Independent Play Activities for Preschoolers + Older Kids

Independent activities for 5 year olds (plus younger and older kids) can be an actual life saver!

Especially if you are a warn out mom who just needs a few consecutive seconds to gather herself. 

Or, if you are like I am and your child has transitioned from nap time to quiet time and you need some independent activities they can do while your other kids nap.

Wherever you are on the spectrum. I’m here to offer help. Plus, make you aware that independent activities are actually incredibly good for your child.

But, before we go any further, let me introduce myself!

Hi, I’m Lindsey, former elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom to 3 amazing children.

Over the years I’ve been able to implement a lot of things I used in the classroom and transferred the usefulness to being at home with kids. Today we’ll be talking in detail about independent activities for 5 year olds but I’ll be sure to include ideas for older kids and younger kids as well!

What You can Expect from this Post

1. Why Independent Play Activities are Important for Kids
2. 13+ Independent Play Activities for 5 – 9 year olds {OLDER Kids}
3. 5 Additional Independent Play Activities for 2 – 5 year olds {YOUNGER KIDS}
4. Favorite Independent Play Activities for ALL AGES
5. Screen time Activities for 5 year olds and Younger Kids

Now, that you know what to expect. Le’ts dive right in together! I’m so glad you’re here!

Why Independent Play Activities are Important for Kids

Engaging in independent activities is a crucial aspect of early childhood development, providing young children and older children with opportunities to explore, learn, and build essential skills. 

Independent activities offer a unique and valuable avenue for self-discovery and creativity. These activities not only serve as a great way for young children to develop their cognitive and motor skills but also foster a sense of autonomy and confidence. 

The best way to cater to the needs of young children is through age-appropriate and enjoyable independent activities (that’s what we’ll be talking more about), creating an environment that encourages exploration and imagination in their early years.

I’ll be going over the best independent play activities for 5 year olds and older kids.

Then we’ll move onto 5 years old and younger kids. And, at the very end I’ll go over some of my favorite independent activities for kids of any age!

Let’s go mama!

13+ Independent Play Activities for 5 – 9 Year Olds {OLDER KIDS}

Independent play is an integral aspect of a child’s developmental journey, offering them the freedom to explore and learn in various ways. 

Providing young children with opportunities for independent play not only allows them to discover different ways of engaging with their surroundings but also facilitates the development of new skills. 

Plus, gives you some much needed alone time!

The beauty of independent play lies in its ability to adapt to the unique needs and interests of each child, laying the foundation for creativity, problem-solving, and social development in their formative years.

Our favorite time to utilize independent play is during my son’s quiet time, while his siblings are napping. 

This is perfect for those children that are done with naps but still need some time to slow down and unwind during the day. Which also gives you some time to do the same. 

We have it built into our Daily Routine so they know when it’s coming. 

Here are some simple independent activities I set up for my older son to play while his siblings are sleeping. 

Or, this could be really helpful on school days as an independent activity when they get home. 

Or, if you homeschool it could be a way to keep one child occupied while you work with others. 

You have options!

1) Small Toys 

There’s something special about small toys. And the most special thing about this is that the child plays with them ONLY during independent play.

As soon as you make them not available at all times. The interest and desirability of the toys will increase ten fold. 

Here are some awesome small toys:

• Toy Cars
• Mini Transformers
• Toy Animals These are especially fun because they can paint them first!
• Connector Cubes A great math manipulative but also awesome for independent play!

2) Board Games

Board games are like magical portals that whisk little ones away on solo adventures filled with laughter and learning. Here are a couple they can do independently while using problem-solving skills.

• Search and Find
• Kanoodle
• Dot It
• Simon

3) Imaginative Play Ideas 

Yes, these ideas cause a little bit more work on your part. But, they are so worth it!

Imaginative play is like the secret sauce in the recipe of a child’s independent adventure.

It’s the spark that turns a plain cardboard box into a rocket ship bound for the moon or transforms a sofa cushion into a pirate ship sailing uncharted seas.

When kids engage in imaginative play, they’re not just playing; they’re crafting their own stories, becoming superheroes, or even chefs concocting fantastical feasts.

It’s not just about entertaining themselves; it’s about developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and a sense of autonomy.

And before you assume 5-9 year olds are too old for this.

Guess again! These are the ages that need and enjoy this type of play the most!

Here are some ideas to get their imagination going:

1. Rocket Ship:
   • With a simple sheet and a box you can quickly transform your child’s room to outer space! Have them decorate the box to look like a spaceship. Then slowly walk away and let their pretend play take over!
2. Imaginary Tea Party:
   • Set up a pretend tea party with stuffed animals or dolls. Your child can take charge as the host, arranging a delightful spread and engaging in imaginative conversations with their “guests.” This activity encourages creativity, social skills, and independence.
3. DIY Puppet Show:
   • Provide a collection of socks, felt, buttons, and markers for your child to create their own puppet characters.
   • Once the puppets are ready, they can put on a solo puppet show, inventing stories and giving each puppet a unique voice. This promotes storytelling, creativity, and independent expression.
4. Animal Kingdom Exploration:
   • Encourage your child to transform their play area into an “Animal Kingdom.”
   • Using toy animals, they can create habitats, tell stories about the animals, and even organize a pretend safari. This activity stimulates imagination, animal recognition, and independent world-building.
5. Construction Zone:
   • Supply your little one with building blocks, cardboard boxes, and other construction materials.
   • Let them take charge as the chief architect of their own mini city or fantastical structure. This hands-on play fosters creativity, problem-solving, and independence as they design and build their imaginative creations.
6. Fantasy Dress-Up Box:
   • Create a treasure trove of costumes and accessories in a “Fantasy Dress-Up Box.”
   • Your child can independently choose outfits, mix and match accessories, and transform into different characters—be it a brave knight, a whimsical fairy, or a daring explorer.
   • This activity not only encourages imaginative play but also helps develop decision-making skills and self-expression.

Here are some fun dress up outfits to incorporate into your imaginary play!

4) Create Obstacle Course

Another one that need a little set up from you, but your child will soon take over and run with it!

This is similar to the benefits of imaginative play along with an exercise element. Which is awesome for exerting their never ending energy!

Here are some ideas of how to get them started:

1. Cushion Castle Challenge:
   • Scatter cushions and pillows around a designated area to create a cushy obstacle course.
   • Your child can navigate through the “castle” by hopping from cushion to cushion, crawling under pillow arches, and even balancing on a narrow path made of cushions.
   • This activity enhances gross motor skills, balance, and coordination.
2. Hopscotch Hop:
   • Use sidewalk chalk to draw a simple hopscotch course on a flat surface, either indoors or outdoors.
   • Add creative twists like hopping on one foot, skipping, or even doing a silly dance move at each numbered square.
   • This classic game not only improves balance and coordination but also provides an opportunity for imaginative movement.
3. Colorful Hoop Hop:
   • Lay out a series of hula hoops in different colors to create a vibrant obstacle course.
   • Assign a specific action or movement to each color (e.g., hop on one foot through the red hoop, spin around in the blue hoop).
   • Your child can move through the course independently, following the color-coded instructions.
   • This activity promotes color recognition, motor skills, and creative movement.

These BALANCE STEPPING STONES are perfect for any obstacle course plus work on your child’s balance and coordination!

5) Play Dough

I feel like this is the OG of independent activities for 5 year olds!

I know this one sounds so simple but sometimes those ideas are the ones that create the best kind of play!

Simply provide your child with some play doh and a few play doh accessories and then let them create independently.

Or, you could try a themed set that would also be a great tool for independent play.

• Hair Sylin’ Salon Playset
• Care ‘n Carry Vet Playset
• Zoom Zoom Vacuum & Clean Up

6) Art Projects Ideas

The beautiful thing about art is that there is no rules.

Fill a bin with random materials, like:

• Painter’s Tape
• markers/crayons
• stick glue
• dot markers
• paper towel/toilet paper tubes
• cotton balls 
• kid safe scissors
• scraps of paper or just a piece of paper 
• paint (if you’re feeling brave)

Then give it to your child and let them create!

7) Dance Time

Here are a few ideas you could present to your child to get their body moving and their creativity going!

1. Freeform Dance Party:
   • Create a designated dance space with some lively music and let your child’s imagination take the lead.
   • They can dance freely, expressing themselves through movement.
   • Provide scarves or ribbons to add an extra element of fun, encouraging them to twirl and spin. This activity promotes creativity, self-expression, and physical activity.
2. Animal Dance Off:
   • Turn dance time into a playful adventure by assigning different animals to various songs. For example, when a fast song plays, they can dance like a speedy cheetah, and for a slow song, they can move like a graceful swan.
   • This not only makes dancing entertaining but also introduces the concept of rhythm and movement variety.
   • Or, just let them come up with all the rules and feel like they are in control, which they desperately want!

8) Creative Play Ideas (Pretend Play)

These ideas are a way to guide their independent, pretend play.

1. Treasure Hunt Detective:
   • Equip your 5-year-old – 9-year-old with a magnifying glass and create a treasure hunt using household items.
   • Place small objects or toys around the house and create a list of clues for them to follow. The magnifying glass can be their detective tool to examine each clue closely.
   • This activity not only enhances their observation skills but also promotes independent problem-solving.
2. Explorer’s Expedition:
   • Encourage your child to embark on a miniature exploration adventure indoors.
   • Using household items, transform different rooms into distinct “exploration zones.”
   • For example, the living room could be a jungle, and the bedroom a mountain range. Provide them with the magnifying glass to inspect the details of each zone.
   • They can create imaginative stories and scenarios, fostering creativity and independent play.
3. Scientific Discovery Lab:
   • Turn your living room into a scientific laboratory for your little scientist.
   • Gather various household items that can be explored and observed closely, such as fruits, vegetables, or even simple kitchen utensils.
   • With the magnifying glass as their scientific tool, they can examine textures, patterns, and colors.
   • This play idea not only promotes independent play but also introduces basic scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way.

We love this Crayola Kids Science Lab! It offers so many fun kid safe Science experiments already done and planned for you!

9) Reusable Stickers

I love reusable stickers because they don’t stick to surfaces and because your child can use them again and again.

Here are a few great reusable stickers:

• Bluey Sticker Play Set
• Pet Shop Sticker Set
• 3D Reusable Sticker Books

10) Jigsaw Puzzle

There are so many benefits of doing jigsaw puzzles

Here’s a list of benefits for 5-9 year olds engaging in jigsaw puzzles:

• Cognitive Development: Jigsaw puzzles promote critical thinking skills as children analyze shapes, colors, and patterns to fit the pieces together.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Through trial and error, children learn problem-solving techniques, enhancing their ability to strategize and think logically.

• Hand-Eye Coordination: Manipulating puzzle pieces helps improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are crucial for various activities such as writing and drawing.

• Patience and Persistence: Completing a puzzle requires patience and persistence, teaching children the value of perseverance and the satisfaction of achieving a goal.

• Spatial Awareness: Assembling puzzles aids in developing spatial awareness and understanding of spatial relationships, which are essential skills for mathematics and geometry.

• Memory Enhancement: Remembering the shape, color, and position of puzzle pieces strengthens memory retention and recall abilities.

• Social Interaction: Working on puzzles with others encourages collaboration, communication, and teamwork, fostering social skills and cooperation.

• Self-esteem Boost: Successfully completing a puzzle boosts self-esteem and confidence, providing a sense of accomplishment and pride.

• Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Engaging in puzzle-solving can be a calming and meditative activity, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

• Language Development: Discussing puzzles, describing pieces, and expressing ideas while solving them enhances vocabulary and language skills.

• Creativity: Puzzles stimulate creativity and imagination as children explore different combinations and possibilities to solve them.

• Attention to Detail: Paying attention to small details in puzzle pieces encourages observational skills and attention to detail.

Overall, jigsaw puzzles offer a wide range of cognitive, social, and emotional benefits for 5-9 year olds, making them a valuable educational and recreational activity.

If you’re interested in even more benefits puzzles and some great ones I recommend. You need to this blog post, Puzzles – The Best Fine Motor Activity with no prep work!

11) Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunts

Sensory bins are amazing because they have a slew of educational benefits and they are super easy to put together!

1. Nature Hunt:
   • Fill the sensory bin with dried leaves, pinecones, small branches, and smooth stones.
   • Provide a list of natural items for children to find, such as acorns, feathers, or interesting-shaped twigs.
2. Flour Sensory Bin:
   • Something as simple as a flour can be all you need!
   • Here are a few different sensory ideas with just flour!
3. Color Sorting:
   • Fill the sensory bin with colored rice, beans, or sensory beads.
   • Create a color scavenger hunt where children search for items matching specific colors and sort them accordingly.

1. Texture Exploration:
   • Fill the sensory bin with various textures like sand, shredded paper, fabric scraps, or foam shapes.
   • Hide objects of different textures such as fuzzy pom-poms, smooth pebbles, or rough shells for children to discover.
2. Alphabet or Number Hunt:
   • Fill the sensory bin with sensory materials like rice, beans, or colored sand.
   • Hide small objects or cards with letters or numbers printed on them, and ask children to find and arrange them in alphabetical or numerical order.
3. Seasonal Themes:
   • Tailor the sensory bin and scavenger hunt to match the current season. For example:
     • Spring: Include fake flowers, plastic bugs, and mini watering cans. Hide items like plastic eggs or small animals for children to find.
     • Summer: Fill the bin with kinetic sand or water beads, and hide seashells, small toys, or sunglasses.
     • Fall: Use dried leaves, mini pumpkins, and fake apples. Hide items like acorns or small scarecrows.
     • Winter: Fill the bin with cotton balls or fake snow, and hide small winter-themed objects like snowflakes, mittens, or toy penguins.
4. Shape Sorting:
   • Fill the sensory bin with materials like foam shapes, pasta, or felt pieces in various shapes.
   • Hide objects or cards with shapes printed on them, and ask children to find and match them to the corresponding shapes in the bin.
5. Treasure Hunt:
   • Fill the sensory bin with materials like sand or shredded paper, and bury small toys, coins, or trinkets for children to discover.
   • Provide treasure maps or clues to guide children in their hunt for hidden treasures.

Remember to consider safety precautions when selecting materials for the sensory bin, especially if you’re including small items that could pose a choking hazard for young children. Enjoy the adventure of sensory exploration!

13) Picture Books

Wether your child is just learning to read or a fluent reader. Exposing them to various types of literature helps them grow their curiosity.

Here are some great boost to start with:

• The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes
• The Magic of Me, My Magical Choices
• The Hardest Hidden Picture Book Ever
• The Fascinating Animal Books for Kids

5 Additional Independent Play Activities for 2-5 Year Olds {YOUNGER KIDS}

I love implementing as many fine motor skills activities into young kids schedule. So, you’ll see a few of those mentioned for the younger kids. 

Also, there are many of the independent play activities for older kids that will also work for younger kids. But, here are a few additional ideas.

The more simple you keep it the more successful your child and you will be in creating independent play for them.

1) Pom Poms Activities

There is so much simple fun you can create with Pom Poms. Here are a few of my favorite activities we do:

• Pom Pom Drop –
  • Using Painter’s Tape, tape a used paper towel roll to the refrigerator or a wall. Have the roll going in a diaganol direction facing down.
  • Then instruct your young child to put the Pom Poms in the paper towel roll and they will see it fly out the other side!
  • It’s also fun to put a bowl at the end so the Pom Poms will land in the bowl!
• Muffin Tin Pom Pom
  • Using tongs have your child place Pom Poms in each of the muffin tins!
  • This is incredible for hand, eye coordination and fine motor skills!
• Pom Pom Sorting
  • Simply have your child sort the Pom Poms into bundles with like colors. For example: put all the blue together, green together and so on.

2) Large Wooden Spoon Transfer

Give your child a big wooden spoon like this and tell they they are going to be moving (transferring) items from one bowl to the next.

Then you simply place items in one big bowl and have them move the items to the empty bowl.

Here are some items great for transferring:

• small toys
• Pom Poms
• beans
• Cheerios

3) Card Slot Drop

Loooove this game! And it’s so easy to create!

Take an old oatmeal container. Cut a small slit in the top. Big enough for a card to fit through. Then put the lid back on!

Give your child a deck of cards and tell them to put them in the oatmeal container by sticking them through the slit you created.

Fine motor working, independent playing genius!

4) Scraps of Paper

Provide scraps of paper and let their imagination run wild!

They can attempt to fold, crinkle but utimately create!

5) Tissue Paper

Tissue paper is great for sensory play!

Like the scrap paper just give it to them and let your child explore!

If you need more ideas for the younger age you need to see over 30 Indoor Toddler Activities great for Active Toddlers!

Favorite Independent Activities for All Ages

New Toys (but not really)

One of my favorite ways to set any age child up for independent play is to introduce “new toys.”

BUT, they’re not really new toys.

They are toys you will take fro their room that they don’t even know exist anymore. Put them in the attic or a room they don’t go in much.

Then a few weeks or months later bring them back out.

Voila! New toys and lots of renewed interest from your child!

Water Table

This one is best for outdoors but could also be used for indoors if you are comfortable with that.

We use a water table like this. Then you can either put water in it plus some small toys.

Or, use it as a big sensory bin and put rock, shovels, containers and small toys in it.

We’ve had this WATER TABLE for eight years and it’s still going strong!

Boxes

The cheapest way to create independent play is to use all those Amazon boxes you have laying around.

Tape them shut and let your child stack them.

Or, give them markers and let them decorate the boxes.

Screen Time Activities for 5 Years Old and Younger Kids and Older Kids

StarFall  (free)

Homer (monthly fee)

PBS Kids (free)

I know what it’s like to need a minute.

Wether it’s to get things done or just to gather your sanity!

I hope these activities set your child up for productive independent play!

And remember, even if it doesn’t work the first time your try. Keep trying.

Independent play needs to be developed sometimes and some days will be easier than others.

I’m so glad you’re here and I know you’ve got this!

Warmly,

Lindsey