Toddler Activities Actually Worth the Set Up, According to One Mom

Whether you are struggling with how to keep your older toddler busy over summer break or just looking for an activity that inspires hours of independent play, there are laundry lists full of do-it-yourself setups. But with so much to choose from, how are parents to decide on what’s next on the docket? That’s why one self-proclaimed “not Pinterest mom,” Cayla, is sharing her honest, timed reviews of toddler activities, highlighting which setups delivered real playtime and which ones flopped. While toddler activities seem to be everywhere on TikTok and Instagram, self-proclaimed “not Pinterest mom” Cayla recently shared her roundup list of “rapid fire recommendations” of worth-it activities and ones that are perhaps a little more trouble than they are worth. “There’s nothing worse than putting your blood, sweat and tears into a setup you saw online, only for your toddler to play for 30 seconds and walk away,” she wrote. “I’ve been timing the setup and cleanup, and rating the overall fun my toddler has doing these activities—here are my honest opinions.”

Worth-It Toddler Activities:

Frozen dino eggs

Place small toys inside water balloons, fill with water, and freeze. You may need an extra hand to help stretch the balloon open, but the prep takes under 15 minutes. From cracking the eggs with a spoon to excavating the “dinosaurs,” this one kept my toddler busy for over an hour, 10,000% worth it.

Shaving cream “ice cream”

Add a bit of shaving cream and food coloring to your outdoor water table. Let your toddler scoop the colorful “ice cream” into plastic cones. Set up took 4 minutes, cleanup was easy, and my son played for 22 minutes straight. Surprisingly simple and fun.

Finish and cross the bridge

Set up tape between two chairs or a table and chairs. Sub 5 minute set up. Give them popsicle sticks to complete the bridge and then have their animals cross. Played with 22 minutes, clean up with easy and quick. Quick, easy and fun.

“Aquarium” water table

Decorate your water table with aquarium rocks (if your toddler won’t try to eat or throw them), plastic plants, and underwater figurines. Setup took under 10 minutes, and it turned out super cute. This one kept my toddler engaged and happy.

Color scavenger hunt

Paint an egg carton with colors that you know you can find around the yard, from yellow dandelions to green grass, and pink azaleas, then have then go out and find the natural things that match and add to egg carton. So simple and fun. Plus, its reusable. Expect them to be playing/hunting along with them.

Mini car wash

Highly recommend doing this outside in a water table. Dirty hot wheels, plus soap and brushes. Set up took 7 minutes and 14 seconds. So worth the set up, hours of independent play. New record, easy cleanup and could be easily reused.

Toddler Activities That Are More Trouble Than They’re Worth:

Dirt sensory bin

This DIY “dirt” made from flour and cocoa only took 5 minutes to prep and provided 14 minutes of messy truck play. But cleanup was a disaster. The dirt got everywhere, and it took way longer to clean up than it did to play. Hard pass.

Sea foam sensory bin

Mix soap, water, and food coloring in a blender to create “sea foam.” Setup took 24 minutes (blender, colors, multiple steps), play lasted only 8. Cleanup was involved and required washing down both the toddler and the space. I might give it a second try, I should probably give this one a second chance, but for now, I vote no.

Hungry Caterpillar

Color and cut a large Very Hungry Caterpillar to place over a sensory table, complete with spaces to push blocks and shapes through. Setup took about 15 minutes, and playtime lasted only 7. My toddler (over 2) wasn’t into it—but this might work better for younger toddlers around 18 months.

While it helps to have a heads up when it comes to DIY toddler activities, just like with all parts of parenting, there is no one-size-fits-all. What might work for one family might not work for you, or even your first vs second kid. If you are looking for more parent-tested ideas, though, check out these indoor and outdoor toddler activity ideas.