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21 Back-to-School Calm Down Activities for Toddlers

If you are looking for easy-to-whip-out calming activities for toddlers, I’m super excited to share with you our top picks! Take a peak below!

RELATED: 50+ EASY AND FUN PAINTING IDEAS FOR KIDS

 

Let’s get started!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post contains affiliate links- this just means I earn a small commission if you purchase via links below, no extra cost to you! Read our disclosure policy here.

 

#1: Dino Play-dough Match Activity

This Dino Play-dough Match Activity is very easy to set up. In fact, you’ll need just two things to get this activity going, play-dough and toy dinosaurs.

materials:

Instructions:

  • Flatten the play-dough into a large disk. I used a rolling pin to help.
  • Stamp the dinos into the play-dough and place nearby for kids to match.

 

#2: POM-POM SENSORY BIN

This Pom-pom Sensory Bin is one of the easiest sensory bins you can set up!

materials:

Instructions:

  • Into the bin, add the pom-poms, a little bit of water and all of the scoops and pots/pans.

TIP– Try freezing the pom-poms by placing them in water to soak and laying them out on a tray to freeze. Perfect for summer sensory bins!

 

#3: PLAY FOAM

This Play Foam recipe is simple and easy! It’s a wonderful base for any sensory bin. With an addition of a few fun fillers, you can turn an ordinary sensory play idea into an extraordinary one!

materials:

Instructions:

  1. Into the blender, add water, dish soap and food dye. Blend for 1-2 minutes until all foam. Pour into a tub and have a go!

#4: Flower Petal Art

This Flower Petal Art is an easy craft idea that uses flower petals to combine sensories and creativity!

Materials for Flower Petal Art:

Instructions:

  • Using the craft knife and mat, cut a rectangle out of your cardboard. Make it big enough to have plenty of room for kids art.
  • Once the cardboard is cut, draw flower stems and centers using the crayons. I drew 5 stems, but you can draw as many as you can fit, leaving about an 1.5″ in between the stems.
  • Place the petals into a bowl and set besides the cardboard along with a glue stick.
 

#5: Sorting Pom-poms by Size Activity

This Sorting Pom-poms by Size Activity is an easy and educational activity that is super low-prep! You can set it up in less than a minute (seriously!) and your toddler will be perfectly content and busy in no time.

Materials for Sorting Pom-poms by Size Activity:

Instructions:

  • Start by unrolling and cutting a large piece of easel board paper and taping it to the table where your child will be working.
  • Next, using the permanent marker, trace a large lid onto the paper to create two overlapping circles. Label “BIG” and “SMALL” at the top of each circle.
 
 

#6: Painting with Nature Activity

What’s better than creating a unique and exciting painting experience for your kids? How about this Painting with Nature activity? Drop those paintbrushes and paint away using nature!

Materials for painting with nature

nstructions:

Lay out all of your nature “paintbrushes” onto the tray to visually display them all to the child. Add a little bit of each paint color to the paper plate and you’re ready to go!

 

#7: Egg Carton Pom-pom Color Sort

This Egg Carton Pom-pom Color Sort is not only simple and takes just a few minutes to prepare, but it’s a great RECYCLED idea too. I mean, probably most of us come across an empty egg carton at home so why not make something out of it before it goes into the trash?

materials needed for egg carton pom-pom color sort:

Instructions:

  • Start by painting the inside sections of the egg carton using assorted colors of paints (colors that will match your pom-pom colors).
  • Next get rid of the side flap of the egg carton (optional but at least it’s not in the way).
  • Add the assorted pom-poms to the lid of the egg carton and sort away!

 

#8: Paper Bag Haircuts Activity

This Paper Bag Haircuts Activity is a fun way to use up those paper bags you bring from the grocery store!

materials:

Instructions:

  • Using the craft scissors, cut out large rectangles out of a paper bag, about 4″ x 5″.
  • Next, make deep slits in one of the short ends of the rectangle.
  • Lastly, using the permanent marker draw silly faces on each paper bag rectangle.

 

#9: Dinosaur Footprint Painting

Do you have toy dinosaurs at home? Try this Dinosaur Footprint Painting Activity with your kids!

materials:

Instructions:

  • Place a little bit of each paint color onto the paper plate. The more colors the merrier!
  • Allow kids to dip the feet of the dinosaurs and stamp them onto the paper. 

TIP- using brown paper roll or card stock makes it look like dinosaur footprints in mud!

 

#10: Flower Threading Activity

This Flower Threading Activity is an easy and fun way to use up old flowers. Isn’t it nice to have an activity ready for your toddlers without heading out to the store for supplies? I love it!
 

Materials for Flower Threading Activity:

Instructions:

Start by taking the petals and leaves off of the flowers and stems. Make a single hole using the whole puncher in each petal and leaves.

 

#11: Water Painting Flower Ice Cubes Activity

Do you need an easy activity to keep your little munchkins busy and happy? This Water Painting Flower Ice Cubes activity is SO EASY to prepare. All you need to do is make them a day ahead, freeze them overnight and they’re ready in the morning!

Materials for water painting flower ice cubes:

nstructions:

Rip a few flower petals and place into each ice cube section. Next fill with water and freeze. Once frozen, place the ice cubes into a deep tray. Prepare a small bowl with warm water and paintbrush.

 

#12: Flower Stamp Art

This Flower Stamp Art is the perfect craft idea for withering flower bouquets. Flowers make amazing paintbrushes and create the most beautiful art!

Materials for flower Stamp art:

Instructions:

  • Place the desired colors of washable kids paint onto a paper plate and arrange the cut flowers onto each paint. I kept a stem of 2-3 inches so kids can hold them easier.

Paint away!

 

#13: Giant Road Map

This Giant Road Map is something anyone can set up in a zap! You’ll need only a few basic craft supplies and a bit of drawing skills. But trust me, your little ones won’t care too much about the prettiness of the road map, they’ll be rather thrilled to play with their little toy cars on a huge road map!

MATERIALS for Giant Road Map:

Instructions:

  • Unroll the easel board paper roll onto a large clear surface on the floor, cut and secure the corners down with tape.
  • Next, using the colored permanent markers draw roads, houses, trees, bushes, school, gas station, what ever you can!
  • Now it’s time to play!

 

#14: Connect the Dots Art Activity

All you need is a bit of creativity! Pre-making a few of these ahead of time is a great idea also as you can whip one out in no time and have something fun for the kiddos to do.

Materials For Connect the dots art activity:

Instructions:

Simply create a picture of whatever you would like using dots only. To make it even more fun and colorful use different colors of permanent marker. That way the child has to match the color of the crayon to the dots as well.

 

#15: Washi Tape Unicorn Rescue Activity

Easy, low-prep activity for toddlers and preschoolers, this Washi Tape Unicorn Rescue Activity is a winner!

MATERIALS FOR Washi Tape Unicorn Rescue activity:

You can even skip the flat plate and use the table directly. Just tape the unicorns onto the table itself!

Instructions:

Tape the unicorns using the washi tape to the plate (or table). Done! Can you believe it?

 

#16: Dino Wash Activity

This Dino Wash activity is a low-prep, easy and fun idea for your little ones. Simple, yet, I can vouch for this, kids are going to looovvee it!

MATERIALS For dino wash Activity:

Instructions:

  • Lay a towel onto a table and place a large rimmed bin with water on top.
  • Fill a large bowl with soap, add water and stir for bubbles to form. Place inside the bin.
  • Prep the toothbrushes and dinosaurs.

 

#17: Q-tip Color Dominoes (Quick Video Tutorial)

Materials:

Instructions:

Using the permanent markers, color the ends of the q-tips, alternating the colors. That’s it!

Rules are simple: the child must match up the colors at the ends of the q-tips and work up until all of the q-tips are used. Or they can build colorful structures like my daughter did!

 

#18: Cursive Name Dot Painting Activity

Your preschoolers will love this Cursive Name Dot Painting!

Materials for cursive name dot painting:

Instructions:

On the craft paper roll, write out your childs’ name in cursive (you can tape the paper to the wall to incorporate gross motor skills that way or simply lay the paper on a table).

 

#19: 2- Ingredient Moon Sand Recipe

This 2- Ingredient Moon Sand Recipe is so easy to make! It’s crumbly, yet moldable. Soft, yet crunches when you press it together. It’s hard to describe it with one word and basically what I’m saying is your have to try it for yourself to see!

Materials for 2- ingredient moon sand Recipe:

  • 4.5 cups corn starch (you can use more or less depending on the consistency you want)
  • 1 cup coconut oil (you can also use olive or any other oil you have)
  • Lavender Essential Oil (optional)
  • Sprinkle of Turmeric for color (optional)

Also:

How-to:

Grab an extra large mixing bowl (the bigger the better as it makes things a little less messy). To the bowl add 4.5 cups corn starch, along with 1 cup liquid coconut oil.  If you’re using turmeric and lavender essential oil, add into the coconut oil, mix and then add to corn starch. Mix with a fork, then use fingers to combine. Dump into a flat bin and add your add-ins.

*Tip: Even though cornstarch absorbs most of the oil, Moon Sand can still be oily, so please be careful with clothes or any other fabric you might have around to prevent oil stains. ALSO, place newspaper, gift wrapping or an old bed sheet underneath your tray for easy clean up!

 

#20: Color Match Activity

Super easy and fun!

Materials:

Instructions:

Flip the egg carton upside down and use different colors to color the sections, then use a knife to poke a hole. Prep the matching popsicle sticks.

 

#21: Wooden Blocks Match

This Wooden Blocks Match is a super quick and easy-to-prep activity you can have ready in no time! With just a short list of 3 materials and a one step prep process, you’ll have a fun and exciting matching game done in about…..5 minutes or less.

MATERIALS for wooden Blocks match:

Instructions:

  • Choose about 20 wooden blocks, different shapes and colors (the amount depends on the size of the blocks and how many you can fit on a piece of cardstock).
  • Trace the blocks using a matching colored permanent marker.

 

Thanks for reading along! Enjoy!

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