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Toddlers change fast, and 17 months is such a fun stage—busy, curious, and eager to try everything. If you’re looking for simple, age-appropriate activities to keep your little one engaged, you’re in the right place.
As a mom of three and a former teacher and camp counselor, I’ve spent years collecting go-to ideas that actually work for this age. These activities are easy to set up, developmentally meaningful, and most importantly, fun for both of you.
Let’s jump in and find a few new favorites for your 17-month-old!
💡 Looking for activities by developmental stage? Here’s our full guide to Activities for Babies by Age (0–18 Months).
Quick Picks: Best Activities for Your 17-Month-Old
If you just need a few ideas fast, here are the activities parents reach for again and again. These options support sensory play, fine-motor development, gross motor skills, language growth, and simple at-home fun—the core things parents search for at this age.
Best Sensory Activity: Water table play
A simple bin of water with cups, spoons, and floating toys encourages pouring, scooping, splashing, and exploring cause and effect.
Best Fine-Motor Activity: Pom pom posting
Use a container with holes and let your toddler push pom poms through. Great for strengthening dexterity and focus.
Best Gross-Motor Activity: Mini indoor obstacle course
Pillows, tunnels, and soft objects create a safe, fun way to crawl, climb, and practice balance—perfect for a rainy day.
Best Outdoor Activity: Balance bike or push-bike ride
Short gliding sessions help with coordination, confidence, and getting some energy out.
Best Language-Building Activity: Nursery rhyme sing-along
Repetition boosts vocabulary, listening skills, and early memory.
Best Quiet-Time Activity: Reading tent or cozy book nook
Creates a calming environment where your toddler can slow down and connect with books.
Best Everyday Activity: Helping with simple chores
Wiping, sweeping, or placing items into a basket lets toddlers mimic adults while practicing independence.
Best Messy Play Activity: Finger painting or ice cube painting
A safe, creative way to explore colors and textures.
Best Social-Emotional Activity: Pretend tea party with stuffed animals
Encourages turn-taking, imagination, and simple role play.
Best Activities for Your 17-Month-Old
1. Water Table Fun
Water play is one of the easiest sensory activities for a 17-month-old, and it works indoors or outdoors. Fill a shallow bin or water table with warm water, cups, ladles, and floating toys. Add ice cubes, bubbles, or a few drops of food coloring to introduce simple cause-and-effect learning.
Try this twist: Drop in silicone muffin cups and let your toddler “serve drinks” or “make soup.” They love the pretend play element.
2. Building with Blocks
Stacking blocks builds early problem-solving, fine-motor strength, and hand-eye coordination. Keep it interesting by rotating block types—wood, foam, magnetic tiles, or large LEGOs.
Fresh idea: Make “crash towers.” You build a tall tower, and your toddler gets to knock it over. This encourages turn-taking and gives kids the sensory satisfaction they crave at this age.
3. Playing with Pom Poms
Pom poms offer endless options for at-home activities for 17-month-olds. Toddlers can sort them by color, scoop them into containers, or push them through holes in a cardboard box for a great fine-motor workout.
Variation parents love: Tape a paper-towel tube to the wall and create a “pom pom slide.” Gravity play feels like magic for this age group.
4. Blow Bubbles
Chasing and popping bubbles helps toddlers practice gross motor coordination and visual tracking. It’s simple, calming, and perfect for a quick reset during the day.
Unique way to play: Catch bubbles on a cookie sheet and let your toddler gently poke them. The slower “table bubbles” are easier for small hands.
💡Even better? Get a small bubble machine that will keep the fun going for hours.
5. Shape Sorters
Shape sorters help toddlers practice matching, early problem-solving, and language (“triangle,” “circle”). You can rotate between classic sorters, themed ones, or even DIY your own.
DIY version: Cut shapes into a cereal-box lid and offer large buttons or blocks to match. It’s lightweight and great for travel or restaurant waits.
6. Sticker Fun
Stickers build finger strength and fine-motor coordination, and they’re an easy win for toddlers. Let your 17-month-old place stickers on paper, on a cardboard box, or even on their arms and legs (great for learning body parts).
Try this: Make a “sticker road” by drawing a simple path and letting your toddler place stickers along it. This adds an early pre-writing element without pressure.
7. Start Biking!
A balance bike or push bike is an exciting outdoor activity for 17-month-olds, helping them practice balance and coordination in tiny bursts.
Keep it toddler-friendly: Start with 5–10 minutes on a flat driveway or sidewalk. Kids this age often prefer short gliding moments followed by exploring rocks, sticks, and anything else along the route.
8. Ball Pit Dive
A kiddie pool or large cardboard box filled with plastic balls makes an instant ball pit. It encourages gross motor play like crawling, rolling, flopping, and standing up.
Unique variation: Add empty paper-towel tubes or a small slide into the ball pit. Mini “ball drops” or sliding into the balls makes the activity feel brand new.
9. Simple Puzzles
Large-piece puzzles help toddlers practice matching, attention, and early problem-solving. Start with puzzles that show familiar objects—animals, vehicles, shapes—and progress to two-piece or three-piece puzzles when they’re ready.
Try this for variety: Hide puzzle pieces around the room for a mini scavenger hunt. It turns a simple puzzle into a movement activity.
10. Toddler Trampoline
A small toddler trampoline is a fantastic way to channel energy indoors or outside. Jumping strengthens muscles, coordination, and balance while giving toddlers an outlet for big movement.
Tip: Add simple prompts like “jump three times” or “jump and freeze.” This builds early listening skills and adds structure to the play.
11. Cardboard Box Playhouse
A cardboard box turns into the perfect open-ended activity for a 17-month-old. Cut out windows, draw on a door, or let your toddler climb in and out while you narrate what they’re doing (“in,” “out,” “open,” “close”).
Unique variation: Turn the box on its side and tape a few small LED push lights inside. Instant “cozy clubhouse” for quiet play.
12. Wooden Spoon Drumming
You don’t need real instruments to make music. Wooden spoons and pots create an easy rhythm activity that supports hand-eye coordination and early listening skills.
Make it fresh: Offer one loud pot and one soft-sounding item (like a cardboard box). It’s an easy way to explore the concepts of loud/soft—great language play for toddlers.
13. Wagon Rides
A wagon ride checks all the boxes: outdoor time, movement, and a chance to point out sights along the way. Toddlers practice balance as they sit and look around, making it a low-effort outing with a big payoff.
Fun twist: Bring a small bucket and collect nature treasures along the route—leaves, pinecones, rocks—for later sensory play.
14. Dance Party
A mini dance party is one of the easiest fun activities for a 17-month-old. Put on music with a clear beat and let your toddler wiggle, stomp, and sway.
Try this variation: Add scarves or dish towels for them to wave. It instantly adds a sensory element and encourages big, flowing movements.
🎵Want more movement ideas? Check out our roundup of the best kids’ dance songs to keep the fun going.
15. Cleaning Helper
Toddlers love “helping.” Give your 17-month-old a tiny dustpan, microfiber cloth, or spray bottle with water and let them mimic your cleaning tasks.
Unique idea: Create a “toddler cleaning caddy” with safe items—sponges, washcloths, a small duster. Let them help you clean toys or wipe tables.
16. Sidewalk Chalk Art
Sidewalk chalk is a backyard staple that encourages creativity while building fine-motor strength. Draw simple shapes or lines and let your toddler color them in.
Fresh twist: Freeze chalk sticks in water overnight. The cold chalk makes bright streaks on warm pavement, and toddlers love the novelty.
💡If your toddler loves chalk play, we’ve got a full list of fun sidewalk chalk activities you can try next.
17. Food Coloring Science
A few cups of water and drops of food coloring create a simple cause-and-effect activity toddlers find mesmerizing. Use spoons, droppers, or measuring cups to mix colors.
Unique addition: Place the cups on a baking sheet and tilt it slightly. The water will flow and blend slowly—an easy, toddler-friendly version of “color rivers.”
18. Finger Painting
Finger painting lets toddlers explore texture, pressure, and color while strengthening hand muscles. Use washable paint and large paper taped to the floor.
Try this: Offer a small bowl of whipped cream with a drop of food coloring for a taste-safe version. It has a completely different texture toddlers love.
19. Instrument Time
Simple instruments—shakers, bells, small drums, or even pots and pans—are perfect for early rhythm play and language development.
Unique variation: Create a “sound tray” with items that make different noises (foil, a pinecone, a wooden spoon, a whisk). Ask, “What sound does this make?” Toddlers love exploring sound in unexpected ways.
20. Playdough Shapes
Playdough offers endless opportunities for fine-motor activities for 17-month-olds, from squishing to rolling to making simple shapes.
Unique twist: Add warm water in a small bowl for “playdough washing.” Toddlers love dunking playdough balls into the water and watching them dissolve.
21. Nursery Rhymes Singalong
Singing nursery rhymes is a simple way to boost language development for a 17-month-old. The repetition helps toddlers learn new words, follow a rhythm, and predict what comes next.
Try this: Pause before a familiar word (“The wheels on the…”) and let your toddler fill in the blank or finish the movement. It’s a gentle early literacy skill that feels like play.
22. Reading Tent
A cozy reading nook or blanket tent turns everyday books into an adventure. Even just changing the environment makes reading feel new again, and toddlers love the quiet, tucked-in feeling.
Unique idea: Add a flashlight and let your toddler “spotlight” pictures on each page. It’s an easy way to encourage longer, calmer reading time.
💡If you’re looking to build out your toddler’s library, here are some of the best books for 1-year-olds to encourage early language and cozy reading time.
23. Dress-Up Time
Pretend play builds imagination and early social-emotional skills. Keep a small basket with hats, scarves, and simple costumes your toddler can put on by themselves.
Fresh twist: Introduce “mini missions” — like “dress up like someone going to the beach!” Toddlers love the prompt, and it expands vocabulary (hat, sunglasses, towel).
24. Cooking Helper
Toddlers love watching you cook, and helping with small tasks gives them a sense of independence. Simple actions like stirring batter, pouring pre-measured ingredients, or washing produce are perfect at this age.
Try this unique spin: Give them a mini cutting board and a child-safe butter knife to slice soft foods like bananas. It’s a great fine-motor activity for a 17-month-old and introduces practical life skills.
25. Sensory Bin Dig
A sensory bin filled with rice, beans, sand, or shredded paper is a hit for toddlers who love scooping, dumping, and discovering hidden objects.
Unique variation: Make it a “construction zone.” Add small trucks, scoops, and containers so your toddler can haul, dump, and pour like a job site.
26. Grocery Store Helper
Turn your grocery run into an easy real-life learning activity for a 17-month-old. Let them help pick fruit, place items in the cart, or choose between two options you hold up.
Pro tip: Narrate everything — “We’re choosing apples… red apples… crunchy apples.” This transforms a routine errand into a rich language experience.
27. Local Park or Playground
A trip to the park offers endless ways for toddlers to strengthen balance, climb, swing, and explore. Even the walk from the car to the playground can be an adventure for this age.
Unique idea: Bring a small bucket and do a “nature color hunt.” Ask your toddler to find something green, something brown, something yellow. It’s simple, calming, and perfect for expanding language.
28. Ice Cube Painting
Ice cube painting is a fun sensory art activity for 17-month-olds, especially on warm days. Freeze colored water with a popsicle stick and let your toddler paint as the ice melts.
Try this twist: Freeze different shapes (use silicone molds) so your toddler can explore how different shapes melt and glide.
29. Egg Hunt in the Yard
A year-round egg hunt builds movement, curiosity, and early problem-solving. Hide plastic eggs filled with little toys or safe household items and let your toddler wander around to find them.
Unique spin: Make it a “sound hunt.” Fill some eggs with rice, some with bells, and leave some empty. Shake each one and let your toddler discover the difference.
30. Read Their Favorite Book
Reading the same book over and over is developmentally normal — and beneficial. Toddlers love repetition because it helps them predict language and understand the story more deeply.
Fresh variation: Let your toddler choose a “special reading seat” — a pillow, a blanket pile, or your lap. Changing where you read makes the experience feel brand new.
31. Pot and Pan Band
A kitchen jam session is a wonderfully simple music activity for 17-month-olds. Give your toddler wooden spoons and a couple of pots or pans to tap.
Make it unique: Offer a mix of materials—metal, plastic, cardboard—so they can explore how each one makes a different sound. You can even model patterns (“tap-tap-pause”).
32. Simon Says
This toddler-friendly version of Simon Says builds listening skills, body awareness, and early language comprehension. Keep commands simple (“touch your nose,” “jump,” “clap”).
Try this twist: Add animal movements—“Simon says waddle like a penguin!” Toddlers LOVE this and it expands vocabulary in a playful way.
33. Shaving Cream Art
Shaving cream is a fun, fluffy sensory activity for a 17-month-old, perfect for a high-chair tray or cookie sheet. Let your toddler swirl, smear, and explore the texture.
Variation: Mix in a drop of food coloring or add a few toy cars to create “shaving cream tracks.” It feels fresh without adding work.
34. Crayon Art
Large crayons help toddlers practice grip and early pre-writing skills. Offer a few colors at a time so they’re not overwhelmed.
Unique idea: Tape bubble wrap over the paper so your toddler colors on top. The bumpy texture adds novelty and boosts sensory exploration.
35. Sorting Plastic Balls
Sorting by color, size, or type is a great cognitive activity for 17-month-olds. Use ball-pit balls or even small toy balls.
Make it fun: Turn it into a “ball laundry” game—give them two baskets and have them “wash” and “dry” each color.
36. Puppet Show
A simple puppet show encourages imagination and early language. Toddlers love watching puppets “talk,” wave, or go to sleep.
Try this twist: Let your toddler hold a puppet and copy simple motions like clapping or peekaboo. It builds imitation skills and gives them control over the play.
37. Toy Cars Racing
Push cars along a taped “road” or chalk line to build coordination and pretend-play skills.
Unique idea: Stick painter’s tape to make ramps or small hills. Even slight elevation changes make this feel brand new for toddlers.
38. Spoon and Egg Race
A toddler-friendly version of the classic egg race reinforces balance and coordination. Use a plastic egg or a soft ball.
Variation: Try a “slow race” where the goal is to move as quietly and carefully as possible. Toddlers find this hilarious and it builds self-control.
39. Rainy Day Indoor Obstacle Course
Pillows, tunnels, couch cushions, and chairs can create a fun indoor gross-motor activity for 17-month-olds. Let them crawl over, under, or around each obstacle.
Unique twist: Add “stations” — blow a bubble, ring a bell, find a stuffed animal — to combine movement and problem-solving.
40. Tea Party with Stuffed Animals
A sweet pretend-play activity that supports social skills and imagination. Pouring, sharing, and serving help toddlers practice real-life routines.
Fresh idea: Add a simple script like, “Can you pour the tea?” or “Let’s give bear a snack.” This encourages early conversational skills without pressure.
41. Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Toilet paper rolls make the easiest recycled craft activity for 17-month-olds. Toddlers can decorate them with crayons, stickers, or paint, or you can tape two together to make simple binoculars.
Unique idea: Create a “posting tube” by cutting small slits in the roll and letting your toddler slide popsicle sticks or pouch lids through.
42. Leaf Collecting
A simple nature walk becomes a sensory exploration activity when you collect leaves of different sizes, shapes, and colors.
Fun twist: When you’re home, tape the leaves on a sunny window and make a “leaf light display.” Toddlers love seeing the colors glow.
43. Keep It Up with a Balloon
A lightweight balloon is perfect for practicing hand-eye coordination. Show your toddler how to tap it gently to keep it floating.
Unique variation: Draw a simple face on the balloon and name it (“Benny Balloon”). It adds just enough storytelling to keep toddlers engaged.
44. Baking Together
Helping in the kitchen teaches scooping, pouring, counting, and patience — all important early skills.
Fresh idea: Give your toddler their own mixing bowl with oats, flour, or Cheerios to “mix” while you cook. It keeps them busy and makes them feel included.
45. Visit the Zoo
A trip to the zoo is a high-interest learning activity for 17-month-olds. Toddlers love watching real animals, hearing new sounds, and pointing at everything.
Pro tip: Pick one or two animals to focus on (“Today we’re looking for giraffes!”). It keeps the outing simple and purposeful.
46. Sandbox Treasure Hunt
Hide small toys or natural objects (pinecones, shells, toy animals) in a sandbox and let your toddler dig to discover them.
Unique variation: Use a paintbrush for “gentle digging” like an archeologist. Toddlers LOVE brushing off sand to reveal treasures.
47. Play Peekaboo
Peekaboo never gets old because it teaches object permanence, turn-taking, and anticipation.
Try this twist: Hide a stuffed animal under a blanket and let your toddler lift it up. It becomes a toddler-led version of the classic game.
48. Kick a Ball Outside
Kicking, chasing, and rolling a ball are great early gross-motor activities for toddlers. Soft soccer balls or playground balls work best.
Unique twist: Set up simple “goals” with two sticks or shoes and cheer when your toddler scores. They love the big reaction.
49. Indoor Camping
Turn your living room into a tiny campsite with a small tent or blanket fort. Add pillows, a flashlight, and a few stuffed animals for cozy pretend play.
Fun idea: Make “indoor s’mores” using graham crackers and chocolate chips. It adds a fun sensory element without the mess.
50. Make a Fort
Blankets, chairs, and couch cushions can transform into the perfect hideaway for pretend play, reading, and quiet time.
Fresh twist: Add a small string of battery-powered fairy lights for a magical atmosphere toddlers adore.
51. Stringing Pasta Noodles
Stringing big pasta noodles onto a shoelace or pipe cleaner builds hand strength, coordination, and concentration.
Unique variation: Use a colander and let your toddler poke pipe cleaners through the holes. It’s the same fine-motor skill with less frustration for little hands.
52. Read and Act Out a Story
Acting out a favorite book keeps toddlers engaged and helps deepen comprehension. Make simple gestures (“stomp like the bear”), mimic sounds, or use stuffed animals as characters.
Fresh twist: Pick one repeated line in the book and let your toddler be in charge of saying it each time. They love feeling like part of the story.
53. Fill-in-the-Blanks
During familiar books or songs, pause before a key word and let your toddler finish it (“Twinkle, twinkle, little…?”).
Why it works: This simple early-literacy activity strengthens memory, attention, and language without feeling like teaching.
54. Point and Say
Pointing to pictures while naming them helps toddlers build vocabulary and connect words to real-life objects.
Unique variation: Turn it into a game by asking, “Can you find the __?” and letting your toddler point, tap, or kiss the picture.
55. Family Reading Time
Reading together with siblings or grandparents adds a warm, social element to storytime. It also exposes toddlers to different voices, rhythms, and styles of reading.
Try this: Rotate who chooses the book. Toddlers love feeling that their choice matters, and it keeps the routine fresh for everyone.
Finding activities for your 17-month-old doesn’t have to be complicated. At this age, simple ideas go a long way—sensory play, music, outdoor adventures, and everyday routines all help your toddler build confidence and skills. The best moments usually happen when you follow their lead and keep things light, playful, and flexible.
If you’re looking for more inspiration based on your child’s age or interests, here are a few helpful places to explore next.
Age-by-Age Activity Posts
- Activities for Babies by Age: 0–18 Months
- 50 Daily Activities for a Toddler
- Fun Play Date Ideas for Toddlers
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
