Cozy Activities for Toddlers & Kids
- The Styled Cozy
- Feb 10
- 5 min read
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After a few months of too much screen time, I realized that our family needed to dial it in. While sometimes I realize what a necessity it can be to get anything done due to the ages of my kids and their needs, I have really hit a wall with realizing that balance needs to be restored.
We took an entire week off of screens - iPads, TV, video games - the full gambit. It felt good, like, really good. Behavioral issues I started to notice very quickly became a thing of the past. They started to naturally pick up their toys and use their imaginations. I was at the point where I wanted to donate a majority of their toys because they just weren't interested - TV was their instant go-to, and frankly, I didn't set a boundary to stop it.
After our week-long experiment, I wanted to reintroduce screens, with guardrails and guidelines. Thus, our newly adopted schedule. We are only allowed to watch shows and play video games on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. That leaves Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to be immersed in whatever else they want to get into.
Sometimes it means I set some play-moments up for them, but now that they can expect what days they won't be plugged in, they are starting not to ask for it anymore.
Here are my top 5 cozy toddler and kid's activities, crafts, and games that help us get through our days when we are committed to being tech-free.
BLUE TAPE RACEWAY:
This guarantees me at least an hour of play-time (and time to get some laundry done), with an easy set-up.
Items needed:
Toy cars (you probably have some lying around, but here's a pack of our favorites.
How to set it up:
Pick an area with wood or tile flooring, grab some blue painters tape, and create a racetrack!
If I've got boxes lying around waiting to be recycled, sometimes I'll add a 'tunnel' or create a bridge as an additional element.
Grab a bunch of toy cars, and let them at it!
Here's a pic below of one we've done in the past. The best part? Peel it off the floor and toss it out! Doesn't get easier than that.
These are a family-favorite (even my husband likes them), and they are life savers when we bring them to dinner. Stored in a cute drawstring bag, it makes them easy to travel with and put away when we're home. I love these thanks to all of the different pictures and landscapes you can create. It mimics my son's favorite square-shaped building game (IYKYK), and is such a great sensory set of toys. Check out the link above to get a set of your own!
WATER TABLE FUN:
Inside or outside, I usually have a few 'water stations' I can get set up, no matter the weather. Here are a few links to ones that you can copy our set-up, but it's as easy as filling up any sort of container, plopping it outside (or inside on a towel), and then throwing in toys.
We get my son super excited to have his 'animals go swimming' or 'fishing' - and we try to make the set-up different as much as we can. This is one we find ourselves going back to again and again. Don't want to buy anything? Literally fill up a baking pan - it's the perfect swimming hole and you can use what you already have!
Different set-ups:
Remember, this is totally doable with what you already own, but if you want to splurge, the above items are definitely my favorite.
SAND / SENSORY BINS:
Sensory bins go a long way in our house. There's nothing that seems to stimulate my little one's imagination more, so I'm adding it to the list in hopes it sparks some ideas for you.
We have a few store bought ones we love (I'll link below), but these are easy to create with what you have on hand as well. Any container works, just fill with things that you are sure your child won't be tempted to ingest and choke.
Example DIY sensory bin:
Grab a Tupperware type container or shoe box, anything that works that will contain your base. Pick out your base of choice. Some examples of this are things like: dry uncooked rice, dry beans, pasta, sand, or even things like acorns (remember to be cognizant about choking hazards - please!). Pour into your container, and then simply add some smaller toys or little beach shovels.
Store bought sensory bins we love:
Kinetic Sand (we added this to our water/sand table on the sand side - so fun!)
"CAMPING"
This is a really easy one to set up for your kiddos. Set it up and get some work done, or sit back and watch their imaginations run wild.
You can accomplish this with sheets over a string line, any sort of fort-like build with your own on-hand supplies (we love a good sheet or two over a kitchen table), or purchase a premade set. We've done it all and every time we do it, it's well received, no matter how it looks.
Throw in some books, toys, a battery powered lamp or string lights, and you've got yourself a pretty sweet set-up that your inner child will most definitely envy.
Store bought tent set-ups we love:
At the end of the day, these simple activities are about more than just keeping little hands busy. They create small pockets of connection and creativity, without relying on screens to fill the time.
Whether you sit down and play together or set them up so your kids can explore on their own, these moments add up to meaningful memories. And if they also give you a few quiet minutes to reset, sip your coffee while it’s still warm, or tackle one small thing on your to-do list, that’s a win for everyone.
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