10 Super Fun Large Group Activities For Toddlers

There is nothing more amazing and exhausting than a toddler.

The only thing more amazing and exhausting than a toddler is a whole bunch of toddlers!

Whether it’s at a birthday party or everyone is just playing together in the neighborhood having a set of pre-planned large group activities for toddlers is the only thing that will keep the grown-ups sane.

There is not a more important large group activity then your child’s first birthday. Even more important is your grandchild’s first birthday! For more party and birthday gift ideas see our article First Birthday Gifts (From Grandparents).

The one thing a parent can hope for is after a great time of playing with friends their little ones will have burned off enough energy that they will go to sleep or take a nap peacefully.

This is one of the main benefits of keeping our kids active and moving.

Although trying to start without a set of solid toddler activities will doom you to an afternoon of whining, crying or even the dreaded…tantrum.

Here are some of the best large group activities for toddlers a parent could hope for:

1. Blowing Bubbles

Blowing Bubbles is a toddler’s bread and butter. (That’s a lot of “b’s”)

There is nothing more exciting for them than to run around and “catch” those elusive bubbles.

Whether they are blowing them the traditional way using a bubble wand or using a bubble machine kids will play with bubbles for hours.

Just make sure you have the jumbo container of bubbles so you don’t disappoint.

If the worst does happen and you do run out of bubble mixture you can always make your own by following these easy recipes from the DIY Network.

I have always had much better success with a bubble machine.

You don’t have bubble wands and spilled bubble mixture everywhere.

Plus the kids get frustrated pretty quickly with the dip and blow method.

Using a bubble machine allows for way more bubbles and the kids get much more satisfaction from running around and popping them compared to blowing them traditionally.

I suggest the Dolphin Themed Durable Bubble Machine.

It blows 500 bubbles per minute and comes with bubble mixture included.

You will be the pride of the neighborhood with this amazing bubble maker!

Bubbles will make any mediocre day into an amazing day.

Click on the link above for Amazon pricing and rank.

2. Coloring

Coloring is definitely a favorite for toddlers!

This is a great indoor activity that can be done with minimal preparation.

Not only is this a favorite with the little ones it also has many cognitive and psychomotor (relating to the origination of movement in conscious mental activity) benefits.

Coloring helps your toddler by:

• Developing fine motor skills

• Stimulating their creativity

• Introducing color identification

• Helps improve focus

• Improves proper writing grip

When children color they are given an opportunity to express themselves and to be creative.

While this might not occupy them for hours it will stimulate their minds and prepare them for a better future.

Here are some easy, yet entertaining coloring sheets from MomJunction.com

You never know you might just have yourself another Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo on your hands.

The one thing you need when dealing with toddlers and coloring is something big to help contain all of their “awesomeness”.

The Betheaces Drawing Mat is perfect for letting your toddler get creative without having to contain them at all.

Kids can use the special markers and within 3-10 minute the marking will be gone…Like Magic!

Click the link or the picture above for Amazon pricing and rank

3. Balloons

Toddlers are infatuated with balloons.

Seeing a balloon float in the air makes any toddler’s eyes get bigger.

Even though, most kids just like throwing the balloon in the air and catching it there are many different types of balloon games that a large group of toddlers could play.

Here is a list of balloon games you could play:

• Balloon Pass- Kids pass the balloon to each other like in a relay race trying not to drop it.

• Keep it in the air- Kids try to hit the balloon in the air for as long as they can without letting it touch the ground.

• Balloon Pop- Toddlers love stepping on the balloons to make them pop.

• Balloon Rocket- Blow up the balloon and let it go. Watch the balloon fly around the room.

• Water Balloons– Fill them up and let them throw them. They don’t have to throw them at someone. They just like watching them break!

• Balloon Find- Hide different color balloons and see who can find all of their colored balloons first

Balloons are great fun!

Although, the biggest problem with playing with balloons is not passing out trying to blow them all up.

Plus blowing them up fast enough to appease our inpatient toddlers.

Along with that, you will have to use helium for some of them so they will get the full benefits of proper balloon play.

With that said, I recommend two different balloon machines.

The first is for regular, non-helium balloons.

This Electric Balloon Blower Pump is perfect for parties or just for blowing up enough balloons for the neighborhood kids.

The second is for making the balloons even more fun by blowing them up with helium.

Using a Disposable Helium Tank will make blowing up your balloons a cinch and increase the fun tenfold.

It’s amazing to watch how much fun toddlers have playing with balloons.

The only thing better is playing with balloons and bubbles!

Mind Blown!

4. Shaving Cream Drawing

Shaving Cream Drawing is an Oh So messy activity but the kids will talk about it for weeks.

When you are stuck inside and looking for something amazing to do with a group of toddlers this is a go-to for sure.

An even better idea is doing it outside using an outdoor table or area for easier cleanup.

In a pinch, almost everyone has shaving cream somewhere in the house but it’s way more fun if you plan ahead and buy a bunch and let your little ones go wild.

To get started, find a large table or smooth surface and spray the shaving cream on the table.

Smooth it out like a creamy piece of paper and let the kids start drawing, easy as that!

If you don’t have a good place inside or outside to do your shaving cream activity you can use a window or a sliding glass door to get things moving.

5. Parachute

This is a parachute-like piece of material that kids grab around the edges and shake.

No, We are not suggesting you take your toddler skydiving!

The good news is that if you don’t have a “Parachute” a large sheet will do just fine.

The kids absolutely love shaking and moving the parachute.

You will find that it really is a great way to get the wiggles and shakes out of a toddler.

Depending on the age of your toddler you might need to help them get started but once the have a firm grip they will get the hang of it.

To see an example of a kids parachute and pricing on Amazon click the link or picture above.

Look below at the list of parachute games that the kids will absolutely love.

Kids absolutely love:

• Shaking it- moving it as fast as they can

• Playing popcorn – putting soft balls in the middle and shaking them to make them “pop”

• Hide and Seek- LIfting up the parachute together and then finding someone underneath the parachute

• Group walking- Holding the parachute and walking together in a circle

• Ride along- Have some of the kids sit in the middle of the parachute and have adults and kids pull them around

• Red Rover- Kids lift up the parachute as high as they can and invite others to run underneath the parachute to the other side before it comes down

Check out the video to get more fun game ideas using the parachute:

Using a parachute or a large sheet for your large group toddler activities will ensure that your kids have a great time both inside or out.

6. Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is a great activity for toddlers

Most of the time they just use the chalk to scratch the ground and make color scribble-scrabble but to them, it’s a masterpiece.

You should always have a stash of sidewalk chalk available but for large group activities, you want enough as most of them get broken or lost.

You can ways get a six-pack of sidewalk chalk at the dollar store for a buck or if you have time to plan ahead you can get 20 piece set for a couple bucks more from Amazon

Click the link or picture for Amazon pricing and rank

Other than just being plain fun, sidewalk chalk like coloring has many benefits.

It is great for learning how to grip writing utensils as well as developing the muscles in their hands that will allow them to write in the future.

While watching them you will eventually be able to tell which hand will be their dominant hand based upon the hand they prefer to use during their chalk session.

Now, many times if you are serious about making this a group activity the parents will have to get involved to make this more of an interactive activity.

Here are some ideas for cool sidewalk activities:

• Follow the color- You can draw differerent paths in different colors and have the kids try to follow them to the end.

•  Basic Hop Scotch- Just draw the Hop Scotch boxes and have them try to hop to the boxes with the corect number of feet to match the number of boxes

• Stencil Coloring- Have them color letters or pictures using stencils

• Chalk Maze- Make up a maze using chalk and have the kids try to make their way out.

• Road ways- Make a roadway or racetracks using chalk for your kids to play with using their matchbox or cozy coup cars

• The ground is lava– Draw rock shaped circles on the ground and have them jump from “rock to rock” so they don’t get burned by the “lava”

7.Playdough

PlayDough is a four-letter word is some houses and in some instances, it’s fully justified.

Although the look on your little ones face when you break out the oddly smelling, colorfully squishy, awesomeness makes it all worthwhile.

PlayDough is a classic activity that no toddler should be dough-nied… Wow, sorry!

Here is a collection of videos to help you get the dough rolling:

How to make playDough yourself-

Great PlayDough Activity Ideas-

Making A PlayDough Butterfly-

Making A PlayDough Elephant-

While most of these activities will require some help from an adult your little one will enjoy making these crafts with you.

A great way to start out is to get the small containers of each color.

As you know, with little ones a lot of the PlayDough gets thrown away or wasted due to the kids having ‘too much fun”

This way you are not wasting a lot of material and you can open up fresh containers more ofter rather than having to reuse old or mixed up PlayDough for the next activity.

Click on the picture above for Amazon pricing and rank.

8. Dance Party

Dancing and toddlers go hand in hand.

You will notice anytime music is playing their little booties are always moving.

Not only is dancing a great form of exercise but it is amazing for coordination and agility.

There is a whole list of reasons dancing is great for toddlers but what it all boils down to… They Love It!

Here is a list of great dancing activities: Click the link for examples-

 

• Freeze Dance- Kids free dance until the music stops and then they freeze. Once the music starts again they can move again

• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes- Pretty self explanitoy, kids follow the instruction of the song.

• Hokey Pokey- Again the song plays and the kids follow the words of the song. ” You put your right hand in, You put your right hand out…”

• The Chicken Dance– Dance like a chicken!

• If Your Happy and You Know it– In this song you move your body if you are happy or mad.

• I’m A Little Teapot- You shape your body like a teapot in the song.

• Itsy Bitsy Spider– The classic song and hand movements representing a funny little spider.

9. Painting

Painting is definitely the messiest of all the activities but certainly the most fun and exciting in the eyes of your toddler.

When it comes to painting with little ones its easy to think of finger painting or other traditional painting methods.

While kids love these, they may have done them before and they might be looking forward to something new or different.

In the table below you find many different and unique types of painting you can do with your toddler.

Types of Painting: Painting with-

Sponges	Popsicle Sticks	Flowers
Bingo Dabbers	Ribbon and String	Squeeze Bottles
Q-tips	Big & Little Brushes	Cotton balls
Hands and Feet	Spin Art	Paper Towel Rolls
Matchbox Cars	Stencils	Small Balloons
Bubble Wrap	Leaves & Sticks	Kitchen Utensils
Rollers	Blow paint w/ Straws	Funnels

Your toddler and their siblings will have a great time trying these different types of painting methods.

While you can come up with all these different painting styles on your own some parents are looking for something easier

The Glokers Early Learning Kids Paint Set is a great way to have a variety of all the different cool painting techniques but in one convenient package.

It comes with all the different kinds of unique painting methods as well as a six-pack of the Crayola Washable paints.

What a great way to get started without too much prep time.

Click the link or picture above to see Amazon pricing and rank

10. Water Tables

There is something about the water that mesmerizes toddlers.

Kids can play in the water for hours upon hours without blinking an eye.

Unfortunately, many toddlers are just too young to safely go swimming.

At the very least, it makes swimming a lot more complicated especially for large group activities.

This is where the water table fits perfectly!

While playing with a water table the kids can play safely, it’s perfect for their height and water tables have all kinds of gadgets for them to entertain themselves with.

Even though water tables are amazing they can be a bit hard to store.

The good news is they do come apart fairly easy and can be tucked back into the box for more compact storage.

In the end, once you see your little one’s eyes light up and they do the classic toddler squeal while running over to the water table you will forget all about the necessity of garage organization.

Although, for a group activity, you might want to elicit some help from other parents and have them bring one of theirs from home to help turn your mini water park activity into a reality.

To help get your activity going without relying on other parents check out these awesome water tables.

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table

Step2 Lazy Maze River Run Water Table

Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark (We personally have this one and it’s great)

Who needs a water park when you can have your own at a fraction of the price!

Please leave a comment and let us know if there is an activity that has worked well for you when dealing with large group activities for toddlers.

Is there an activity that we left out that has work well for you?

Should toddler activities be more sensory-based or active based?

Let us know and comment below!