8 Physical Activities for Energetic Toddlers
Toddlers are positively buzzing with energy most of the time! Here are some simple activities to help burn off some of that energy, and also help develop those all-important gross motor skills. Many of these ideas can be done outdoors or indoors – but don’t be afraid to don a jumper or coat and get outside whatever the weather.
Walking on pillows
What can your cushions and pillows become? How about a set of stepping stones across the living room floor – Jumping across is a fun challenge for a toddler and helps to develop their gross motor skills. Plus they’ll have a softer landing, just in case.
What you will need:
Pillows (several)
How to play:
- Place the pillows on the floor, creating a path or stepping stones
- Encourage your child to walk, balance, or hop from one pillow to another.
Skills Developed:
- Balance and coordination
- Spatial awareness
- Gross motor skills
Helping to wash the car
Active and practical; this is the perfect toddler activity. Water play is always a big hit so why not combine it with some bubbles, a sponge and a car (it could even be their ride-on car). As well as being fun, it also helps strengthen your toddler’s muscles as they stretch and bend, squeeze and scrub.
What you will need:
- A child-sized bucket
- Mild soap and water
- Soft sponge or cloth
How to play:
- Show your child how to dip the sponge in soapy water and gently wash the car’s surface.
- Supervise and assist as needed.
Skills Developed:
- Fine motor skills
- Responsibility and teamwork
- Sensory exploration
Walking the plank
Make a balance beam and encourage your child to walk, run, jump or crawl from one end to the other. Simply use masking tape, string, or a skipping rope to mark out the line. You could make it into a fun role-play game; perhaps there are some pirates at one end of the ‘plank’, or maybe they are walking a tightrope in the circus. If your child is a confident mover, challenge them further by getting them to hop or side-step. This is a great way to challenge coordination and balance and explore new ways of moving.
What you will need:
- A sturdy wooden board or plank
- A safe location (e.g., grass or carpet)
How to play:
- Lay the plank on the ground.
- Pretend to be pirates and take turns “walking the plank.”
Skills Developed:
- Imagination and creativity
- Balance and coordination
An obstacle course
This is one of those activities that can be made using almost anything – a row of chairs, some cushions, a play tunnel, a sheet, or some toilet roll … all of these everyday items can be used to make a fun course for a toddler. They will have to use a range of muscles and coordination as they balance, climb and crawl their way along the course.
What you will need:
- Household items (e.g., cushions, hula hoops, cones)
How to play:
- Set up an obstacle course using the items.
- Have your child navigate the course, crawling, jumping, and climbing as needed.
Skills Developed:
- Motor skills
- Problem-solving
- Physical fitness
Beanbag Toss
Start by setting up targets for your toddler to aim at – you can use paper plates or draw onto the pavement with chalk. Use familiar colours, shapes or numbers to get your toddler to practise their recognition of these at the same time; either have them throw something soft (such as a beanbag or soft toy) onto a specific target or let them choose and ask what they have landed on afterwards. You can encourage further learning by introducing one new colour/shape/number at a time. This activity is also good for hand-eye coordination.
What you will need:
- Beanbags
- Targets (e.g., buckets or hoops)
How to play:
- Mark a throwing line and place the targets at a distance.
- Have your child take turns tossing beanbags to try to hit the targets.
Skills Developed:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Counting and math skills
Jumping beans
Jumping Beans is a fun play idea designed for energetic toddlers, turning your living room into a fun-filled zone for bouncing, laughter, and motor skill development.
What you will need:
- Large cardboard boxes
- Adult supervision
How to play:
- Encourage children to jump into and out of the boxes.
- Ensure the boxes are safe and stable.
Skills Developed:
- Gross motor skills
- Physical activity and exercise
Toddler yoga
Yoga can be a good way to calm down a fidgety toddler and is good for mindfulness and focus. Try and do some simple moves together – it’s a good way to bond and has some giggles along the way when one of you falls over! Yoga can also develop coordination and balance, and strengthen muscles.
What you will need:
- Yoga mats or soft surface
How to play:
- Guide toddlers through simple yoga poses and stretches designed for their age.
- Incorporate playful animal or nature themes.
Skills Developed:
- Flexibility and balance
- Body awareness
- Calmness and relaxation
Balloon badminton
Keep the balloon from touching the ground! Use homemade bats (made from paper plates) to hit the balloon around the room.
Balloon Badminton is a great game to get everyone – toddlers, older siblings and parents alike – moving around the room. It’s also a little less dangerous for indoor play, as there are not hard balls to throw/catch/kick.
What you will need:
- Balloons
- Child-safe badminton rackets or hands
How to play:
- Use the rackets or hands to bat the balloon back and forth over a “net” or line.
- Keep the balloon from touching the ground.
Skills Developed:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Gross motor skills
- Teamwork and social skills
Whilst having lots of fun, toddlers will be strengthening their arms and leg muscles and developing their hand-eye coordination.