10 Activities to Entertain a Toddler for (at Least!) 10 Minutes

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Need to catch up on chores or want a few minutes to sit with a cup of tea and a magazine? Try one of these 10 tips to keep your toddler busy so you can have a few moments to yourself!

Caring for a toddler is more than a full-time job. There are no coffee breaks, lunch hours, or vacation days. You can't call in sick, even when you really are, and no doctor will write a note to excuse you from parenting for a few days while you recover. There's not a workforce commission or parent labor board to keep you from long hours and a slave's wages.

Don't get me wrong, parenting is the most rewarding job in the world, but when can you sneak in a phone call or load the dishwasher? When can you escape to the bathroom? Alone?

Aside from affording themselves a quick bathroom break, surrounding your child with creative activities encourages learning. Here are 10 parent tried-and-true activities that will also give you a few golden moments of freedom.

Sorting Machine

Toddlers love to sort things. From dolls to blocks to crayons, they group items by size or color. For a toddler who enjoys organizing, secure her in a high chair and provide a few handfuls of Fruit Loops and a muffin pan. With a little direction, she'll sort the cereal by color into the muffin tin cups (and can enjoy a snack in the process).

Artist at Work

A bowl of diced fruit with a little peanut butter and some graham crackers is great for an entertaining, edible art project. First, thinly spread peanut butter on the graham cracker canvas. Then press fruit chunks into the peanut butter to create a nutritious work of art. Your toddler could be the next Picasso.