How to introduce your child to the benefits of music (Hint: It’s easier than you think)
Here’s how music can benefit your child’s brain—and 4 easy ways to get started with musical play.
Playtime and Activities
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Why real instruments are the best musical toys for young children
Make the most of musical play with playthings that work like real instruments. Here are the 6 best instruments for beginners.
8 playground activities that build your toddler’s balance and coordination
As they spin, roll, swing, and slide, your toddler gets feedback from two important sensory systems that are crucial for their developing gross motor skills.
The rotation schema: why your toddler loves things that spin
Discover 4 ways to support your toddler’s developing rotation schema, a form of play that involves twirling their body, rolling cars, and more.
Easy activities your 9-month-old will love
Try these simple activities for rich sensory play that helps your 9-month-old practice their developing skills.
Valentine’s Day crafts and activities for toddlers and preschoolers
Here are Lovevery's favorite Valentine's Day crafts, treats, and activities—all with important skills practice—to share with your favorite toddler or preschooler.
Introducing the updated Looker Play Kit: The perfect complement to The Play Gym
Introducing our updated Looker Play Kit, which includes our brand new Sensory Links, perfect for The Play Gym or to take on the go! Learn how you can get these new products and the answers to other questions.
Welcome spring with these colorful, toddler-friendly DIYs
Incorporating color into these fun DIY activities stimulates your toddler's senses and deepens their learning.
Here’s how your 2-year-old can keep playing with their baby and 1-year-old playthings
Lovevery Playthings take on new meaning as your child grows. Reintroduce a beloved toy from a past Kit, and your two-year-old will find new ways to play.
Indoor STEM activities for your budding scientist
Young children have a natural interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Here are 6 ways to bring STEM into your home.
4 activities that expose your toddler to the wonder of color
Color brings fresh interest to STEM and art projects for your toddler. Here are 4 easy ones that use food coloring.
The 7 conservation activities that can help your child with math and more
Conservation is a logical thinking ability children develop between 4 and 11 years old. Being able to conserve means knowing that a quantity doesn’t change if it’s been altered.
6 outdoor activities you can bring inside when the weather turns
We’ve collected 6 classic outdoor activity you can bring inside to enhance sensory development and gross and fine motor skills—even when the weather’s bad.
Our simplest activities to do at home with your toddler
When you're short on time, try these 15 simple play ideas for spending time at home with your toddler.
How to celebrate Halloween and maintain physical distance
Halloween will be different this year—but that doesn't mean we can't still celebrate it with our young children.
Our simplest activities to do at home with your baby
Running out of new activities for your baby during quarantine? Don't worry! Here are 14 of our favorite simple play ideas for spending time at home.
How to Montessori a child’s play space, by Montessori Madre
With less clutter and more intention, your child's play space can be inviting and beautiful.
Let’s get gluing—DIY activities with developmental benefits that stick
Using glue to stick items together may not sound like cognitive development, but it is. Try these activities with your toddler to practice.
Your toddler’s on top of the world when they make you laugh
A toddler's budding sense of humor is a sign of their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Learn five ways to help nurture your child's funny bone.
DIY Popsicle Stick Color Pockets
DIY popsicle stick color pockets | Lovevery
7 games to help your child master matching
Somewhere around 30 months, your child may be able to match identical or similar pictures of objects. Practice matching with these activity ideas.
4 pom pom DIYs for busy toddlers
Pom poms are a fun way to help develop fine motor skills and dexterity, and a great addition to sensory play. Try these quick and easy activities with your child.
DIY spice paints, nature soup, and more ways to explore smell
Many sensory activities focus on texture, temperature and other tactile properties. Try these ways to incorporate smell into your two-year-old’s sensory play.
Try a sound walk (and these 3 other activities) to boost your child’s language skills
Your two-year-old is likely starting to demonstrate more awareness of environmental sounds. Here's how you can help them tune into sound.
Obsessed with color-matching right now? Try these activities
Here are some ways to practice color-matching, using The Lovevery Drop and Match Dot Catcher and household craft supplies.
Tape roadways, color tag, and other fun ways to get the energy out
When you can't get to the park, these activities involve minimal materials and prep, and support large body movements to help your child get their energy out.
6 ideas for dramatic play
As children approach age 3, they engage more in symbolic play: using objects to stand in for others. Here are 6 ideas for dramatic play with your two-year-old.
4 fun sensory activities that build neural pathways
Sensory activities engage the body and mind in a way that builds critical neural pathways. Here are some sensory activities with varying levels of messiness.
4 games that will help your child take turns with grace
Taking turns comes before sharing, and your child is ready to practice that now with some adult guidance.
This everyday item is a powerhouse for pretend play
Cardboard is inexpensive, plentiful, and just right for a two-year-old getting into new kinds of pretend play. Here are 4 cardboard activities for your two-year-old.
Dirty vs clean: a quick lesson in contrast
Your toddler’s brain loves to grapple with opposites. A great way to involve your toddler in learning about opposites is by exploring the idea of dirty vs clean
Why laundry time is learning time
Keeping toddlers engaged while doing chores can be a challenge. Here are some fun and fresh ways you can get your toddler involved with laundry.
Endless fun with a sensory bag
When you just can't face another major clean-up for the sake of sensory exploration, these bags are a great way to let you little one explore without any mess.
Two-year-old-friendly math activities in everyday life
Your toddler already understands the basics of advanced mathematical concepts. Here are some ways to bring math into everyday life with your toddler.
Pretend play: outdoor picnics
Pretend play is a great way for your child to apply their current skills and use them for different purposes.
8 tips for safe swaddling
Try these expert tips to swaddle your baby in a way that supports safe and healthy development.
Making graphs with toys
Painter's tape and small toys can turn into a great pre-math activity for young kids who love to sort and compare.
4 easy water dropper activities
Eye droppers are great for fine motor practice, precision, and focus, and can make an activity feel fresh and new.
Dot sticker play
Your child gets to work on their fine motor skills when your introduce versatile dot stickers.
Cracking eggs with your child
Cracking eggs takes a bit of training, but it's a great Montessori practical life activity you can begin around 3-years old.
Copy that monster
This game is not only good for precise drawing practice, it's also an exercise in in using descriptive words.
3 fun ways to get the wiggles out
Kids need to run, jump, exercise, and work out the wiggles regularly. Try these 3 simple ways to get moving.
Stairway math
This activity gets the wiggles out while giving your child an opportunity to practice counting and identifying numbers.
Fine motor threading activity
This activity is a great way for your child to strenghen fine motor skills needed for precision in their grasp, manipulation, and release.
Chalk play: obstacle course
A fun way to keep your child moving with challenging obstacles using just chalk.
Are we there yet? 10 no-materials games for car rides
Traveling with children can be challenging. Here are some ideas for the car that require no materials or tech and can be played by both driver and passengers.
Simple games that bring out surprising skills
Introducing a game of stop and go can help your 2-year-old learn body control. Build on the skills as they master them in these fun new ways.
Two-year-old “Telephone”
Two-year-olds are learning how to control their voices. This game lets them practice and gets the whole family involved.
How to set up an obstacle course for your 2-year-old
An obstacle course, indoors or out, is a great way for your child to develop gross motor skills like walking on tiptoes and jumping with both feet.
Bedazzle your sunglasses (and other accessories)
If you have a pair of kid sunglasses and some pipe cleaners, you have all you need for a DIY bedazzling project—and you can make the sunglasses from scratch if need be.
Flashlight scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt with a flashlight is a great way to look for fun, friendly, familiar items with a beam of light. It works great, even for kids who are afraid of the dark.
Make a gift out of anything 🎁
Unwrapping something can help give your child a feeling of accomplishment, joy, and satisfaction—and it’s really fun. Here are a few ways to make "found object" gifting as fun as possible.
Roads and tape playscape
Your child may be into pretend play these days. Setting up a roadmap with tape and little cars gives them a landscape on which to create a whole world of pretend play.
Mess-Free water painting
This water painting activity boosts gross and fine motor skills and is incredibly simple. All you need are paint brushes and a bucket of water.
Cap twist-off board
Twisting caps to loosen and tighten them takes concentration and coordination, and can be done over and over again. This activity reuses disposable baby food pouches to allow your child to practice.
Pipe cleaners and Wiffle Balls
"Posting” is a term used to describe fitting objects into an opening of corresponding size. In this activity, colorful, bendable pipe cleaners fit into Wiffle balls for all kinds of posting fun.
Velcro dot craft sticks
This DIY craft activity has can be taken on car trips and stored easily for future use—and it supports multiple developmental skills as well.
Pop-up paper tunnels
In this activity, your child will push toy cars, trains, planes, and other small vehicles through DIY tunnels, creating a world of pretend play to get lost in.
DIY Balloon Tennis
This simple DIY is a great source of entertainment and helps develop gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. All it takes is a paper plate, popsicle sticks, and a balloon.
Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Some of the best craft materials can be found in the recycling bin. Here are 3 crafts you can do with your toddler using toilet paper rolls.
Painting with nature
Bring home stick and leaf collections from your neighborhood walks and turn them into paint brushes with this DIY.
Vegetable Painting for Babies and Toddlers
Use this taste-safe paint recipe made of veggie scraps for a great new way to connect with your toddler through art.
Pom poms and tubes
Dropping a pom pom into an opening requires a variety of skills from a child, from lining up their hand with the opening to knowing when and how to open their fingers to release. Try it with this activity.
Pom pom and pitcher sensory bin
Sensory bins of all kinds allow young children to explore different materials with their hands. In this case, you'll use pom poms that can be squeezed, rolled, bunched, tossed, and poured with a pitcher.
DIY ball chute box
In this activity, which repurposes a cardboard box, your child’s evolving understanding of object permanence is combined with a fun DIY ball-rolling activity.
Painting with An Egg
Use eggs, balls, or marbles in place of a paint brush in this fun activity that's a fit for young children.
Sticky note wall
Sticky notes are all you need for this fun activity. It encourages fine motor and gross motor skills, builds core strength, strengthens hand-eye coordination, and improves grasping skills.
Pillow crawling
If you have a crawler (on average around 8-10 months) that needs more of a challenge, try creating a mountain of pillows. This activity is also great for babies who have skipped crawling or are quickly trying to move past the crawling stage.
Contact Paper Art
Starting around 11 months, your baby will love this indoor play activity that uses clear Contact paper, painter’s tape, and construction paper.
Laundry basket spider web
Problem solving and fine motor work are key to releasing the trapped toys in this fun DIY play for your baby.
Balls and muffin tin activity
Balls and muffin tin activity | Lovevery
Animal rescue activity
Animals and tape are all you need for this DIY activity for your baby or toddler.
7 easy sensory bottle ideas
Sensory bottles excite your baby’s senses and help make connections in their brain and we’ve collected 7 here that are easy to make and mess-free.
Nature walk and outdoor treasure box
The world right outside your home is full of opportunities for your baby to learn. Take a stroll around the neighborhood with your baby, enjoy the fresh air, and collect some natural souvenirs for an outdoor treasure box.
Starry cardboard box
Create a starry night experience for your baby using things you already have at home.
Sing along with Lovevery on Spotify
From developing neural pathways to encouraging language development, music is almost magical in its impact on your baby's brain development. Listen to Lovevery's playlists for everything from bedtime to dance parties.
Streamers on the Play Gym
Babies around 1 to 3 months will start to wave their arms around when they see something they are interested in. You can put leftover party supplies to good use by taping party streamers to the legs of your Play Gym.
Transformation of Everyday Items
Around 7-9 months, babies begin to notice that some things can change shape. Here are super simple ways to show how everyday items can transform.
Cardboard sensory board
This fun sensory activity introduces your baby to tactile play, and might even make tummy time more enjoyable.
5 fun newborn play ideas for tracking sounds
Everyday noises are new to your baby. Use these 5 play ideas to introduce them to natural sounds and help them develop lasting neural networks.
8 tips for talking to your baby who doesn’t talk back yet
Your baby listens to the intonation, rhythm, and patterns of your voice. Learn 8 ways to talk with your baby that support their speech development.
Cognitive and emotional benefits of bath time
Bathtime has many cognitive and emotional benefits beyond simply keeping your baby clean. Here's how you can help your baby get the most out of bathtime.
Why wooden blocks are actually the best STEM toy
Why are blocks so foundational to childhood? Block play supports language development, STEM concepts, visual spatial skills, and more.
Setting your child up to wash their hands on their own
Washing their hands is an important and practical skill for your child. Here's how to break it down into manageable steps.
3 easy pincer grasp activities for toddlers
The pincer grasp isn't just for babies. Toddlers need to continue strengthening this coordination and dexterity for future tasks.
The perfect play dough recipe
Playdough is not only a fun and creative activity for kids, it also helps develop motor skills and finger strength. Follow our favorite homemade recipe.
When are children ready to share?
Learn the differences between turn-taking and sharing, and when children are ready for each.
Sometimes the best toys are not toys at all
Sometimes an everyday object can delight and engage your baby just as much as a toy. Learn how to introduce your baby to the playthings already in your home.
Why tubes and containers are so essential to your baby
Your baby is starting to understand that objects fall through a tube, but stay put in a container. Learn how the Lovevery Clear Tube reinforces this real-world concept.
How to get all the playtime that your toys have to give
Babies' interests evolve, but you don't always need to buy new toys in order to keep up. Lovevery shares new ways to play with familiar favorites.
5 ways for your toddler to safely play with small objects
With a few simple supplies, you can create fun DIY activities that help your toddler safely enjoy the benefits of playing with small objects.
11 science activities for toddlers about airflow
You can help your toddler understand natural sequences related to airflow by fanning them, blowing across the top of a bottle, blowing bubbles, and more.
Sensory play (and why letting your baby get messy is important)
Keeping your baby clean matters to most parents, but getting messy can teach important skills. Here are some fun ideas for messy sensory play.
It’s never too early to teach your baby math
Understanding math concepts at a young age can be a predictor of school success later on. Introduce your baby to math with these simple ideas.
Fresh ideas with water and ice
Water and ice teach your baby that some things stay the same, while others transform. Here are some fun ideas for water and ice play.
Don’t buy that gorgeous wooden play kitchen just yet, by Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph
Consider these fun and safe ways to include your toddler in your real kitchen before you buy a new toy kitchen.
Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere
Giving your toddler opportunities to help with household tasks makes them feel independent and valuable. Try these ways to encourage your child to participate.
Picture book project! 🌈 Preserving your toddler’s first words
This DIY project captures your child's first words and builds their vocabulary as their language develops.
The earlier, the better: math is already developing in your toddler’s brain
Neuroscientist Gillian Starkey shares tips for introducing your toddler to math and why it's beneficial to start now.
5 ways to play the pom pom way
Pom poms are a fun way for your toddler to develop their fine motor skills. Try these ideas for at home or on the go.
The Montessori activity you already have in your house
Develop your toddler's fine-motor skills and concentration in a fun new way with items you probably already have at home.
Ice, ice, baby—try these easy science activities
Sensory exploration of colors, shapes, and textures with your child doesn't have to be complicated. Here are a few simple science activities for toddlers.
4 funky ways to make music a part of your toddler’s life
Music is a great way for toddlers to express creativity. Lovevery provides 4 fresh ways to make music a part of your child's life.
Is squashing bugs OK? 5 environmental lessons your toddler can learn now
Children react in various ways when they encounter bugs, but what should they do? Here are 5 environmental lessons your toddler can learn now.
A whole new era of pretend play just started
Learn how to support your todder's pretend play, which is based on their own lived experiences. Imagination play will come later.
Making space for baby
Dedicating a drawer or cabinet for your baby to play in can become their new favorite activity. Fill your baby's new space with these safe household objects.
What Montessori families put in “treasure baskets” for their babies
What is a Montessori Treasure Basket and what do I put in it? Lovevery provides a list of household and outdoor items that your baby can play with.
So simple, so fun! 5 new ideas for how to play with a blanket
Blankets can help your baby learn about object permanence, shape, and balance. Here are some fun and simple ways to incorporate blankets into playtime.
4 early gravity lessons
They drop it, you pick it up, they drop it again. There is nothing toddlers love more than playing with gravity. Here are four experiments to try.
Collecting and transporting
Walking while carrying or pushing an object requires significant coordination and motor skills. Learn how pushing and transporting benefit your toddler.
Throwing and rolling and flinging, oh my! How to support your baby’s love of making balls move
Throwing, rolling, and flinging are all a natural part of how toddlers play and are early lessons in cause and effect. Here are 6 safe ways to practice.
16 ideas for screen-free play on a plane
If you dread toddler travel, the first step toward a less stressful experience might be to reframe how you think about it. Here are 16 ideas to get you started.
The 10 best ways to grow your newborn baby’s brain
Lovevery's experts share 10 techniques you can use to protect and grow your infant's developing brain.
The case for messy sensory play: ideas for right now
In order for any of your child's individual senses to give them meaningful information about the world, they need to be linked in the brain—this is the case for getting messy.
Art, science, and fine motor: water play checks all the boxes
Water play helps toddlers create art, learn science, and develop fine motor skills. Here are 10 water play activities you can do with your toddler.
Mouthing and speech development (there’s a connection)
By mouthing objects, your baby builds a solid foundation for speech and sensory development. Find out what is safe for your baby to mouth.
Kicking play helps your baby learn to roll
Kicking play develops crucial motor skills. Learn why your baby kicks and some fun ways to encourage them to practice.
Reach, grasp, mouth, repeat
Learn when your baby should start reaching, grasping, and mouthing objects—practices that build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Why skin-to-skin time isn’t just for the hospital
Skin-to-skin time can reduce crying, improve sleep, and boost immunity. Lovevery shares tips on how to make the most of skin-to-skin time with your newborn.
6 math concepts you can practice at home (no textbook needed)
Here are some early childhood math activities for your two-year-old that make the most of playtime and their normal routine.
5 fun ways to play with your baby from 4 to 12 weeks old
Your 4- to 12-week old baby is fed, rested, and alert. But how do you play with them? Here are some easy ideas for baby’s first playtimes.
