When it comes to toys for our kids, we often think the fancier the better. But the reality is sometimes they can be so entertained by the simplest things. And if we are being honest, shiny new toys purchased from the store become “old” and uninteresting very quickly. The best part is that common household items can entertain your babies and toddlers for hours.

Not only is this tactic super cost effective, it’s also a great way to be constantly introducing them to new shapes, colors and textures. Doing activities with tactile objects helps them develop their motor skills.

Sometimes you have to peak their interest in certain items. A great way to do this is to use them yourself in an activity, because the little ones will always want what’s in your hands. You can also clap and make a big deal about random household objects, they will catch on to your enthusiasms. Finally, you can invent a song and sing about their new household toys - the sillier the better!

We try to keep our daughter away from TV screens as much as possible and these strategies using simple household items have really come in handy.

To accompany your baby or child’s playtime I have a collection of free music playlists on YouTube. Check out The Best YouTube Music Playlists for Babies on the blog.

Gennifer Rose - Common Household Items for Kids to Entertain Themselves - Toddler girl playing with common household items.

Household Items that Make Fun and Cheap Toys

Bubbles with Dish Soap

One of my daughter’s favorite things to do is to play with water and bubbles. In a large plastic bowl and I put warm water and dish soap. I swish the water until thick foamy bubbles form.

Along with her bubbles, I give Scout cups and water-friendly toys to play with in the bowl. I also save plastic yogurt containers for her water play activities.

Blankets, towels and bed Sheets

I can almost guarantee that if there’s a stack of freshly folded blankets, towels or sheets, at some point Scout will dismantle the pile and start playing with them on the floor. While this is not ideal for fresh laundry, you can stage this stack in your play area.

Kids also love home forts made out of furniture and bed sheets. You can built a fort, play their favorite music and put stuffed animals inside.

Plastic Tupperware

Babies love containers, and they especially love when they come with lids that close. Scout loves to put her crayons and small toys inside plastic containers, close the lid, shake the container, open the container, dump everything out - and then start again.

When I purchase large tubs of Greek yogurt, I save the containers and it’s like a new toy every week!

Paper Bags

Paper bags are great for multiple reasons. Kiddos love the loud crunchy noise they make, they can put their toys inside them and they aren’t a choke hazard like plastic bags. Bonus points if the paper bags have handles - kids love to hold them like the adults.

Shoe Boxes

Another great box that comes with a lid. Shoe boxes also tend to be the perfect size for toddlers to store their toys. You can also surprise them with toys and additional containers inside the shoe box.

Flashlights

On dark and rainy days, bring some fun and light with flashlights!

Mirror

Some babies and toddlers are really fascinated by their own reflection. This can also be a great way to teach them their facial body parts and their name.

Hide-and-Seek in the Cupboards

We have designated cupboards in our house for Scout to play with her toys. She really enjoys puting her toys inside, organizing them, closing the cupboard, and then coming back for them later. You can put new objects inside the cupboards and surprise them - they will be excited!

Dice and Playing Cards

If you’re child is older and not at risk of putting small objects in their mouth, kids really love colorful dice and playing cards. Scout loves to organize her playing cards and put the dice into containers.

Plastic Spoons

I have no idea why but Scout loves to play with plastic spoons. She puts them inside containers, inside the cupboards, we find them all over the house. They also love plastic forks - just make sure the tips are rounded.

Q-Tips and Cotton Balls

Kids love objects with new shapes and textures. Cotton balls and Q-tips are so light and fluffy, perfect for stuffing into containers. You can also try painting projects using cotton balls, Q-tips and water-based paints.

Magnets

Refrigerator magnets are a blast for kids. Scout received magnets with letters and shapes for her second birthday and she really loves them. You can also use the magnets, pieces of paper and photographs already on your fridge.

Sensory Bin with Dried Rice

Fair warning, this is a very messy activity but toddlers really love it. Fill a plastic bowl with dried rice and small objects hidden in the rice. They can use plastic spoons and small cups to play with the rice. If you have two bowls next to each other, they can fill cups of rice and dump it in the other bowl.

Stacking Mixing Bowls

If you have bowls that will stack and nest, these can be fun for kids to assemble and disassemble.

Muffins Tins

If your child likes to organize and sort, muffin tins are perfect for small objects like crayons and little toys. Teach them to sort objects by color and sizes.

Cardboard Boxes

When your Amazon deliveries arrive, save the boxes! Always be careful with the plastic bags and packaging materials, they are a choke hazard. Big boxes can be used to build a fort, make a play house, etc.

Laundry Basket

There’s nothing more tempting for babies and toddlers than a basket filled with freshly folded laundry. You can set up a basket with laundry, or you can fill the basket with toys and objects.

Clean & Unused Diapers

Scout loves to play with her clean diapers. She puts diapers on her stuffed animals, she likes to organize them, she likes to color them with markers, so many things. If you leave a basket of clean diapers within their reach, your child might get creative with them.

Plastic Water Bottles

The clear look of plastic bottles coupled with the crunchy noise they make is pure gold for babies and toddlers. You can fill them up with water and food coloring, water and glitter, dried beans, dried rice, dried pasta, etc.

Roll of Toilet Paper

If you’re in a pinch and need your baby or toddler to self-entertain for a bit, a fresh roll of toilet paper can do the trick. They enjoy pulling the squares apart and unrolling the roll. Just make sure they don’t try to eat the paper. You can also use the empty cardboard rolls for art projects. Same goes with paper towels.

Empty Vitamin Bottles

I fill up my empty vitamin bottles with dry beans or rice. They make easy DIY shaker rattles.

Bubble Wrap

The texture of bubble wrap, along with the crinkly sound and “pop” can be fun for kids.

Plastic Easter Eggs

Kids are really drawn to the bright colors and shapes of Easter eggs. You can also make them “surprise eggs” by filling them up with small toys.

Tape

A very common household item like tape has potential to amuse your toddler. The sticky surface can entertain them in all kinds of ways.

Pillbox

Every morning when I take my vitamins and probiotics, Scout would make a fuss because she wanted to play with my pillbox. So I got a second pillbox for her to play with. She likes to collect beads, dices, sequins and other small objects and organize them in the pillbox.

Rotate Old Toys

Every few months I will sort through all Scout’s toys and put away the ones she’s no longer playing with. I pack them away in airtight containers for a few months. Once she’s completely forgotten about them, I bring them out like they are new. She get super excited - like Christmas Day!