Quiet & calm activities

Every day needs a gear change, usually just before the nap and again before dinner, when winding a toddler up is the last thing anyone wants. These are the quiet ones. Tucking a soft toy into bed, watching a single bubble drift, sorting a basket of fabric by feel, lying under a blanket with a torch. They are slow, close and low on stimulation, and they give a small person a way to settle that is not a screen. Each has a version to make it even gentler, and a note on what is happening underneath, from emotional regulation to early empathy.

168 activities

After the Bath, Before the Story illustration After the Bath, Before the Story from 12 months · 10-15 min Board Book Page Turn illustration Board Book Page Turn from 12 months · 5-10 min Cloud Spotting Lie-Down illustration Cloud Spotting Lie-Down from 12 months · 5-10 min Copy My Face illustration Copy My Face from 12 months · 5 min Copycat Chat illustration Copycat Chat from 12 months · 5 min Cup Hide And Seek illustration Cup Hide And Seek from 12 months · 5-10 min Cushion Nest Snuggle illustration Cushion Nest Snuggle from 12 months · 5-10 min Doorstep Watch illustration Doorstep Watch from 12 months · 10-15 min Fabric Swatch Feel illustration Fabric Swatch Feel from 12 months · 5-10 min Family Photo Peekaboo illustration Family Photo Peekaboo from 12 months · 5-10 min Finger Family on Your Hand illustration Finger Family on Your Hand from 12 months · 5 min Flap Door Peekaboo illustration Flap Door Peekaboo from 12 months · 5-10 min Gentle Hum Rock illustration Gentle Hum Rock from 12 months · 5 min Ghost Sheet Peekaboo illustration Ghost Sheet Peekaboo from 12 months · 20-30 min Haunted House Box illustration Haunted House Box from 12 months · 15-25 min Head in Your Lap illustration Head in Your Lap from 12 months · 5 min Hello, Kitchen! illustration Hello, Kitchen! from 12 months · 5-10 min Incy Wincy's Adventure illustration Incy Wincy's Adventure from 12 months · 5-10 min Mirror Quiet Look illustration Mirror Quiet Look from 12 months · 5 min Our People Book illustration Our People Book from 12 months · 20-30 min Packing Paper Nest illustration Packing Paper Nest from 12 months · 30-45 min Picture Card Point & Name illustration Picture Card Point & Name from 12 months · 5-10 min Point and It Comes illustration Point and It Comes from 12 months · 5 min Quiet Box Lid Open & Close illustration Quiet Box Lid Open & Close from 12 months · 5-10 min Round and Round the Garden illustration Round and Round the Garden from 12 months · 5 min Snow Globe Shake & Watch illustration Snow Globe Shake & Watch from 12 months · 5 min Soft Blanket Burrito Wrap illustration Soft Blanket Burrito Wrap from 12 months · 5-10 min Story Time Lap Snuggle illustration Story Time Lap Snuggle from 12 months · 20-30 min Torch Under Blanket illustration Torch Under Blanket from 12 months · 5-10 min Uh Oh Drop illustration Uh Oh Drop from 12 months · 5 min Up on the Shelf illustration Up on the Shelf from 12 months · 5-10 min Warm Cloth Face Wipe illustration Warm Cloth Face Wipe from 12 months · 5 min Where Did It Go illustration Where Did It Go from 12 months · 5 min Which Book Tonight? illustration Which Book Tonight? from 12 months · 10-15 min Who Says Moo illustration Who Says Moo from 12 months · 5 min Who's on the Phone? illustration Who's on the Phone? from 12 months · 5-10 min Whose Nose? illustration Whose Nose? from 12 months · 5 min Window Bird Watch illustration Window Bird Watch from 12 months · 5-10 min Window Wave illustration Window Wave from 12 months · 5-10 min Bye-Bye, Bath Water illustration Bye-Bye, Bath Water from 14 months · 5 min Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt illustration Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt from 14 months · 5 min Cushion Story Nest illustration Cushion Story Nest from 14 months · 25-40 min Hello on the Screen illustration Hello on the Screen from 14 months · 5-10 min Peekaboo, Hello! illustration Peekaboo, Hello! from 14 months · 5 min Photo Book Browse illustration Photo Book Browse from 14 months · 5-10 min Shadow Puppet Wall Watch illustration Shadow Puppet Wall Watch from 14 months · 20-30 min Slow Breathing Bubble Watch illustration Slow Breathing Bubble Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Stuffed Animal Heartbeat Listen illustration Stuffed Animal Heartbeat Listen from 14 months · 5 min Teddy Says Hello illustration Teddy Says Hello from 14 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Teeth First illustration Teddy's Teeth First from 14 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Turn to Drink illustration Teddy's Turn to Drink from 14 months · 10-15 min The Hello Song illustration The Hello Song from 14 months · 5 min The Missing Piece illustration The Missing Piece from 14 months · 10-15 min Wave From the Window illustration Wave From the Window from 14 months · 5 min Window Raindrop Watch illustration Window Raindrop Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Names on a Walk illustration Names on a Walk from 15 months · 10-15 min Point, Name, Pause illustration Point, Name, Pause from 15 months · 5-10 min Under the Blanket illustration Under the Blanket from 15 months · 5 min Hand Me the Duck illustration Hand Me the Duck from 16 months · 5 min Music Box Wind & Listen illustration Music Box Wind & Listen from 16 months · 5 min Puppet Story Den illustration Puppet Story Den from 16 months · 25-45 min Ring Ring, Hello illustration Ring Ring, Hello from 16 months · 5-10 min Soft Toy Tuck In illustration Soft Toy Tuck In from 16 months · 5-10 min Trace The Lid illustration Trace The Lid from 16 months · 5 min Basket Dip illustration Basket Dip from 18 months · 5 min Bedtime Book Fetch illustration Bedtime Book Fetch from 18 months · 5-10 min Book Basket Pick illustration Book Basket Pick from 18 months · 5-10 min Bring Me A Book illustration Bring Me A Book from 18 months · 5-10 min Farm Song With Toys illustration Farm Song With Toys from 18 months · 5-10 min Feely Bag illustration Feely Bag from 18 months · 5-10 min Photo Hello Wall illustration Photo Hello Wall from 18 months · 10-15 min Quiet Mouse, Loud Lion illustration Quiet Mouse, Loud Lion from 18 months · 5 min Sock Puppet Hush illustration Sock Puppet Hush from 18 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Bedtime Story illustration Teddy's Bedtime Story from 18 months · 5 min Teddy's Dinner illustration Teddy's Dinner from 18 months · 5-10 min Under the Cushion illustration Under the Cushion from 18 months · 5 min You Read To Me illustration You Read To Me from 18 months · 5-10 min More Bricks, More Bubbles illustration More Bricks, More Bubbles from 20 months · 5-10 min Teddy Jumps illustration Teddy Jumps from 20 months · 10-15 min Find It and Point illustration Find It and Point from 22 months · 10-15 min Incy Wincy Fingers illustration Incy Wincy Fingers from 22 months · 5 min Whose Turn? illustration Whose Turn? from 22 months · 10-15 min All Aboard the Chair Bus illustration All Aboard the Chair Bus from 24 months · 30-40 min Bat Cave Den illustration Bat Cave Den from 24 months · 20-30 min Bus Song Gaps illustration Bus Song Gaps from 24 months · 5 min Cars At The Window illustration Cars At The Window from 24 months · 5-10 min Count the Cars Going Past illustration Count the Cars Going Past from 24 months · 5-10 min Counting Step Walk illustration Counting Step Walk from 24 months · 5-10 min Doctor Bear Checkup illustration Doctor Bear Checkup from 24 months · 20-35 min Dress-Up Box illustration Dress-Up Box from 24 months · 20-40 min From Book to Toy illustration From Book to Toy from 24 months · 5-10 min Hand Sandwich illustration Hand Sandwich from 24 months · 5 min How Tall Am I? illustration How Tall Am I? from 24 months · 5 min Kiss Teddy, Then Bed illustration Kiss Teddy, Then Bed from 24 months · 10-15 min Last Word Lullaby illustration Last Word Lullaby from 24 months · 5 min Leaf Puzzle illustration Leaf Puzzle from 24 months · 10-15 min Lolly Stick Animal Puzzles illustration Lolly Stick Animal Puzzles from 24 months · 10-15 min Menu Picture Point illustration Menu Picture Point from 24 months · 5-10 min Name Everything on the Table illustration Name Everything on the Table from 24 months · 5 min Quiet Bubble Watch illustration Quiet Bubble Watch from 24 months · 5-10 min Spot the Red Thing illustration Spot the Red Thing from 24 months · 5-10 min Storytime Snuggle Guess illustration Storytime Snuggle Guess from 24 months · 20-35 min Teddy Tea Party illustration Teddy Tea Party from 24 months · 20-40 min Two Little Birds illustration Two Little Birds from 24 months · 5 min Whisper And Roar Story illustration Whisper And Roar Story from 24 months · 10-15 min Whisper Game illustration Whisper Game from 24 months · 5 min Your Turn Round The Garden illustration Your Turn Round The Garden from 24 months · 5 min Matching Picture Cards illustration Matching Picture Cards from 26 months · 20-35 min Pumpkin Patch Shop illustration Pumpkin Patch Shop from 26 months · 15-20 min Shopkeeper Pretend Sell illustration Shopkeeper Pretend Sell from 26 months · 25-45 min Teddy's Trick-or-Treat Trail illustration Teddy's Trick-or-Treat Trail from 26 months · 15-20 min Three Bears Line Up illustration Three Bears Line Up from 26 months · 30-45 min Three Piece Puzzle illustration Three Piece Puzzle from 26 months · 5-10 min Turn The Dial illustration Turn The Dial from 26 months · 5 min Pumpkin Faces and Feelings illustration Pumpkin Faces and Feelings from 28 months · 10-15 min Cloud Shapes illustration Cloud Shapes from 30 months · 10-15 min Finish the Rhyme illustration Finish the Rhyme from 30 months · 5-10 min Hum and Guess illustration Hum and Guess from 30 months · 5-10 min Show and Tell Call illustration Show and Tell Call from 30 months · 10-15 min Teddy Tea Party Pour illustration Teddy Tea Party Pour from 30 months · 10-15 min Teddy Tummy Breathing illustration Teddy Tummy Breathing from 30 months · 5 min Tell Me the Pictures illustration Tell Me the Pictures from 30 months · 10-15 min When You Were a Baby illustration When You Were a Baby from 30 months · 10-15 min Who's Hiding? illustration Who's Hiding? from 30 months · 5-10 min Baby Photo Line illustration Baby Photo Line from 36 months · 30-40 min Bubble Breathing illustration Bubble Breathing from 36 months · 5-10 min Café Order Pad illustration Café Order Pad from 36 months · 30-40 min Calm-Down Glitter Bottle illustration Calm-Down Glitter Bottle from 36 months · 10-15 min Cereal Box Puzzle illustration Cereal Box Puzzle from 36 months · 10-15 min Family Height Line illustration Family Height Line from 36 months · 10-15 min Five Pumpkins on a Wall illustration Five Pumpkins on a Wall from 36 months · 10-15 min Hair Salon illustration Hair Salon from 36 months · 30-40 min Hedgehog Winter Box illustration Hedgehog Winter Box from 36 months · 30-40 min Library Book Choosing illustration Library Book Choosing from 36 months · 10-15 min Nature Table illustration Nature Table from 36 months · 30-45 min Pause the Story illustration Pause the Story from 36 months · 10-15 min Sleeping Lions illustration Sleeping Lions from 36 months · 5-10 min Sound Effects Story illustration Sound Effects Story from 36 months · 30-40 min Story Spoons illustration Story Spoons from 36 months · 10-15 min Tallest to Smallest illustration Tallest to Smallest from 36 months · 10-15 min Teddy Breath Count illustration Teddy Breath Count from 36 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Birthday Party illustration Teddy's Birthday Party from 36 months · 30-45 min Three Bears' House illustration Three Bears' House from 36 months · 30-40 min Three Little Pigs Houses illustration Three Little Pigs Houses from 36 months · 10-15 min Toy Car Road Map illustration Toy Car Road Map from 36 months · 15-20 min Toy Vet's Surgery illustration Toy Vet's Surgery from 36 months · 30-40 min Trick-or-Treat Doors illustration Trick-or-Treat Doors from 36 months · 30-40 min Video Show and Tell illustration Video Show and Tell from 36 months · 5-10 min What's Missing Tray illustration What's Missing Tray from 36 months · 5-10 min Whisper Messages illustration Whisper Messages from 36 months · 5-10 min Window View Drawing illustration Window View Drawing from 36 months · 10-15 min Your Turn to Tell illustration Your Turn to Tell from 36 months · 5-10 min A Garage for Every Car illustration A Garage for Every Car from 38 months · 10-15 min Car Colour Tally illustration Car Colour Tally from 38 months · 10-15 min Cloud Story Watch illustration Cloud Story Watch from 38 months · 10-15 min Goodnight Rhymes illustration Goodnight Rhymes from 38 months · 5 min Picture Clue Treasure Hunt illustration Picture Clue Treasure Hunt from 38 months · 15-20 min Rhyming Picnic illustration Rhyming Picnic from 38 months · 30-40 min Robot Talk Guessing illustration Robot Talk Guessing from 38 months · 5-10 min Silly Song Swaps illustration Silly Song Swaps from 38 months · 5-10 min Sock Puppet Show illustration Sock Puppet Show from 38 months · 15-20 min Three Good Things illustration Three Good Things from 38 months · 5 min Toy Shop Till illustration Toy Shop Till from 38 months · 10-15 min Toy Town Small World illustration Toy Town Small World from 38 months · 15-20 min I Spy First Sounds illustration I Spy First Sounds from 40 months · 5-10 min Pairs Memory Game illustration Pairs Memory Game from 40 months · 10-15 min Rhyming Pairs Basket illustration Rhyming Pairs Basket from 40 months · 10-15 min Snake Hiss, Bee Buzz illustration Snake Hiss, Bee Buzz from 40 months · 5-10 min

Other types of play

Sensory activities for toddlers · Fine motor activities for toddlers · Gross motor activities for toddlers · Everyday helper activities for toddlers · All activities