10. Make Patterns

Teach children to make simple patterns using items such as building blocks, coloured leaves, beads threaded onto a lace, or pegs around a paper plate. 

Start with simple A/B patterns like red block, blue block, red block, blue block , etc. Then move on to more complex patterns such as two red blocks, one blue block, two red blocks, one blue block , etc. 

Teach pattern recognition skills by laying out a pattern of blocks or objects and asking children to tell you what the “rule” or pattern is. 

You could also try clapping patterns and have children copy the simple patterns that you clap.

11. Telling Riddles

Telling riddles is an excellent way to build thinking skills . 

Here are a few examples of animal riddles:

• I am a large animal and I drink water with my trunk. What am I?
• I am tall and pink and I like to stand on one leg. What am I?
• I have spots, I run fast and I sometimes sleep high up in trees. What am I?

You can make these basic or complex, depending on the age of the children.

12. Parking Cars

Parking Cars is a fun number recognition game . Label toy cars with the numbers 1 to 5 and create numbered parking garages out of boxes. Kids can race their cars and park in the garage with the corresponding number.

13. Simon Says

Simon Says is a wonderful educational game for the preschool years. It’s a listening game that also builds language and concentration.

Give a series of instructions for children to follow, each time beginning the command with “Simon says”. When you don’t begin with “Simon says”, the children must not follow the command. 

They therefore have to pay attention to what the instruction is, as well as deciphering whether or not they should do it.

Some examples: 

• Simon says turn around three times.
• Simon says jump and clap your hands twice.
• Run and touch the door. 

For the last command, children should remain still. Here is a list of Simon Says commands .

14. Hide and Seek with Objects

Play a game of Hide and Seek by hiding toys or other objects around the room and giving clues about where they are hidden. Whoever finds the object can hide it in the next round.

Use preposition words like over , inside , next to and beside .

15. Categories Game

The categories game is a fun way to build vocabulary and auditory memory . 

With younger children, choose an easy category like food or animals. Kids sit in a circle and go around, taking turns to add one word that fits into the category. A word may not be repeated.

Words in the animal category could be, for example, different kinds of animals (lion, monkey, cow) or even words associated with animals (food, farm, zoo, claws). Here is a list of categories for ideas.

16. Make up a Story

This is a challenging creative activity for preschoolers but they can give it a try. Let them go at their own pace and don’t worry if the story gets very off track!

Tell the children you are going to make up your own group story. Start with an opening line, introducing one character, and then prompt them, one at a time to add what they think happens next. The story should change direction and become very interesting as they add their ideas.

With older children, they go in order and each child adds just one line to the story, taking it in any direction they choose.

17. Would You Rather?

Play a game of Would You Rather to build children’s critical thinking and logical reasoning.

Ask a series of questions with a choice of two alternatives and they must choose one and explain their choice.

A few examples:

• Would you rather be an ant or an elephant?
• Would you rather have a holiday at the beach or in a new city?
• Would you rather be a superhero or a villain?

Young children might find it challenging to put their reasons into words. Coax them to think about their reasons by asking them questions and guiding them.

18. Numbered Bean Bag Toss

Build number recognition skills at the same time as hand-eye coordination while playing with bean bags . 

Use large boxes or laundry baskets as the targets and place a large label on each one, with numbers up to 5. Children must aim and throw their bean bags into each basket, starting from basket number 1 and continuing up to basket number 5.

19. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Send kids outdoors on a fun nature scavenger hunt. 

Draw a few simple pictures on paper of items found in nature, such as a leaf, stone, twig, flower, blade of grass, etc. Challenge kids to find all the items and place them onto their page, over the corresponding images. They can work in teams or individually.

20. Odd One Out

Play a game of Odd One Out to teach children the concept that items can be grouped according to characteristics or that they can share a “rule”.

With younger children, play this game with physical objects. You can play the game verbally with older children.

Place four or five items on a tray, such as an orange, a banana, a strawberry, a carrot and a pear. Ask children to identify the odd one out (the carrot) and then ask them “What’s the rule?” (It must be a fruit).

21. Card Games

Teach kids to play simple card games like Snap , Slap Jack or Go Fish .

Here are the rules of Snap !

Playing card games improves concentration, number concepts and thinking skills.

22. Dominoes

Playing with Dominoes is a great way for children to learn the numbers, and develop their concept of one-to-one correspondence . 

Younger children don’t need to play strictly by the rules and can simply take turns with an adult, adding a tile with a matching number of dots on it.

23. Charades

Charades is an enjoyable game for all ages. Play a simple version with preschoolers by having cards with images on them. They choose a card and have to act out the image on their card.

Pick words that are easy to portray, such as animals or people at work. Whoever guesses the word, chooses a card to act out in the next round. 

24. Number Hunt

Practise number recognition by hiding number cards (with numbers 1 to 5 or 10) around the room or class, and having children search for them. 

Once the group have found all the numbers, they need to place them into the correct order.

25. Songs and Rhymes

One of the best ways to develop language skills in early childhood is through singing songs and nursery rhymes . Learning songs builds vocabulary, memory, auditory perception and more.

Children should be exposed to songs and rhymes every day. Here’s a great list of 40 classic preschool songs .

26. Board Games

Build intellectual as well as social skills by playing board games with kids. Preschoolers should start with simple games such as Snakes and Ladders , and be guided by an adult. It can take a while for them to get used to things like following set rules, moving counters the correct number of spaces or waiting their turn. 

Here are some suitable board games for preschoolers .

These are just a few cognitive games and activities that preschoolers will enjoy and learn from.

Are you a preschool teacher or working in Early Childhood Education? Would you like to receive regular emails with useful tips and play-based activity ideas to try with your children? Sign up for the newsletter!

For more ideas, here is a list of classic games for kids .

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Promoting Positive Development With Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

• brightwheel
• Child development

Cognitive development refers to the change in children's ability to think, reason, and explore. As children grow, they develop cognitive skills to understand their world better. 

You can help preschoolers further their cognitive development with activities that improve their pattern recognition, literacy, memorization, and other cognitive skills. These skills are the foundation of the advanced concepts they’ll learn in kindergarten, elementary school, and beyond.

Types of cognitive activities for toddlers

In a preschool classroom, implementing various types of cognitive activities for toddlers is crucial for their overall development. These activities engage children's thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills , helping them build a strong foundation for future learning.

Examples of cognitive activities for toddlers include puzzles, sorting games, matching objects, and simple math exercises. These activities not only stimulate their cognitive abilities but also enhance their language skills, fine motor coordination, and social skills. By providing a rich cognitive environment, preschool teachers can foster curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity in young minds, setting them up for success in their educational journey.

Cognitive development activities for pattern recognition

Developing pattern recognition skills helps preschoolers recognize differences between items and make predictions . You can help toddlers build pattern recognition skills with blocks, toy towers, and beads.​

Polygon pattern blocks

This activity helps children develop their motor skills , differentiate between colors and shapes, and identify and continue patterns.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Create simple patterns with polygon blocks and have the children choose the correct block to complete the pattern. As you build your pattern, say the color and shape of each block, then prompt the child to complete the pattern. For example, you can prompt the child by saying, "G reen triangle, orange square, green triangle ” and ask them what comes next.

Snack patterns

This activity helps children develop their hand-eye coordination and motor skills while creating patterns.

At mealtimes, have preschoolers organize small snacks such as pretzels, cereal pieces, goldfish crackers, or fruit into patterns, then have them recite the pattern to you.

Bead threading

This activity helps children develop hand-eye coordination and motor skills, identify colors, and create patterns.

Instruct children to thread beads onto a piece of yarn or string to create necklaces and bracelets. Next, ask them to make patterns with different colors of beads. Once they have completed the pattern, have them recite it while pointing to each bead.

Cognitive development activities for language skills

Developing language skills helps preschoolers communicate emotions, analyze ideas, develop the ability to rationalize, and make sense of the world around them .

You can help toddlers develop their language skills using rhyme scavenger hunts, picture books, and tongue twisters.

Rhyme scavenger hunt

This activity helps children recognize rhymes and strengthen their problem-solving skills.

A rhyming scavenger hunt asks toddlers to interpret simple prompts to find objects that rhyme. Tell your children a word and ask them to search your classroom for an item that rhymes with the word. For example, if you ask the children to find something that rhymes with “star,” they may bring you a toy car.

Picture books

Reading picture books with preschoolers helps them build phonological awareness , learn to use context clues, and increase their vocabulary.

When reading to toddlers, ask them questions that lead them to infer about the story and pictures. Questions like, " How do you think this character feels? " and " What do you think will happen next? " encourage children to use cause-and-effect reasoning skills and draw conclusions.

Tongue twisters

Reciting tongue twisters such as Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Bear , Peter Piper Picked A Peck of Pickled Peppers , and How Much Wood Could A Woodchuck Chuck?  with your toddlers can help them strengthen the muscles in their tongues and improve their pronunciation skills and vocabulary.

Cognitive development activities that improve toddlers' memories

Developing memorization skills helps toddlers remember sight words, understand cause-and-effect, and improve their attention and concentration skills . You can help toddlers improve their memorization skills with memory games and sing-alongs.

This activity helps children recall memorized information and identify animals. For this activity, you'll need a bag and toy zoo animals. 

Start the activity by saying, " I went to the zoo, and I saw a... " then, remove a toy animal from the bag and say its name. Next, pass the bag to a child and have them repeat the phrase, " I went to the zoo, and I saw a... " and say the name of the animal you pulled from the bag.

Have the child remove another animal from the bag and add it to the sentence. For example, "I went to the zoo and I saw a penguin and an elephant. " Then, continue with the next child (" I went to the zoo, and I saw a penguin, an elephant, and a tiger. ") Continue until each child has pulled a toy from the bag and added to the story.

Sing-alongs

Singing repetitive songs and nursery rhymes like The Wheels on the Bus , Old MacDonald , and Where Is Thumbkin? with your preschoolers helps them recognize routines and improves their working memory .

The missing item

This activity helps toddlers identify objects and recall memories.

Place a few small objects on a tray. Name each object with your preschoolers, then ask them about its color, shape, or function. These questions will make the items more memorable.

Cover the tray with a towel, then ask the children to close their eyes. Remove the towel from the tray and have the children reopen their eyes. Ask the children to identify the item that you removed from the tray.

Help your preschoolers develop with these cognitive activities

Cognitive activities help children learn how to think, reason and problem solve as well as develop language skills, creativity and self-expression. Engaging in cognitive tasks also helps build a foundation for future learning experiences by fostering critical thinking skills and developing memory retention abilities. With proper guidance from educators and families, these activities can be beneficial for young children's growth and development both now and into the future.

Activities Across Developmental Domains

Developmentally-appropriate activity ideas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

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Problem Solving Activities for Toddlers

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7 Problem Solving Activities for Toddlers

If you have a toddler, challenges like tough homework problems or social dilemmas are still a long way off. But their brains are already working to build the cognitive skills they’ll need to solve life’s “big” problems later on. For now, problem-solving activities – even ones that seem simple to us – can help them boost their cognition, resilience, and creativity. Best of all? These “problems” are actually fun! Here are seven simple problem-solving activities for toddlers and preschoolers you can start trying right away!

Memory Games

Those little memory card games with matching pictures are great for building concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills in your toddler! Many sets might come with a few too many pairs for a toddler to handle without help, so start with just three to four pairs and see if they can match them up! As they begin to master that, you can add in more and more pairs until they’re working with the entire deck. If you don’t have a deck, you can easily DIY your own with online printables or your own drawings.

Shape Sorters

Shape sorters are a classic problem-solving toy for young toddlers. In addition to matching the shapes to the correct holes, they’ll also need to figure out why the shapes don’t always fit into the hole, requiring them to rotate the shape or make subtle adjustments to their grip.

Sorting/ Grouping by Category

Sorting activities are excellent for toddlers’ problem solving and cognitive development, so there’s no need to stop with shape sorters! Set up simple activities that allow them to sort by a variety of categories. This can be as simple as letting them unload the dishwasher silverware tray into the silverware organizer. Or ask them to gather up all the yellow items they see in a room.

Rotating puzzles is a great way to keep the problem-solving challenge fresh for your toddler. Even a familiar puzzle can present a fun, “new” challenge for your toddler if they haven’t seen it in weeks.

Hide the Teddy Bear

One cognitive milestone for two-year-olds is the ability to find an object that’s been hidden under two or more layers. Once they’ve mastered that, they’ll be ready for more advanced hiding games. Try hiding a teddy bear or other toy when they aren’t looking and then give them clues to find it. You can start off with basic directions and then progress to tougher clues or games of warmer/ colder.

Help Mommy/ Daddy

Toddlers love to help, and helping Mommy or Daddy with a problem can be a lot less frustrating than solving their own. For example, if your little one has been determined to put on their own socks lately but always ends up super frustrated, try mimicking the same problem yourself and asking for their help. You can coach them through the process (“Now we need to stretch out the opening of the sock!”), and because their emotions aren’t already running high, they’ll be more likely to actually absorb your tips. You can model how to stay calm through frustrating situations and help them build confidence in their ability to tackle the same problem later.

Constructive Play Toys

The ability to build a block tower of four or more blocks is actually considered a cognitive milestone for two-year-olds. For three-year-olds, a tower of six or more blocks is the expected milestone. That’s because building anything, even a simple block tower, is a true problem-solving challenge for toddlers. Blocks, train sets, and other building toys let your child work out how to balance, fit pieces together, and deal with frustration as they learn to master the challenge.

HelloParent

13 Problem-Solving Activities For Toddlers And Preschoolers

Problem-Solving Activities

Problem-solving skills are vital for a child’s cognitive development. They help kids think critically, make decisions, and become more independent. As a parent or caregiver, you can nurture these skills in toddlers and preschoolers through a variety of engaging activities. Let’s explore 13 problem-solving activities that will not only entertain but also educate your little ones.

1. Building with Blocks

Age Group: Toddlers and Preschoolers

Description: Encourage your child to build structures with blocks. Start with simple designs and gradually increase complexity. This activity enhances spatial reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

Playing with building blocks is a timeless and versatile activity that promotes problem-solving skills in young children. As they stack blocks to create structures, kids learn about balance, stability, and the concept of cause and effect. They discover that if they place a block in a certain way, the structure becomes more stable. This understanding is fundamental to problem-solving.

2. Shape Sorters

Age Group: Toddlers

Description: Shape sorters teach toddlers about shapes, sizes, and how objects fit together. It’s a fun way to introduce problem-solving concepts.

Shape sorters are classic toys that introduce toddlers to basic problem-solving. The child must figure out which shape corresponds to each slot in the sorter. This activity enhances their ability to categorize and match objects based on their attributes. It’s a simple yet effective way to lay the foundation for more complex problem-solving skills.

Age Group: Preschoolers

Description: Jigsaw puzzles challenge preschoolers to solve problems by finding the right fit for each piece. They improve spatial awareness and patience.

Puzzles are excellent tools for enhancing problem-solving skills in preschoolers. When kids work on jigsaw puzzles, they learn to analyze the shape, color, and pattern of each piece. They must figure out where each piece fits in the overall picture. This process involves trial and error, spatial reasoning, and the development of patience—an essential component of problem-solving.

4. Sorting Games

Description: Sorting games with colored objects or shapes help kids categorize and organize, promoting logical thinking.

Sorting games engage children’s problem-solving abilities by encouraging them to categorize and organize objects based on specific criteria. For instance, you can provide a mix of colored objects and ask your child to sort them by color. This activity promotes logical thinking as they identify patterns and make decisions about where each item belongs.

5. Scavenger Hunts

Description: Create scavenger hunts at home or in your backyard. Give clues to find hidden treasures, stimulating critical thinking and problem-solving.

Scavenger hunts are not only thrilling but also fantastic for developing problem-solving skills. You can organize indoor or outdoor hunts with clues that require critical thinking and problem-solving to decipher. Children must follow clues, make connections, and strategize to locate hidden treasures, fostering their problem-solving abilities.

6. Building Simple Machines

Description: Use everyday materials like cardboard, string, and pulleys to create simple machines. Children can experiment and learn about cause and effect.

Engaging in hands-on activities like building simple machines is a fantastic way to introduce problem-solving concepts. Children can use everyday materials to create pulleys, levers, or ramps. As they experiment with these simple machines, they observe cause-and-effect relationships, encouraging them to think critically and find solutions to challenges they encounter during the construction process.

7. Storytelling

Description: Encourage imaginative problem-solving by asking your child to come up with solutions to challenges in their stories.

Storytelling not only stimulates creativity but also encourages problem-solving in young children. When kids invent stories, they often encounter dilemmas that require resolution. By asking your child how the characters in their stories overcome challenges, you prompt them to think creatively and find solutions—an invaluable problem-solving skill.

8. Cooking Together

Description: Involve your child in age-appropriate cooking activities. They’ll have to follow instructions and make choices, enhancing decision-making skills.

Cooking together is a delightful way to introduce problem-solving to children. It involves following recipes, making choices about ingredients, and adapting to unexpected situations (like a spill). These activities encourage decision-making and critical thinking as children participate in the cooking process.

9. Obstacle Courses

Description: Set up indoor or outdoor obstacle courses with challenges that require problem-solving and decision-making.

Creating obstacle courses at home or in the yard provides opportunities for preschoolers to engage in problem-solving and decision-making. Children must figure out how to navigate the course, overcome obstacles, and make choices along the way. This physical activity complements cognitive development by promoting quick thinking and strategizing.

10. Pattern Recognition

Description: Use everyday objects or cards to create simple patterns. Ask your child to continue the pattern or identify what comes next.

Pattern recognition is a fundamental problem-solving skill that can be introduced through simple activities. You can use everyday objects like buttons or cards with patterns to engage your child. Encourage them to identify and extend patterns, which enhances their ability to recognize sequences and make predictions—a critical component of problem-solving.

11. Planting and Gardening

Description: Gardening teaches children about cause and effect as they care for plants and watch them grow.

Gardening is a hands-on activity that teaches children about cause and effect—a crucial aspect of problem-solving. When kids care for plants and witness their growth, they learn how their actions impact the world around them. Gardening fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions.

12. Role-Playing

Description: Role-playing scenarios where your child has to solve problems, like playing doctor or chef, fosters creativity and critical thinking.

Role-playing scenarios, such as playing doctor or chef, provide opportunities for children to engage in imaginative problem-solving. These activities encourage creativity as children devise solutions to various role-playing challenges. Whether they’re diagnosing a stuffed animal or creating a pretend meal, kids develop problem-solving skills through these scenarios.

13. Science Experiments

Description: Conduct age-appropriate science experiments that encourage hypothesis testing and problem-solving.

Age-appropriate science experiments are perfect for fostering problem-solving skills in preschoolers. These experiments often involve forming hypotheses, conducting tests, and analyzing results—key elements of problem-solving. Encourage your child’s curiosity by engaging in safe and enjoyable science experiments together.

These problem-solving preschool activities for toddlers and preschoolers not only promote cognitive development but also provide hours of fun and quality time together. Remember to adapt activities to your child’s age and developmental stage, allowing them to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace.

In conclusion, nurturing problem-solving skills in young children is essential for their overall development. These activities offer a balance between education and enjoyment, helping your child build critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the problems in joining my kid in a Preschool?

Joining your child in a preschool can have several challenges, including separation anxiety, adjustment to a new routine, socialization issues, and concerns about the quality of education and care provided. It’s essential to communicate with the preschool staff, address your child’s needs, and gradually ease the transition to make the process smoother.

2. How to teach problem-solving skills to children and preteens?

To teach problem-solving skills to children and preteens, encourage them to:

Identify the problem.

Brainstorm possible solutions.

Evaluate the pros and cons of each solution.

Make a decision and implement it.

Reflect on the results and learn from the experience.

3. How to keep children busy during their pre-school time?

To keep children engaged during their preschool time, consider activities like art and craft, storytelling, outdoor play, educational games, music, and group activities. Preschools often offer a variety of structured and creative activities to stimulate children’s minds and bodies.

4. What are some preschool programs for kids?

Preschool programs for kids often include activities like early literacy and numeracy, creative arts, physical play, socialization, and learning through play. Many preschools also follow specific educational approaches like Montessori, Waldorf, or play-based programs to cater to different learning styles.

5. How preschool activities impact a child’s learning pace?

Preschool activities play a significant role in a child’s learning pace. They help children develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills, which are essential for academic success. Engaging in age-appropriate activities can foster a love for learning, improve attention span, and enhance problem-solving abilities.

6. What are problem-solving activities that kids can do at home?

There are various problem-solving activities kids can do at home, such as puzzles, board games, scavenger hunts, building challenges with blocks or LEGO, cooking and following recipes, and science experiments. These activities promote critical thinking and decision-making while having fun.

Also Check: Preschools in India

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WELL BEINGS WITH ALYSIA

The Best Outdoor Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Outdoor cognitive activities for toddlers are engaging, sensory-stimulating ways to build essential thinking skills. Here are dozens of outdoor cognitive activities based on the cognitive skills:

Types of Outdoor Cognitive Activities:

• Exploration + Discovery
• Imagination + Creativity
• Emergent Math
• Reasoning + Problem Solving

Outdoor play has a significant impact on cognitive development for early learners. Toddlers begin learning about the relationship between themselves and the natural world.

Parents and educators can create opportunities for toddlers to explore and engage in sensory-rich play. These activities build executive function skills and establish a foundation for more complex learning in preschool and beyond.

Jump to outdoor cognitive activities for toddlers .

What is an example of a cognitive development activity?

For toddlers, most play and activities have a cognitive development component. Toddlers are constantly learning about their environment and the objects in it.

Here are some examples of easy cognitive development activities for toddlers:

• Reading books
• Throwing a ball over and over again
• Pouring water from a cup in the bath

How can I help my toddler develop cognitive skills?

• Plenty of  open-ended play .
• Developmentally appropriate  toys and activities that are fun and a little challenging.
• Sensory  learning activities.
• Reading  daily.
• Process  art  activities.
• Use  open-ended questions .
• Outdoor  play.
• Risk-taking play .

Outdoor cognitive activities for exploration and discovery

Cognitive skills:

• Exploring and investigating to understand self, others, and objects.
• Using knowledge of cause and effect to influence social and physical environments.

| Water Pouring Station

| Toss + Splash with Wet Sponges

| Sprinklers

| Water Soup: Stir leaves, stones, twigs, flowers, and even a couple of drops of food dye or liquid watercolor into a bucket and stir.

| Kiddie Pool Activities

| More sensory activities for toddlers

Exploring Outdoors

|Spend time outdoors in various weather conditions like wind, rain, or fog. Take time to talk about the weather and what you are experiencing.

• “I can hear the rain and my arm is getting wet.”
• “Our cheeks are red because the air is so cold.”
• “The tree branches are shaking in the wind.”
• “The air feels warmer in the sun than under the tree.”

|Take an evening walk with flashlights and explore shadows.

|Try some creative nature scavenger hunt ideas .

• Free Nature Scavenger Hunt PDFs

Loose Parts Play

This open-ended play experience helps toddlers learn everything about objects, both new and familiar.

Nature-themed loose parts :

Find more in the ultimate guide to loose parts materials .

Outdoor cognitive activities for imagination and creativity

• Observing and imitating sounds, words, gestures, actions, and behaviors.
• Using objects or symbols to represent something else.
• Using pretend play to learn about culture, environment, and experiences.

Outdoor forts

| Blanket or tarp forts

| Pop-up tents

| Cardboard boxes

“House” Outdoors

Take all your toddler’s favorite dramatic play toys outside .

• Baby dolls and accessories
• Stuffed animals
• Pots and Pans
• Table and chairs
• Picnic supplies
• Broom and dustpan

Mud kitchens

There are some beautiful, elaborate mud kitchen ideas. However, you can make a simple mud kitchen . Try just a couple of these materials at a time (or create a crate of mud kitchen supplies to keep outside):

• Muffin tins
• Silicone cupcake liners
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Plates + bowls
• Strainers/colanders
• Butter knives
• Rolling pins

Want more ideas?

100 ice play activities.

Frosty & frozen art, nature, pretend play, and more!

Toy animals or Cars

| Add new toys to a sandbox or sensory bin

|Use sidewalk chalk to create lines for roads or shapes for animal homes

| Toy animals can climb rock mountains, explore twig forests, or burrow into holes

| Construction vehicles can scoop and dig in sand, gravel, or mud

| Cars can roll down hills and slides

Outdoor Art

Toddlers are still building fine motor skills to create more detailed art. So they need more space for big, sweeping arm movements and giant scribbles. In fact, the recommendation is: the younger the artist, the bigger the paper.

Taking art outside is perfect for toddlers. You can create giant art canvases by spreading out large pieces of paper, bedsheets, or cardboard. Toddlers can paint with water or use chalk to create masterpieces on driveways or sidewalks.

Outdoor cognitive activities for emergent math

• Developing a sense of numbers and quantity.
• Learning about how objects move through space.
• Matching and sorting to learn about similarities and differences.

Throw + Toss

Toddlers learn about trajectory and gravity by exploring throwing, tossing, and even catching.

| Jumbo-size ball

| Beach balls

| Different sports balls

| Bouncy balls

| Bean bags

| Stacking stones

| Construct with sticks in the mud

| Bring blocks outdoors

Sorting Loose Parts

Before toddlers can learn to sort and classify, they need to be familiar with all the characteristics of objects. Through repeated exploration using all seven senses , toddlers figure out that some objects are similar and some seem similar but are different.

| Themed Treasure Baskets

• Heavy + Light using feathers, leaves, and rocks
• Smooth + Bumpy using textured sensory balls
• Throw + Toss using balls with scarves, balls, and beanbags
• Sink + Float using toy boats, sponges, sticks, and stones
• Discover more treasure basket themes

| Invite older toddlers to sort loose parts using:

• Small buckets
• Draw squares with chalk to sort objects into

Exploring Hills

Toddlers can learn how their bodies move through space by running, crawling, scooting, and rolling up and down hills.

Outdoor cognitive activities for memory

• Recognizing differences between familiar and unfamiliar people, objects, actions, or events.
• Recognizing the stability/permanence of people and objects in the environment.
• Using memories to create more complex actions and thoughts.

Taking walks

|Follow a familiar path on walks or bike rides and point out landmarks for your toddler to learn

|Let your toddler try to lead the way home (you might be surprised how well they do!)

| Explore a nature trail

|Walk or bike down a new street and investigate new sights or sounds

Playing I Spy outside will help your toddler become familiar with their environment. They will also use their memory to search for objects or places.

|Take books outdoors for a sensory-rich reading experience

|Take photos outside to use in a DIY toddler book

| Set out a basket of books for your toddler to look at when they need to rest

|Read nature books outdoors and make connections between the stories and the environment

Stories about Outdoor Play

Later in the evening, talk with your toddler about what they did earlier while playing outside . They can share their memories and listen to yours.

Outdoor cognitive activities for reasoning and problem solving

• Learning to use a variety of strategies in solving problems.
• Using logic and planning to solve problems.

Risk-taking play

Along with all the incredible benefits of risk-taking play , toddlers learn to use their minds and bodies together. Even a task like climbing the ladder of a playset takes problem solving, logic, trial and error, and building muscle memory.

| Climbing stumps, playsets, stairs

|Climbing up the slide

| Balancing on balance beams, sidewalk edges, low retaining walls, parking blocks

|Carrying large or heavy objects like branches, rocks, crates, buckets

|Running, jumping, spinning , swinging, hanging

| Chase or rough-and-tumble play

Gather, Fill, and Spill

Toddlers naturally love gathering, filling, and spilling . They learn the best ways to gather, scoop, rake, dig, pour, and lift through this activity. Here are some different fill + dump materials:

• Buckets and cups of water
• Sand, mud, potting soil
• Pine needles
• Nuts and seeds
• Shovels and pails
• Toy construction and farm vehicles

*Cognitive skills based on the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework .

Looking for more ideas? 8 Engaging Types of Cognitive Activities for Toddlers.

What are the Signs of Cognitive Developmental Delays in Toddlers?

Talk to your pediatrician if your toddler is:

• Not pointing at items
• Losing skills once had
• Not searching for items they saw you hide
• Not learning familiar items
• Not mimicking others
• Not able to follow simple instructions

This is not a comprehensive list of potential delays. While checklists like the CDC Milestone Tracker help, there is no replacement for intuition. Always reach out to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s development. 

For those in the United States, you can also contact your  local early intervention services  for an evaluation. 

Closing Thoughts on Outdoor Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Outdoor play is essential for toddlers’ physical, emotional and cognitive development. The activities suggested in this blog post will help your toddler build creativity, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, be sure to talk to your pediatrician.

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Developmental Therapist

Hello, I'm Alysia (uh-lee-shuh), a developmental therapist for infants and toddlers with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Special Education. As the founder of Well Beings with Alysia, I'm demystifying child development for parents and early educators. Learn how to introduce the play-based activities, books, nature materials, and toys I use in classrooms and early intervention. Contact me: [email protected]

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About toddler play and cognitive development

Play is vital for your toddler’s cognitive development – that is, your toddler’s ability to think, understand, communicate, make memories, imagine and work out what might happen next.

This is because play is one of the main ways that your toddler explores the world. Toddlers at play are experimenting, thinking, solving problems and learning all the time.

Spending time playing with your toddler is especially good for your toddler’s cognitive development. That’s because playing together builds your relationship and sends a simple but powerful message – you are important to me. This message is key to helping your toddler learn about who they are and where they fit in the world. It also gives your toddler confidence to keep exploring and learning about the world.

A warm and loving relationship with your toddler lays the foundation for all areas of your child’s learning and development.

What to expect: toddler cognitive development and play

Toddlers will probably:

• think you know what’s going on inside their minds
• have difficulty separating what’s real and what’s pretend – for example, they might be easily frightened by monsters in cartoons
• be curious and keen to experiment and explore unfamiliar things
• be able to use words like ‘dark’, ‘loud’, ‘hard’ or ‘heavy’ in the right way, and understand the meaning of these words by 3 years
• enjoy exploring all their senses – sight, sound, taste, touch and smell
• be able to follow simple instructions from 18 months
• use trial and error to start problem-solving – for example, if they can’t fit a puzzle piece in one spot, they might try it somewhere else
• have favourite books, stories and songs – so be prepared for a lot of requests to read or sing it ‘again’!

Toddlers are determined to try everything , even activities that might not be suitable for their age. They’re just trying to figure out how things work.

For example, at 12-16 months, your toddler will want to explore all toys and objects within reach – banging, dropping, pushing and shaking them to see what happens. A safe home environment will give your toddler the freedom to explore without getting hurt.

Your toddler might now understand that there are groups of things in the world. By about 16 months, your toddler might be able to sort objects into types – for example, by colour, shape or size. This helps with early maths thinking. Toys and household items like pegs and plastic cooking utensils are good for this kind of play.

Toddlers don’t know how all the concepts fit together. For example, your toddler can see that things flush down the toilet. But toddlers don’t realise that they themselves can’t be flushed down the toilet too. Or that if a leg rips off a favourite doll or teddy bear, the same doesn’t happen to a real person. Taking the time to explain these concepts can ease your toddler’s fears.

If you’re concerned about your toddler’s development, it’s a good idea to get help early. Talk with your GP , your child and family health nurse or your toddler’s early childhood educator .

Play ideas to support cognitive development in toddlers

It’s good to try plenty of different play activities with your toddler. This promotes cognitive development by giving your toddler many ways to learn about their world.

Here are everyday play ideas to support your toddler’s thinking and learning:

• Help your toddler put together basic puzzles.
• Give your toddler fun bath toys for measuring, scooping and pouring. You can talk about why some things sink and others float.
• Read books and recite nursery rhymes together. By 2 years, you can leave out words from your toddler’s favourite stories and ask your toddler to tell you what happens next.
• Sing simple songs that involve actions or animal sounds. For example, ‘Heads and shoulders’ or ‘Old MacDonald’ .
• Give your toddler things to sort, like coloured blocks, shapes or pegs , or plastic cups and containers of different sizes.
• Give your toddler toys with buttons to push to make something happen.
• Put together a box of materials for simple art and craft activities . This can include finger paint, crayons and paper, coloured chalk for drawing and writing on outdoor paths, scrap materials or playdough . Let your toddler decide what to make.
• Play outside in the backyard, at your local park or at the beach.

It’s a good idea to let your child take the lead with play , because toddlers learn best when they’re interested in an activity. When you follow your toddler’s lead, you can use your toddler’s interests to help them learn something new.

If your toddler is having difficulty with a play activity, you can ask what they might do next to solve the problem, or you can gently offer ideas. For example, ‘Where else could that puzzle piece fit? Have you tried turning it the other way?’ And celebrating effort will encourage your toddler to tackle new problems. For example, ‘Well done – you’ve found the right spot for it!’

Screen time, digital technology use and toddler cognitive development

Current national and international guidelines recommend that children under 2 years shouldn’t have screen time other than video-chatting with people they know. This is because very young children learn best through everyday experiences like physical play, outside play, creative play and social time with family and friends.

If you choose to let your older toddler have some digital play , it’s best to focus on making quality media choices for your toddler and sharing screen time and digital technology with them.

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Home • Toddler • Development

23+ Activities To Promote Cognitive Development In Toddlers

Simple and engaging activities can help develop intellectual abilities in toddlers.

Dr. Elena Shea was a physician at the Health Unit of the US Embassy in Rome, where she developed an interest in child health. With over 28 years of experience, she is now a breastfeeding medicine provider and literacy advocate for early chi... read full bio

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When we are young, we acquire and develop cognitive skills continuously. These are the skills that assist us in processing and responding to information. Cognitive activities for toddlers aid in the development of these mental capacities, allowing children to read, learn, understand, recall, and focus more quickly.

Infants and toddlers keenly observe their environment and continuously think, learn, and experiment. Cognitive skills serve as the foundation for the development of a child’s social, emotional, language, and communication attributes (1) .

In this post, we share the various aspects of cognitive skill development in toddlers and activities to help improve them.

At What Age Does A Child’s Cognitive Development Begin?

Your baby is filled with curiosity and is learning as soon as they start observing the surroundings. For instance, a two-month-old baby can pay attention to faces and follow moving objects with their eyes. Infants and toddlers watch their parents or elders in the family, listen to the language spoken around, make cooing noises, taste foods, hold or grab objects, or cuddle with their caregiver. Children may choose activities for exploration of their creative abilities. They learn in these ways (2) .

Cognitive development continues till adulthood.

What Are Toddler Cognitive Skills?

As your baby grows there are various milestones of cognitive development. According to Jean Piaget’s  sensorimotor stage (first stage of ‘theory of cognitive development’), infants and toddlers between zero and 24 months of age interact with the world around them . These sensory and motor experiences help them develop cognitive skills.

At each developmental stage, your toddler will develop newer and more complex skills. Let’s explore the various cognitive milestones in toddlers (3) (4) .

• By the time your baby is between nine and 12 months of age , they can sit, stand, crawl, and even walk with support.
• A one-year-old will have a better understanding of the world than they had during infancy. They enjoy looking at picture books, imitate gestures made by others, put one object into the other, manipulate them, recognize words, and respond with sounds and gestures. They also begin understanding the concept of object permanence i X A child’s ability to know that objects continue to exist even though you cannot see or hear them. .
• When they are between one and two years of age, they start to differentiate between ‘me’ and ‘you,’ identify familiar objects and people, and try to respond to words.
• Toddlers who are between two and three years of age show increased independence and learn a lot by exploring the world around them. Cognitive skills that most two-year-olds have are:
• Imitation of their parent’s or family members actions
• Name objects in the books
• Identify their reflection in a mirror
• Understand and respond to instructions given by adults
• Ability to sort objects according to color, size, or type
• Grab and lay building blocks

How Do Toddlers Develop Cognitive Skills?

As babies grow, the nerve cells (neurons) in their brains branch out and form a new connection every time they learn something new. Each neuron can have multiple connections, and together, they form pathways (5) .

Imagine these neural pathways to be the wiring system in your house. Each neural pathway is a circuit. While some pathways, like those that control breathing and digestion are present at birth, other pathways result from cognitive development . It means that the more your baby explores, learns, and interacts, the more pathways are formed. The more these pathways are used, the stronger they become. New neural pathways are formed when your toddler picks up different skills at different stages of development .

These early cognitive skills lay the foundation for complex cognitive abilities that emerge later in life.

Engaging Cognitive Activities For Toddlers

You can engage your toddler in innumerable activities to boost their cognitive development.

1. Sing along

Image: IStock

Music helps develop sensorimotor skills and cognition. Teach your toddler to sing after you or with a music player. It will entertain them and improve their social and emotional skills .

2. Practice animal sounds recognition

Toddlers love animals and are quick to pick up on their sounds. How about practicing animal sounds and asking your toddler to identify them?

3. Learn letters with flashcards

Using flashcards with toddlers is a great way to teach them and boost their memory. You can begin with letters and practice with them daily. This activity is sure to provide plenty of stimulation to your little one.

4. Practice matching simple puzzles

Get your toddler a two-piece puzzle that is easy to identify visually and enables your little one to use their memory and logic to complete them.

5. Learn colors with a color sorter

Colors are fun, attractive, and essential for your toddler’s cognitive development . Get your baby a color sorter and teach them how to use it. It helps boost cognitive and logic skills in your toddler.

6. Understand cause and effect with button toys

An important part of cognitive development in your toddler is understanding the cause and effect phenomenon. A simple button toy that performs an activity, lights up, or gives out a sound is a fun way to teach your child cause and effect.

7. Practice stacking with wooden blocks

Allow your toddler to stack building blocks in any way they want. It allows them to imagine and get creative. Giving them some suggestions once in a while is useful.

8. Explore textures with touch-and-feel toys

Toys for toddlers come in different shapes and materials. It is because toddlers are encouraged to touch and feel different textures and learn about them through sensory experiences.

9. Pretend-play with kitchen toys

Toddlers have a keen sense of imagination. Providing them kitchen toys allows them to use their imagination and creativity in their play . It is also a good way to teach them about food, tastes, and smell.

10. Practice passing through a bike course

Cognitive skills in your toddler are not limited to their mental skills. Set up a bike racecourse in the garden or draw a course with chalk and encourage your toddler to observe and pass through the course accordingly. They can explore using their hands and feet in coordination to move forward, backwards, and turn around, which improves their ability to understand the reactions and react appropriately during an outdoor play .

11. Set up a scavenger hunt

The activity is more appropriate for toddlers around two to three years of age who understand instructions better. Set up a treasure or scavenger hunt for your toddler and give them a reward to motivate them.

12. Play with musical instruments

Babies are instantly attracted to music and sounds of all kinds. Playing with rattles, banging on utensils, and beating on a drum with drumsticks improve your toddler’s dexterity and develop a sense of sound and music in them . Get them a toy musical instrument and encourage them to play it.

13. Let them help with chores

Fun activities with your toddler can be a learning opportunity for them. Allow your child to help you in daily chores such as cleaning their toys and putting the toys in the bin. These will instill a sense of responsibility, improve dexterity, and teach them to follow instructions.

Cognitive Activities To Boost A Toddler’s Memory

Here are some easy and fun activities that can boost your toddler’s memory.

14. Hide an object

Hide an object under the blanket or shuffle it between your hands. Ask your toddler to find the item. Such activities boost your child’s short-term memory i X The ability to retain a small amount of information for a small amount of time. and visual memory i X The ability to remember what you have already seen. and lays the foundation for object permanence. They also help foster a sense of exploration and discovery, which further helps in cognitive development.

15. Repeat songs and stories

Singing to your newborn or infant is recommended as the sounds and tunes could help in cognitive development. As your baby grows up to be a toddler, singing nursery rhymes , narrating stories with images, and encouraging sing-alongs are recommended. Once you feel your child is familiar with a rhyme or song, pause at a point and ask them to continue (6) .

16. Practice numbers and letters

You can keep repeating letters and numbers, and once they are acquainted with them, you can ask them to recollect.

Cognitive Activities To Improve A Toddlers’ Logic

Though underestimated, logic plays a critical role in your child’s life as they grow older. Here are a few things you can do to help your toddler develop logical abilities.

17. Set up simple daily routines

Build simple and defined routines and procedures. Stick to schedules for the toddlers bath, lessons, food, storytelling, activities, or going to the park. This teaches them to relate to the sequence and they expect one after the other. The routine also inculcates a sense of discipline in the child.

18. Hand them sorting-based games and toys

By the age of two years, your toddler will be able to identify objects and sort them. To encourage and strengthen their ability to sort things based on different parameters, you can ask them to sort toys, blocks, animals, colors, or ask them to choose their favorite. The routine can be incorporated during your daily outdoor sessions with your toddler too.

19. Give them puzzles

A great way to boost your toddler’s logic is by engaging them in matching games and puzzles. For example, a puzzle game where they need to match the animal puzzle piece with the puzzle piece of the sound they produce or a game in which different pieces fit in a specific, logical orientation.

Cognitive Activities To Boost A Toddlers’ Imagination and Creativity

Try these activities to boost your toddler’s imagination and creativity.

20. Get creative with art

Children are imaginative and creative. These traits are naturally present in them and can be further honed by creating art, crafts, and painting. For example, use playdough to make a miniature cat or dog and ask your child to follow your steps. After a few times, your child will create an object that they have seen or observed in the environment around them. A similar activity can be taught by asking them to draw or color. Use bright colors that are attractive to your toddler.

21. Engage in outdoor play and short visits

Unstructured play is equally essential for boosting your toddler’s imagination and creativity. Take your child out to a playground or open space to allow them to explore the world outside. A visit to a zoo, a picnic, or a similar experience can boost your child’s cognitive skills.

22. Provide experiences

Start with smaller experiences, but as your toddler begins to grasp more, you need to improvise and provide variety. You may well be sitting with a zebra, a lion, and an astronaut at a tea party hosted by your little one.

23. Get artistic with sidewalk chalk

You can stock up on materials that your child can use to get creative and keep them engaged. One such material is a blackboard and chalk. Let your child think freely and get creative while drawing on the board. It helps your child improve their motor skills , dexterity, and creativity—all of which are needed for cognitive development at this stage.

24. Try shadow play

In the shadow game, the goal is to tag other’s shadows. This simple and enjoyable activity works whether played with parents, in small groups, or with a larger crowd. Although toddlers are fascinated by the shadows, running can be tricky for their little feet. To ensure a playful element, all players can pretend to be slow dinosaurs or large animals, making it equally enjoyable for older kids to join in. This not only creates a level playing field for different age groups but also introduces a fun STEM aspect as children observe and understand how shadows move. Beyond the game, shadow play provides a unique opportunity for kids to practice essential social skills, making it an all-around delightful experience for everyone involved ( 7 ).

Unstructured Toddler Cognitive Activities Examples

While there are plenty of activities that can help boost your toddler’s cognitive skills, unstructured play or free play is equally important for their development. Unstructured play gives toddlers and children the freedom to imagine, explore, create, and play without any rules (8) .

Freedom cultivates and boosts cognitive development along with physical and emotional development. Encouraging your toddler’s free play with children of the same age also helps build their social skills . A combination of structured and unstructured play makes children creative, innovative, imaginative, disciplined and helps them develop critical problem-solving and socialization skills as they grow up.

You can encourage your toddler to play outdoors to explore and interact with the world. However, toddlers can have just as much fun indoors. Some examples of unstructured indoor play include:

• Building with Lego blocks
• Playing with dough
• Playing with a kitchen set
• Playing with water
• Playing with figurines (cars and dolls)
• Playdates with other toddlers
• Narrating a story to friends or family members

Unstructured play is said to be an essential part of childhood and shapes the way your child thinks. Here are a few tips you can use to encourage your toddler during unstructured play.

• Keep lots of materials, such as age-appropriate toys, cardboard boxes, paper towels, blocks, storybooks, blank books, and playdough handy.
• Keep cognitive toys and books on shelves that are easily accessible to your toddler.
• Keep a designated space in their room where your child can just be themselves. It’s okay if they get messy while playing. Or you can have them play in the living room too, like how this anonymous stay-at-home mom created an obstacle race for her son, J. She says, “ I set up an obstacle course in the living room. Pillows on the floor were islands that he had to hop on. Pillows stacked on a chair was our mountain. A blanket thrown over the table created our cave. I pushed the couch up to the chair to create a ‘canyon’ in between. We talked about each landform in the obstacle course and went on a ‘bear hunt’ through the obstacle course. It’s so much more fun moms if you join in the climbing and hopping! And finally we played a game where I called out a landform and he had to climb, crawl or hop to it ( i ).”

How Does A Baby Rattle Help With Cognitive Development?

Rattles are one of the first toys your baby plays with. While in the first two or three months, your baby is attracted to the sound and movements of the rattle when you shake it, from four to seven months, they are likely to hold the rattle by themselves (9) . You encourage them to shake the rattle and make noise. By doing so, your baby learns the purpose of a rattle.

Once your child is familiar with their rattle, play ‘hide the rattle’ with them. Shake the rattle to make noise wherever it is hidden as it encourages your child to understand object permanence and motivates them to look for it. Even in the first two or three months of your baby’s life, the rattle noise is a concept that helps boost your baby’s cognitive development.

Other benefits of using a baby rattle for cognitive development are:

• Different rattles make different noises
• Your infant learns to grasp, hold, and move the rattle, helping them develop their motor skills
• Many rattles are teethers, too
• Toddlers learn to imitate adults by moving the rattle just like the adults do

Your baby can start to observe and process information around them right from birth. By the age of two, they can recognize people and understand instructions after learning simple reactions to various stimuli and learning to differentiate colors. Since the surrounding environment and experiences influence these developments, this is the right age for toddlers to engage in different cognitive activities that encourage exploration and discovery. So, by involving children in these learning activities, you may help them accomplish these milestones and improve their sensorimotor experiences.

Infographic: How Does Scribbling Aid In Toddler Cognitive Development?

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is exercising a cognitive activity?

Yes, exercising can help improve cognitive function by promoting brain development, reducing stress, and releasing growth hormones. It is important to include exercise as a regular part of the routine to benefit from these cognitive benefits (10) .

2. What type of exercise is best for cognitive function?

Cardio exercises like running, dancing, skipping, and jumping are ideal for improving brain function and cognitive development in children. These activities can also enhance learning, retention, analytical ability, and focus (11) .

3. What are some signs that a toddler may be experiencing delays in cognitive development?

Delayed walking, sitting, or crawling, unusually short attention span, difficulties in remembering things, lack of curiosity, delay in learning, trouble in logical thinking, speech delay, low memory span, and slow learning indicate a toddler is experiencing cognitive developmental delays (12) .

4. Can you explain the connection between cognitive and language development in toddlers?

Cognitive and language development are closely linked together. When a toddler speaks or communicates appropriately, it is believed to reflect cognitive development (13) . Toddlers exposed to a rich language environment are believed to be more likely to develop strong cognitive skills.

Key Pointers

• Children’s cognitive development begins within the first 24 months as they observe and pick up on the actions of people around them.
• The development proceeds in different stages, each involving a significant skill achievement.
• You may help your child reach these milestones with activities such as sound recognition, familiarizing with numbers and letters, puzzle-solving, and more.

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Your toddler is learning something new daily! Watch this video to learn how toddler play can help develop cognitive skills like problem solving, memory, and creativity. This simple play combines learning with fun!

Personal Experience: Source

MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.

i. Shaving cream landforms and more; https://engagingtoddleractivities.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/shaving-cream-landforms-and-more/

1. What is Cognitive Development? , HelpMeGrow 2. Milestone Checklist , Centers For Disease Control And Prevention 3. Milestones for a 1-year-old , University of Michigan 4. Milestones for 2-Year-Olds , University of Michigan 5. A. Morin, How kids develop thinking and learning skills , Understood.org 6. Growing Minds With Cognitive Development Activities for Toddlers , Eerie Country Care Management 7. Shadow tag , The Genius of Play 8. Why Unstructured Play is Important to Child Development , HelpMeGrow 9. Ways to Use Rattles with Your Baby or Toddler , Care About Childcare at Utah Valley University 10. Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills ; Harvard Health 11. Physical Activity Promotes Brain Development , University of Nevada 12. Understanding Cognitive Developmental Delay in Children ; WonderBaby 13. What Is Communication and Language Development ; Help Me Grow MN

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Dr. Elena Shea MD, IBCLC

Rohit garoo bsc, mba, dr. ritika shah bds, clc, apoorva k msc (counseling psychology), latest articles, sensorimotor stage: what it is, activities & tips to follow.

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21 Best Cognitive Activities For Toddlers At Home (2024)

Cognitive development is responsible for the way that children learn new skills and absorb new information. Cognitive activities are an important tool to help toddlers to meet developmental milestones. The best cognitive activities include memory games and things that involve concentration, attention, and understanding. We have listed some of our favorites that you and your little one can do from the comfort of your own home.

We have 7 free cognitive activities for toddlers at the end of the article that’ll give you even more ideas without spending a dime.

21 Engaging Cognitive Activities For Toddlers

1. sing a long with a music player.

Music is great for children’s development and teaching your little one to sing along to songs will incorporate that with word recognition and memory skills. Your toddler will love singing and dancing to fun nursery rhymes or Disney songs and it will be entertaining and pressure-free.

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2. Practice Sound Recognition with Animal Sounds

Memory and recognition games are great cognitive activities for young toddlers and a fun way to combine these things is to teach your little one different animal sounds. This toy is wonderful for this activity because it allows them to play independently while still getting all the same benefits from this game.

3. Learn Letters with Flashcards

It’s never too early to start building a strong basis in letters with your little one. Young toddlers can benefit greatly from practicing their letters with flashcards and other memory devices. Parents can work on them with their toddlers or they can work with them on their own and either way it will help with memory and attention.

4. Learn Numbers with a Listen-and-Read Book

This book is one of my favorite ways to teach my little one numbers. It allows them to learn independently as they hear and see the numbers and memorize which is which. Young toddlers love books so this is a great way to combine different cognitive activities into one great afternoon.

5. Practice Shapes with a Wooden Shape Sorter

Shapes and spatial recognition are important developmental skills for toddlers and a shape sorter is a fun and pressure free way for them to practice both. As a bonus, brightly colored toys are great for keeping their attention as they learn and practice their shape skills.

6. Practice Matching with Simple Puzzles

Two-piece puzzles are a great way to let your toddler practice matching, an important cognitive activity at this age. Not only do these puzzles help with practicing matching, but they also aid in honing their hand-eye coordination skills. The best part of two-piece puzzles is that they are not overwhelming for a young mind.

7. Learn Colors with a Color Sorter

Learning colors is fun and important for toddler’s development and a great way to make it feel like play is to let them explore a color sorter. This Mellissa and Doug toy is great because it combines color exploration with the ability to practice their dexterity.

8. Understand Cause and Effect with Button Toys

Cognitive activities don’t have to be complicated. In fact, sometimes the simpler they are, the better. Button toys are fun and entertaining for young toddlers and at the same time it helps them to build a strong basis in cause and effect. Bright colors and fun sounds are a bonus to help keep your little one’s attention while they play.

9. Get Artistic with Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is a wonderful way to incorporate arts and crafts into your little one’s day without having to worry about the mess. Your toddler can enjoy creating brightly colored works of art while they practice fine motor skills and dexterity, both of which are crucial for cognitive development at this age.

10. Practice Stacking with Wooden Blocks

Letting your little one play with blocks and allowing them to stack them as high as they can teaches hand-eye coordination and balance. The bright colors and fun shapes make this a stimulating activity for your little one and will keep them entertained while they learn.

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11. Explore Textures with Touch-and-Feel Toys

Learning about different textures is a fun cognitive activity for young toddlers and touch and feel toys are a great way to introduce this to your child. With these wooden puzzles, your little one can enjoy feeling the different textures while also putting all the different pieces together.

12. Practice Fine Motor Skills with a Busy Board

Busy boards are a fun way to let your little one hone2 their dexterity and fine motor skills while keeping them entertained. They can play with the different buttons, clips, and zippers and practice maneuvering the pieces in a way that just feels like play. This activity also helps them to prepare for getting themselves dressed as they grow up and become more independent.

13. Imagine with Kitchen Toys

Soft cognitive skills like imagination, creativity, and problem solving can be formed and improved through imaginative play. Giving your little one play food and dishes and allowing them to come up with their own creative combinations is a great way to make this a fun learning activity.

14. Practice Balance with a Balance Bike

When you think of cognitive activities, you may think of the brain instead of brawn, but physical activity has just as much of an effect on your little one’s cognitive development as mental activities do. Balance bikes are a wonderful way to incorporate physical cognitive activities into your toddler’s routine and it’s a great way to encourage outdoor play.

15. Have a Scavenger Hunt

Having your little one run around searching for items indoors or outdoors can help them with many cognitive skills including following instructions, object recognition, and attention skills. This is a fun activity for them as well as something that your toddler can do mostly on their own without too much help from you.

16. Play on an Obstacle Course

Obstacle courses are a fun way to encourage active play indoors and it teaches balance and problem solving among other important cognitive skills. Your little one will love climbing and exploring these large, soft blocks while they learn and play.

17. Play with Musical Instruments

Shaking rattles and drumming with drumsticks improves dexterity and is a fun activity for toddlers at every stage. Music is also an important tool for cognitive development for young children and whether you let them play along with music or by themselves, it will be a great way to entertain your little one and stimulate their mind.

18. Practice Fine Motor Skills with an Activity Cube

Fine motor skills are important cognitive skills for young toddlers to learn and there are luckily many ways to make learning and honing them fun and entertaining. Activity cubes are a great way to incorporate this into their day because it has enough variety that it will keep a busy toddler’s attention for a long period of time and it’s a mess-free option that parents will love.

19. Play with Rolling Toys

Rolling toys, such as toy cars, are a fun way to teach your little one fine motor skills as well as encourage imaginative play. Your toddler will love pushing their toys around and creating different stories while they play, and it might even inspire them to be creative. Don’t be surprised if your little one starts building ramps or other devices to play with their toys on.

20. Learn About Emotions with Flashcards

Flashcards are a wonderful learning tool for practicing cognitive skills and learning about different emotions is no exception. While toddlers don’t fully understand others’ emotions, it is never too soon to start allowing them to recognize the different types in themselves as well as others. You can show them the flashcards and tell them “she looks sad” or “he looks happy” and also ask them what emotion they see.

21. Let Them Help with Chores

Toy cleaning supplies are a surprisingly fun activity for young toddlers. This is because they like to emulate things that they see their parents or older siblings do. It is a great cognitive activity that teaches dexterity, responsibility, and how to follow instructions and, as a bonus, it might allow you some hands-free time to get stuff done.

7 Free Cognitive Activities for Toddlers

Sometimes it’s handy, and even necessary, to be able to create activities at a moment’s notice which means using items that you already have around your house. We’ve come up with seven cognitive activities that you can do without buying any extra supplies that will help your toddler to learn in a fun way.

1. Do Sing-Alongs

You can do a sing-along without any extra supplies by just playing some nursery rhymes on your phone or computer. After a couple of times listening to the same song, your little one will recognize the words and the melody and will be able to sing along at least a little bit. This activity is great for word recognition, memory skills, and simply building a love of music.

2. Practice Counting

You can let your little one practice counting with almost any items around the house. If they are not choking-sized, you can set one to ten items out around your toddler and let them practice lining them up and counting. This is great, not only for learning to count, but also could help your little one learn organization skills.

3. Ask Them Questions

An unexpected cognitive activity is to simply ask your toddler questions at regular intervals. These questions can range anywhere from “What do you want for lunch?” to “What sound does a cow make?”. This activity lets your little one practice problem solving and critical thinking and it can be done intermittently throughout the day. It is also great to give your toddler choices and let them make decisions for themselves as it teaches autonomy.

4. Play a Matching Game with Pots and Pans

A great activity for your little one is to set out some of your pots and pans along with their lids and let your toddler match the lid to the pot. This teaches spatial awareness, critical thinking, and problem-solving and it could even turn into a musical activity if they start banging on the pots and pans when they get bored.

5. Play with Cups in the Bathtub

Giving your little one a cup during bath time and letting them fill it up and pour it out can help with fine motor skills as well as simply being a fun activity to entertain them during an otherwise monotonous activity.

6. Let Them Play with a Remote

Button toys are great for fine motor skills and dexterity development. Most toddlers would jump at the opportunity to play with a remote, an otherwise off-limits object, so if you can take the batteries out of the remote and let your toddler press buttons and use their imagination, this will make for an entertaining activity.

7. Stack Dishes

Letting your little one get into your Tupperware cupboard may come in handy when you are looking for free cognitive activities. Stacking dishes has all the same benefits as stacking blocks so it’s a great way to incorporate spatial awareness and building skills into your little one’s day without having to buy the blocks. If they are contained to one area, cleanup should be minimal.

Cognitive activities may sound like they have to be complicated to be effective, but it’s quite the opposite. Simple activities will teach your little one crucial cognitive skills without overwhelming them in the process and may even give you a little bit of hands-free time. As a parent, we all want to set our kids up to have their best chance at success in life and these activities are a fantastic place to start.

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15 Best Speech Therapy Activities for Toddlers

1. SplashLearn

2. singing songs, 3. animal sounds, 4. name that item, 5. bubble blowing, 6. stacking blocks, 7. puzzle solving, 8. feather blow, 9. hide and seek with objects, 10. matching games.

Is your toddler babbling a storm but not quite forming words yet? There’s a lot you can do to help your toddler develop their speech skills in fun and playful ways. This blog post explores engaging speech therapy activities for toddlers that you can do at home!

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

If you are looking for some screen time that doubles as speech therapy, SplashLearn is a one of the best speech therapy activities for toddlers online. Tailored for toddlers, SplashLearn uses interactive games , songs , and stories to introduce new vocabulary, practice letter sounds , and build basic grammar skills. Plus, the engaging characters and colorful graphics keep little ones entertained while they learn. It’s a win-win for parents and toddlers!

Objective: Improve language through rhythm and repetition.

Music is one of the most fun speech therapy ideas. Choose simple songs that feature repetitive phrases and easy melodies. Sing along with your toddler, encouraging them to join in. Repetition of these catchy tunes helps reinforce language patterns and boosts memory. 

Objective: Develop vocal skills through playful sound imitation.

Animal sounds are not just fun; they’re educational. This game is a hit in toddler speech therapy games, where mimicking animals’ noises—like a cow’s “moo” or a cat’s “meow”—helps toddlers practice different vocal pitches and sounds. Engage with your child by taking turns to guess the animal.

Objective: Expand vocabulary.

‘Name That Item’ is a straightforward yet powerful speech therapy activity for three-year-olds . Gather various everyday objects and place them in front of your toddler one at a time. Ask them to name each object. This not only builds their vocabulary but also enhances object recognition skills. It’s a simple and effective way to help them connect words with their corresponding objects, fostering cognitive and language development.

Objective: Stimulate motor skills and sound production.

They learn to control their breath as they blow bubbles, which is crucial for speech clarity. Encourage them to pop the bubbles while saying “pop” or asking for “more.” This activity supports motor skills through blowing and popping and introduces new sounds and words, making it a favorite among speech games.

Objective: Foster language through structured play.

Stacking blocks is a dynamic part of speech and language therapy. As you and your toddler build towers or create designs, narrate each action. Say things like, “Now I’m adding a blue block on top!” Encourage your child to make specific requests, such as asking for a certain color or size. This interaction helps them learn to use language to express their needs and desires while they play.

Objective: Enhance spatial reasoning and descriptive language.

Puzzles are a fantastic tool for developing both language and cognitive skills. Sit with your toddler and tackle a simple puzzle together. Discuss each piece, describing its colors and shapes, and discuss where it might fit on the board. This practice improves their spatial reasoning and enriches their descriptive vocabulary, making it one of the best speech therapy games.

Objective: Improve breath control, which is vital for speech production.

Feather blowing is an excellent toddler speech therapy exercise focusing on breath control, an essential aspect of speech clarity. Have your toddler try to blow a feather across a table or the floor, using only their breath. Guide them to take deep breaths and control the exhale. This activity is fun and teaches them how to regulate their breath, which is crucial for speaking clearly and confidently.

Objective: Build prepositional and spatial language.

Turn learning into an adventure with a game of hide-and-seek using your toddler’s favorite toys. Hide objects around the room and describe their locations using prepositions like “under,” “behind,” or “next to.” This 2-year-old speech therapy activity encourages toddlers to understand and use spatial terms, enhancing their grasp of language and environment.

Objective: Develop cognitive and language skills.

Matching games are excellent activities for improving speech and overall cognitive abilities. Use cards with images of common items or various objects. As you play, discuss the attributes of each item, such as their colors, shapes, and sizes. Encouraging your toddler to articulate these features enhances their vocabulary and helps them connect words and meanings.

11. Follow the Leader

Objective: Encourage imitation of actions and sounds.

“Follow the Leader” is a playful and interactive way to develop communication skills. Perform simple actions or make sounds and have your toddler mimic you. This activity makes learning fun and improves their ability to listen and replicate sounds, which is crucial in early speech development.

12. Interactive Storytelling

Objective: Engage multiple senses for comprehensive language learning.

Storytelling is an engaging way to develop language skills. Make it interactive by using different voices for characters, adding facial expressions, and incorporating hand gestures. Ask your toddler to guess what happens next or mimic the characters’ actions or sounds. This immersive approach stimulates their imagination and encourages them to use language in varied and creative ways.

13. Simple Commands

Objective: Practice comprehension and execution of verbal instructions.

Integrating simple commands into daily routines is a straightforward way to enhance your toddler’s understanding and responsiveness. Commands like “Please bring me the ball” or “Can you touch your nose?” help toddlers associate actions with words, fostering comprehension and verbal skills.

14. Rhythm and Rhyme

Objective: Improve phonemic awareness and verbal memory.

Engage your toddler with simple rhyming games or rhythm clapping. These activities are not just entertaining—they are also powerful tools in speech therapy. They help toddlers recognize sound patterns, essential for developing reading and speech abilities. The repetitive nature of rhymes enhances memory, making this a fun and effective learning tool.

15. Mystery Bag

Objective: Enhance sensory vocabulary and descriptive skills.

The “Mystery Bag” is a simple yet effective tool in our toolkit of speech therapy activities for toddlers at home. Fill a soft, opaque bag with various small, safe household items. Have your toddler reach in and pick one item without looking. Encourage them to feel, squeeze, and manipulate the item and describe it using words like “smooth,” “bumpy,” “cool,” or “flexible.” 

5 Benefits of Speech Therapy Activities for Toddlers

Speech therapy activities for toddlers offer numerous benefits that are crucial for early childhood development:

• These activities help toddlers learn new words, improve their pronunciation, and form complete sentences, facilitating better communication at a young age.
• Engaging in speech therapy activities stimulates thinking, problem-solving, and memory. Toddlers learn to follow instructions, identify objects, and match their attributes, which boosts their overall cognitive abilities.
• As toddlers learn to express themselves more clearly, they gain confidence in social settings. Participating in group activities and games enhances their social interaction and turn-taking skills.
• Through interactive and repetitive exercises, toddlers improve their ability to listen carefully and understand spoken instructions and stories, vital skills for academic success.
• Speech therapy activities are designed to be fun and engaging, making learning a positive and enjoyable experience. This encourages toddlers to love learning and participating in educational activities.

Incorporating speech therapy activities into your toddler’s daily routine can significantly enhance their communication and cognitive skills in a fun and engaging way. By fostering these skills early on, you’ll provide your child with a strong foundation for successful learning and interaction in their future years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are nonverbal communication games for kids.

Nonverbal communication games for kids include activities like charades , where children guess the word or phrase acted out without speaking, and emotion cards, where kids identify and mimic emotions displayed on cards. These games enhance understanding of body language and facial expressions.

How can I help my toddler with speech sounds?

To help your toddler with speech sounds, engage in activities like mimicking animal noises, reading books aloud emphasizing certain sounds, and singing songs that focus on repetitive phonetics. These playful interactions promote accurate articulation and sound recognition.

What are gesture games for speech?

Gesture games for speech involve activities where children use hand movements to communicate ideas or words. Games like “Simon Says” or creating a story using only gestures help children associate actions with words and improve their ability to express themselves without verbal cues.

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