Offer scrap paper to be torn. Make play dough that your toddler can roll, pound, and squeeze. Put food coloring in the water if you like. Add more flour if the dough is sticky. Store in an air-tight plastic bag or container.
Toddlers use the muscles in their fingers and hands to do things for themselves.
Make your home toddler friendly. A refillable pump soap dispenser is easier for your toddler to use than a bar of soap, and a small plastic cup fits in the toddler's hand. Keep the child's toothbrush where he or she can reach it. Toddlers learn about writing by scribbling, watching you write, and seeing words around them. Look for inexpensive large pads of paper and large, nontoxic crayons, and washable markers.