Quiet time can be fun!
Toddlers and preschoolers need plenty of opportunities every day to be active, make noise, and explore. But even the busiest kid needs time to wind down. When it’s time to transition from play time to rest time, it helps to have a few quiet activities ready to go.
If you’re looking for ways to help your little one settle down before nap time or bedtime, or just for a mid-day break, consider adding a few of these activities to your routine.
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What is quiet time?
Quiet time is a scheduled period during the day when your child can rest or enjoy simple activities like reading or doing puzzles. It’s the perfect time for your little one to wind down after a busy morning of playing and learning. Adding quiet time to your daily routine can also help your little one transition to nap time or bedtime.
Setting up a peaceful environment is a great way to encourage rest and relaxation. During quiet time, try dimming the lights or playing soft music. It’s also a good idea to provide your child with a few activities to choose from.
Here are some more tips and activity ideas to help you make quiet time a fun and relaxing part of your child’s day…
Quiet time tips
- Limit choices. Don’t offer your child too many options. Try giving them just 2 or 3 simple activities to choose from.
- Keep it screen-free. Avoiding screens is a good way to promote relaxation and build healthy sleep habits.
- Make it fun. Consider setting aside a few “quiet time only” toys to help your little one get excited for quiet time.
- Follow their lead. Do books and toys prevent your child from getting some much-needed sleep? Try waiting 30-60 minutes before offering them a quiet activity.
- Stay safe. Be extra mindful of safety risks, like cords, outlets, or choking hazards, any time your toddler will be unsupervised.
- Let them be bored! Sure, have a few quiet activities prepared. But don’t feel like you need to step in if your toddler loses interest. Boredom is healthy – and can make sleep seem more appealing too. 😉
16 Simple Quiet Activity Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
1 | Reading
A small basket of books is the perfect choice for quiet time! If you have a young toddler, or your child is prone to ripping books, stick to board books. They’re sturdier, with easy-to-turn pages. Interactive busy books are a fun option too.
Here are a few of my favorite quiet time books for toddlers and preschoolers:
Felt quiet book from Etsy shop KINDERKRAMA
2 | Coloring
Coloring is one of the best quiet activities for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s fun, portable, and doesn’t require much setup or clean-up. Try offering your little one a sketchpad or clipboard to make coloring in bed (or on the floor) easier. A whiteboard with dry erase markers is a good choice too!
If you suspect your child might paint a mural if left to their own devices, here are a few mess-free options…
3 | Stringing Beads
Beading is an excellent quiet time activity for preschoolers and older toddlers. Be sure to choose large beads that are designed for little hands, as well as a piece of thick shoelace or rope (with a knot tied at the end) for a fun, frustration-free experience.
Colorful beads help little ones explore patterns. Textured beads, which provide an interesting sensory experience, are a fun choice for quiet time too.
Wooden lacing toy from Etsy shop LegacyLearning
4 | Puzzles
Working on a puzzle is a great quiet activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Make sure to choose puzzles that are the right level of difficulty for your child: Not so easy that they get bored right away but not so hard that they need help.
Look for knobbed puzzles or puzzles with chunky pieces — tactile feedback is a huge help when lighting is limited.
Leaf puzzle from Etsy shop WoodThinks
5 | Matching
Here’s another easy activity idea for your toddler or preschooler: Set up a simple matching activity they can do on their own. Try matching socks, large buttons, paint samples, fabric swatches, picture cards, or other objects from around the house.
6 | Stacking & Nesting Toys
Like puzzles, stacking and nesting toys require no set-up and are great for independent play. If you’re looking for a toy your child can play with in bed, stacking rings are a solid option. If your little one will have space to play on the floor, soft blocks or stacking stones also work well.
Playing with nesting toys, like bowls, cups, and nesting dolls, is another fun option for quiet time. There are plenty of household items that double as nesting toys too: Measuring cups and spoons, Tupperware, food prep bowls, silicone cupcake liners, and more!
7 | Audiobook or Podcast
Many toddlers and preschoolers enjoy listening to an audiobook or podcast as they drift off to sleep. Make sure to choose a calm story or podcast to maintain a calm environment and encourage rest.
You can find tons of high-quality children’s audiobooks through Libby (using your library card), or on Audible.
There are also plenty of great child-friendly podcasts your little one may like.
8 | Yoga
If your child has a hard time winding down before a nap, yoga can provide a constructive outlet for their energy. To begin, try teaching your child a few basic yoga poses and practice them for a few minutes each day.
At nap time, you can offer your child a simple yoga board book, or a set of yoga cards with easy-to-follow pictures. With these visual cues, your little one can practice these poses on their own whenever they need a break.
9 | Latch Board
A latch board is a fine motor toy with different types of latches, hooks, locks, and keys. Working with a latch board is fun and challenging for preschoolers and older toddlers, making it a great choice for quiet time.
Keep in mind that the goal here is independent play. Make sure to choose a latch board that is the right level of difficulty for your child.
Wooden latch board toy from Etsy shop MAXandLEA
10 | Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles are a fun toy for little and big kids alike. Younger toddlers can stack the magnetic shapes, and older toddlers and preschoolers can have fun building simple structures.
Magna-Tiles are portable, easy to store, and simple to use, making them a great choice for quiet play.
To encourage your little one to get some rest, make sure not to give them too many Magna-Tiles when it’s time to wind down: 10 or so should be enough. (Save the elaborate construction projects for later!)
11 | Sensory Bottles
Sensory bottles are an easy option for quiet time. Simply shake and enjoy!
You can make a DIY sensory bottle at home with a few basic ingredients. To get started, find a clean, empty bottle and fill it with whatever materials you’d like: Water, oil, food coloring, small shells, acorns, beads, glitter, etc. Then, screw the lid on tightly, glue it shut, and give it a shake to mix everything up.
Check out this tutorial for a step-by-step guide. Not the DIY type? You can also find a variety of unique handmade sensory bottles on Etsy.
Seasons of the year sensory bottles from Etsy shop JoyfulLifestyle
13 | Stickers
If you’re looking for an easy activity to keep your little one occupied, stickers are a great option.
It’s important to make sure that the stickers you choose are easy to peel. (Dot stickers are a great place to start!) Paper matters too: Cardstock is typically easier for little ones to handle than normal paper.
Sticker books are a good option for older toddlers and preschoolers.
14 | Open & Close
Here’s one way to keep your child’s hands busy — and mind occupied — during quiet time. Gather a few items that “open and close” and place them in a basket. Then, let your little one explore!
Coin purses, small gift boxes, recycled jars or bottles, ring boxes, and food storage containers are a few good options.
As always, make sure this activity is the right level of difficulty for your child: Interesting but not too challenging. You want your child to be able to play independently without needing help or getting frustrated.
Open & close activity from Etsy shop MontessoriVERO
15 | Treasure Basket
This is a fun and easy activity that can help keep your little one busy during quiet time. To create a treasure basket, start by finding a small container like a basket or box. Then, simply gather a few items from around the house for your child to explore on their own.
Think simple objects with a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures, like a large shell, smooth stone, wooden spoon, metal whisk, piece of sandpaper, fabric swatch, or makeup brush.
You may also like: How to Make an Awesome Montessori Treasure Basket
16 | Vehicles
If your child loves cars, trucks, trains, or planes, let them take a few of their favorites to bed with them. This can help keep your little one busy as they play quietly or drift off to sleep.
Remember to park any noisy cars or trucks out of your child’s sight and reach during quiet time. The last thing you need when your little one is trying to rest is a poorly timed “vroom, vroom,” “choo-choo,” or “HONK!”
Have fun!
Simple activities like reading books, coloring, and doing puzzles are a great way to help your toddler or preschooler settle down for a nap.
And sometimes, no matter what you do, your child just won’t sleep. That’s okay! Keeping a few quiet activities on hand can help your little one (and you) take a much-needed break until it’s time to play again.
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