200+ Activites for Ages 1-5




Pin this page as a continuously updated resource for 
tons of creative activities for kids!
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This is a huge ONGOING list of creative activities from 
Play Create Explore
that i've done with my boys in the last few years 
from the ages of 1-5.


The list is mostly in age ASCENDING order, so you'll find most of the baby/toddler play first. However, keep in mind that even most activities towards end of the list can be modified for younger children.  



(If there are any link issues let me know and I'll fix them right away. Thanks!)



Color of the Week Series: (Exploring Colors with a Toddler 
1 color, 1 week at a time. Tons of color themed activities!)












Edible Finger Paints for Babies and Toddlers 












Baby's First Time Painting (13 months)












Baby Sensory Bin (noodles, rice, and shapes)










Baby Sensory Bin (colored sand and blocks)










Baby Sensory Bin (Christmas themed)












Epsom Salt Sensory Play












Kitchen Nesting Cups (baby play)












Baby Drums












Messy Learning with Shaving Cream and Gluing Beans









Toddler Science: Oil and Water+ Food Coloring












Wax Paper Collage










Painting with Water










Clean Mush












Monoprinting









Corn Painting












Corn Shuckin'













Utility Paper Exploration









Contact Paper Collage












Color Wheel Painting









Crazy Textures Painting












Fly Swatter Painting












Egg Shell Sensory









Toy Truck Track Painting









Cotton Ball Activity: Exploring SOFT









Body Painting on a Sheet












Paint Filled Eggs












Powdered Paint Filled Eggs












Colored Ice Cubes









Koolaid Colored Ice Cubes









Ocean Sensory Bin










Imprinting with TP and PT Rolls












Baked Cotton Balls












Colored Tape Collage










Bubble Wrap Printmaking












Dinosaur Sensory Bin










Edible Berry Painting












Toddler Science: Milk Rainbows












Dinosaur Eggs with Coffee Dough









Treasure Rocks









Nut Boats












Jello Sensory Activity









Goop









Apple Printing










Playing With Dried Orange Slices












Christmas Themed Shaving Cream Sensory Bin












Pretend Cooking and Baking With Real Ingredients  (Age 2)









Pretend Cooking with Real Ingredients  (Age 3)










Sticky Salt Painting










Snow Painting












Crayon Melting on a Warm Plate












Treasure Ice Cubes










Color Experimenting in a Clear Plastic Egg Carton












Sponge Painting









Funny Magazine Cutout Gluing and Pasting









Window Markers












Marble Painting










Clay Birds Nest Using Natural Materials










Bath Mat, and Marbles Activity









Buttons: Matching, Sorting, Counting









Plastic Easter Egg Matching Game










Indoor Bubble Blowing












Chalk and Water Play Ideas












Painting Daisies










Pretend Play: Stuffed Animal Bubble Bath and Grooming












Water Balloon Cut-Up












Outdoor Pretend Play: Clothesline









Pretend Play: Store










Paper Bag Puppets












Pretend Garden in a Storage Container












Indoor Spider Web and Bug Rescue









Styrofoam Sculptures












Shaving Cream and Powdered Paints












Painting on a Dry Erase Board












Playdough Filled Balloons









Bubble Printing










Pool Noodle Printing










Magnets and Backdrops Used For Storytelling










Abstract Art Using a Giant Geoboard












Painting Over Hot Glue Gun Designs










Magazine Googly Eye Funny Faces









Pool Noodle Marble Run












Floor Puzzles: Tape and Blocks









Shaving Cream Marbled Paper









Toilet Paper Roll Trail












Weaving With a Styrofoam Produce Tray












Painting with Pudding










Apple Picking Sensory Bin










Hidden Diamonds in Waterbeads Sensory Bin









Leaf Snowflakes and Confetti












Fall Sensory Bin










Army Men Outdoor Play









Puffy Paint












Spice Painting












Cardboard Box Drive Thru Restaurant












Sea in the Sink










Painting With a Battery Powered Spin Spa












Preschool Science: Candy Experiments-Melting and Dissolving










Hail Painting












Indoor Miniature Playscapes: Jungle










Indoor Miniature Playscapes: Tiny Village










Cooked Spaghetti Sensory Bin












Cloud Dough












Making Orange Juice with a Hand Juicer












Toy Painting










Contact Paper Sticky Table












Weird Object Painting










Snow Playdough












Secret Messages in Sea Shells










Huge Popcorn Fight










Rainbow I Spy Sensory Bin












Finders Keepers Treasures










Mini Indoor Skating Rink and Popsicle Stick Ice Skaters












Cozy Reading Area










Fun With a Roll of Toilet Paper












Toothpicks and Marshmallows












Shredded Paper Sensory Bin












Magic Carpet: Imaginary Play and Exercise










Crayon Melting on a Candle Warmer












Comparing and Guessing Weight On a Scale










Secret Messages with Birthday Candles and Watercolors










Contained Body Painting










Cranberry Stamping












The "What's missing?" Game










The "Guess that Smell" Game










Painting with a Mini Back Massager










Big Laminated Dinosaur to Color Over and Over Again












Clay or Playdough Birds Nests










Stone Soup









Playing with Tiny Ice: Sensory and Fine Motor 









Birdseed Sensory Bin












A Sheet of Ice + Food Coloring + Salt = Wow!












Felt Faces












Shaving Cream Slip N Slide









Shaving Cream Rainbow Slip-N-Slide












Pond/Lifecycle of a Frog Sensory Bin










Outdoor Play with a PVC Pipe










20 Ways to Play with Shaving Cream











Painting with a Paint Roller










Ice + Glitter + Baby Oil 












Window Screem Printing/Painting










Blue Glitter Goop









Large Scale Fingerpainting












Aluminum Foil River, Pond, and Waterfall












Colored Vinegar and Baking Soda Eruptions












Outdoor Pretend Cooking Setup












Creating a Mini Pond in a Container










Crushed Chalk Potions










How to Capture and Preserve a Spider Web on Paper










Fun Baths












Night Time Outdoor Reflector Hunt












Volunteering at the Animal Shelter









Nature Hammering










Glow in the Dark Fan












Summer Snowballs












Slime












Bathtub Restaurant










Playing in Rainbow Puddles












Coffee Can Stilts












Tissue Paper Stained Glass Window












Colored Sand Play










Chocolate Playdough









Painting and Printing with Styrofoam










Pendulum Painting












Toy Imprints in Clay












Web Weaving










Salad Spinner Art












Painting and Printing with Hedge Apples 










Fun Learning Activities with Laminated Alphabet Letters












Plastic Cup Phones (classic toy)












Sticky Frame Nature Collage












Colored Glue Art












Face Feature Magnets












Scented and Colored Rice (for sensory play)












Tape Resist Snowflakes 












Coffee Bean Sensory Bin












Playing with Playdough in Water












Party Paint












Marshmallow Stamping












Ice Cream Dough













Fun Way to Learn About Bees











Polka Dot Bath












Button Collection I-Spy












Homemade Scented Paints












Cotton Candy and Bubble Gum Scented Play dough












Sensory Play Recipes Using Frosting Creations












Bubble Wrap Run












Baby Oil Sensory Bags












Make a Photocopy Storybook












River Habitat Small World Sensory Bin








Monster Punching Bag












Toilet Paper Roll Heart Printing












Popcorn Kernel Sensory Bin












Felt Rainbow Busy Bag










Winter Wonderland Small World Sensory Play





Toy Car Painting













Scented Bubble Mountains









Edible Popcorn Painting










Dinosaur Fossil Dig Sensory Bin









Shaving Cream on the Windows










Black Light Painting










Fizzy Rainbow Science

















Yellow Activities and Sensory Bins







































































































































15 comments:

  1. Im a 20year old mom with two boys my baby is one an my oldest is 3 i am looking for activitys that i can do with both of them ab this page has gave me alot of ideas

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  2. Good ideas you got here, apart from letting them explore things by their own safely, you are also starting to develop their creative sides by letting them do art activities. You could also include some dog grooming activities with your child. Me and my little sister are doing that together too even when we visited our relatives in Long island.

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  3. Thank you for this list!! I have a 12 month old and have been running out of ideas. Can't wait to watch our wee man get creating and have some fun.

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  4. Replies
    1. Right! Her son is one lucky boy! I sure hope he sees that when he is older! :)

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  5. Just wanted to give you a thumbs up! I love this list, and use it often in my home daycare.. Thanks so much!

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  6. This one good way in nurturing your child's interest in arts and crafts. Also this will enhance their visual appreciation by distinguishing other colors from the other.

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  7. Quality time with the family is one of the most important factor to keep a ties and bond tight. Having a reserve time to bond and be with them is one good way of clarifying any misunderstandings and issues between each and every member of the family.

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  8. Awesome job! We have a busy summer ahead thanks to you! Please don't ever delete this! --The link to the salt/ice project doesn't work:(

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  9. This is a brilliant collection of ideas! Really fabulous. Thank you!

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  10. I am an Italian Art teacher and I work with kids from 3 to 10! Here I found a lot of news ideas and inspirations! Deeply thank you!

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  11. Just thought I’d let you know I included a link to some of your activities, including painting with trucks on my personal blog. Such cute ideas! Thanks for the post!

    Amy Senter
    aspoolofthread.etsy.com

    http://www.amyroachsenter.blogspot.com/2013/05/105-things-to-do-this-summer.html

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  12. Wow, I've been trying (and failing) to find fun and cheap sensory play things to do with my son who is 4 and has Asperger's Syndrome, needless to say that I will be giving a lot of these a go. On the plus side my 2yr old daughter can join in too :)

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  13. incredible...fantastic...absolutely brilliant!!!
    thank you soooo much for sharing!
    GOD bless :D

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