Quiet & calm activities

Every day needs a gear change, usually just before the nap and again before tea, 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.

29 activities

Board Book Page Turn illustration Board Book Page Turn from 12 months · 5-10 min Cushion Nest Snuggle illustration Cushion Nest Snuggle from 12 months · 5-10 min Fabric Swatch Feel illustration Fabric Swatch Feel from 12 months · 5-10 min Gentle Hum Rock illustration Gentle Hum Rock from 12 months · 5 min Mirror Quiet Look illustration Mirror Quiet Look from 12 months · 5 min Quiet Box Lid Open & Close illustration Quiet Box Lid Open & Close from 12 months · 5-10 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 · 10-15 min Torch Under Blanket illustration Torch Under Blanket from 12 months · 5-10 min Warm Cloth Face Wipe illustration Warm Cloth Face Wipe from 12 months · 5 min Photo Book Browse illustration Photo Book Browse from 14 months · 5-10 min Picture Card Point & Name illustration Picture Card Point & Name from 14 months · 5-10 min Shadow Puppet Wall Watch illustration Shadow Puppet Wall Watch from 14 months · 5-10 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 Window Raindrop Watch illustration Window Raindrop Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Music Box Wind & Listen illustration Music Box Wind & Listen from 16 months · 5 min Soft Toy Tuck In illustration Soft Toy Tuck In from 16 months · 5-10 min Sock Puppet Hush illustration Sock Puppet Hush from 18 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 · 10-15 min Gentle Torch Shadows illustration Gentle Torch Shadows from 24 months · 5-10 min Quiet Bubble Watch illustration Quiet Bubble Watch from 24 months · 5-10 min Storytime Snuggle Guess illustration Storytime Snuggle Guess from 24 months · 10-15 min Teddy Tea Party illustration Teddy Tea Party from 24 months · 10-15 min Matching Picture Cards illustration Matching Picture Cards from 26 months · 10-15 min Shopkeeper Pretend Sell illustration Shopkeeper Pretend Sell from 26 months · 10-15 min Three Piece Puzzle illustration Three Piece Puzzle from 26 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