There’s nothing more heartwarming than watching your little one play with all their friends. But what’s even better, is watching them do an activity that you’ve created yourself - at home!

A good activity is one that brings all the kids together and becomes a great equalizer for kids of all ages. These activities bring kids together as a community and help them to connect with one another through play and creativity.

Before we share our favourite homemade activities for you to try out with your little one and their friends, it’s important to note that all these activities need to be done under direct adult supervision using your own discretion for what is safe for all the children.

So, let’s take a look at some of our favourite homemade activities that your toddler can enjoy with all their friends.

What are the top 8 homemade activities for your toddler and their friends?

Gloop baking bin

What you’ll need: A storage bin, water, cornstarch or cornflour, kitchen utensils and food colouring.

How to play: Mix the ‘gloop’ by mixing 4 cups of cornstarch with 2 cups of water. If you like, you can dye the gloop by adding a single drop of food colouring. Stir the mixture and pour it into the storage bin. Then add in the utensils for the children to get messy!

Why it’s good: This activity is a sensory sensation! And with the added utensils, it activates a child’s wild and creative imagination.

Paint the toys

What you’ll need: Washable paint, plastic toys, a storage bin and an ice cube tray.

How to play: Place all the plastic toys and paints in the storage bin. Painting in the bin is such a great way to contain the mess, as is using an ice cube tray for the paints. When the kids have finished painting, all you need to do is wash it off and save it for the next activity day.

Why it’s good: This activity is great for refining children’s fine motor skills as well as encouraging them to make decisions and express their own ideas.

Indoor ball ramp

What you’ll need: Every toy ball you can find, a large strip of cardboard, a broomstick and some painter's tape.

How to play: Cut a long strip of cardboard that curls up at the end. Then tape the broomstick to the back of the cardboard to make a ramp slide. Gather all the balls so the kids can begin to roll them down the ramp. If you like, you can put a basket at the bottom to catch the balls.

Why it’s good: This activity is a fantastic STEM activity; as the children roll the balls down the ramp, they are learning about angles, gravity and motion.

Creation station

What you’ll need: Recycled materials, scissors and glue.

How to play: Gather any recycling items you can find such as egg boxes, tissue paper, bits of cardboard and ribbon etc, and put them into a box. Invite the children to build anything they want using the items provided. There are no rules - this is about the children using their imagination to create freely.

Why it’s good: This activity promotes imagination, invention and experimentation. They are able to apply curiously and test out their ideas.

Cardboard road

What you’ll need: A black permanent marker, a cardboard box and various toys (cars, animals and blocks).

How to play: Cut open the cardboard box and lay it flat. Draw a road map with the black marker on the box so the children can make a city using all the toys.

Why it’s good: This activity allows children to use their imagination and creativity, and there’s a lot of engineering work happening here.

Colour mixing station

What you’ll need: Some small bowls or jars, water, food colouring, medicine droppers or syringes, an ice cube tray and a storage bin.

How to play: Fill three jars with water and food colouring (yellow, blue and red). Invite the children to mix the dyed water into the ice cube slots, showing them how to use the droppers and syringes. Encourage them at first to only mix two of the colours at once in each ice cube slot. Then throw out the mixed colours into the bin and start again so they can try mixing three colours.

Why it’s good: This activity is not only scientific but helps develop children's motor skills. It’s also extremely fun and fascinating for kids!

Mud kitchen

What you’ll need: Storage bins, mud, water, grass clippings, and kitchen utensils

How to play: In three separate storage bins mix the mud water, and grass. Lay out the utensils and invite the children to create their chosen gourmet mud meals.

Why it’s good: This activity is wonderful for children’s imagination as they get to create their pretend muddy food concoctions.

Giant colouring page

What you’ll need: A cardboard box, a black marker, tape and various paints.

How to play: Flatten out a large box and put it either against the wall or laid out on the floor. Invite the children to draw pictures and objects with the black marker so they can paint and colour in together on their big, giant colouring page.

Why it’s good: This activity is the perfect communal activity that invites all the children to create and work together.

What homemade activities can my toddler and their friends do together?