{"id":64032,"date":"2026-08-04T20:17:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T20:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/?post_type=first-things&#038;p=64032"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:57:18","slug":"diy-play-based-activities","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/diy-play-based-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY play-based learning activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Longer days, changing routines and school breaks often leave parents searching for ways to keep little ones entertained without relying on screens. But it\u2019s the everyday activities like exploring outside, reading books or helping in the kitchen that support <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/resources\/ages-and-stages\/\">healthy development in the early years<\/a>. Children learn best through play.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you have a baby, toddler or preschooler, these simple screen-free ideas can help keep your child learning, moving and having fun.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 32px;\">DIY learning activities: Creating invitations to play<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s easy to get \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/tips-tools\/healthy-children-podcast\/Pages\/ep-031-surviving-cabin-fever-stress-free-ways-for-families-to-enjoy-being-stuck-inside.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cabin fever<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d when staying inside, especially with young children. And honestly, sometimes parents need time to do the dishes, answer an email, switch the laundry or prepare dinner. That\u2019s where \u201cinvitations to play\u201d can be helpful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An invitation to play is just a thoughtfully prepared activity placed within your child\u2019s view that sparks curiosity and encourages independent exploration. Rather than directing the play, you set the stage and allow your child to take the lead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for their imaginations to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/az-new-parent-guide\/caring-for-your-infant\/\">Babies (birth to 12 months)<\/a> learn by exploring the world through their senses.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>DIY activities for babies<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a sensory basket with safe household items like a wooden spoon, silicone spatula, soft washcloth and textured ball. Babies can explore different textures, shapes and sounds while building sensory awareness.<\/li>\n<li>Set up a shallow water tray with floating toys, measuring cups or plastic bowls. Splashing, pouring and reaching help strengthen developing muscles.<\/li>\n<li>Before the sun gets too bright, spread a blanket somewhere shady and let your baby watch the leaves or grass move in the wind. Point out the sounds and sights as you explore.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/az-new-parent-guide\/caring-for-your-toddler\/\">Toddlers (1-3 years)<\/a> are natural explorers who learn through movement and hands-on experiences.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>DIY activities for toddlers<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use sidewalk chalk in the shade to draw roads for toy cars, giant shapes to jump between or a winding trail to follow around the yard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fill a large container with dried beans, scoops and other small toys. Children can dig, pour, sort and create their own imaginative worlds in this sensory bin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a \u201ccar wash\u201d station with a small container of water, a sponge and a few toy vehicles. Toddlers can scrub, rinse and repeat while practicing coordination and focus. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/az-new-parent-guide\/caring-for-your-preschooler\/\">Preschoolers (3-5 years)<\/a> thrive when play encourages curiosity and imagination.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>DIY activities for preschoolers<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build an obstacle course using couch cushions, pool noodles, buckets and chalk lines. They can hop like frogs, tiptoe across bridges (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/handsonaswegrow.com\/floor-is-lava\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">don\u2019t step in the lava!<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and crawl through tunnels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using boxes, containers and stuffed animals, your preschooler can pretend to be a zookeeper and care for the animals. Use a washcloth and hairbrush for the animals\u2019 hygiene or have your preschooler draw \u201ctickets\u201d for you to visit their zoo.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up a pretend restaurant, grocery store or ice cream shop using toys and household items. Imaginative play builds language, problem-solving skills and social understanding.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 32px;\">Learning happens everywhere<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When young children are engaged, curious and having fun, they\u2019re building important developmental skills. It can look like playing \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/raisingchildren.net.au\/preschoolers\/play-learning\/low-cost-play-ideas\/i-spy-turn-taking-and-talking-activity-for-children-3-6-years\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d on a car ride or setting up a water sensory station. It doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate or perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Arizona\u2019s early childhood agency, we know parents and caregivers are a child\u2019s first and most important teachers. That\u2019s why we provide free resources, tools and information to help families support learning and development from birth to age 5.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From developmental milestones and early learning activities to parenting resources and local programs, families can find support to help children grow, learn and thrive all year long.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>More play-based learning ideas<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the ideas in this article were inspired by play-based learning recommendations from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pathways<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a nonprofit organization focused on child development and early childhood milestones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Learn More<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Longer days, changing routines and school breaks often leave parents searching for ways to keep little ones entertained without relying on screens. But it\u2019s the everyday activities like exploring outside, reading books or helping in the kitchen that support healthy development in the early years. Children learn best through play. Whether you have a baby, &hellip; <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/diy-play-based-activities\/\">Read More<i class=\"fas fa-arrow-circle-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":64087,"template":"","tags":[23,74],"class_list":["post-64032","first-things","type-first-things","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-child-development","tag-early-learning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>DIY play-based learning activities for early childhood<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Screen-free, DIY play-based learning activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers that support healthy development.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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