12 Ball Pit Games for Toddlers, with Rules and Set-Up Times
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Quick answer: Easy ball pit games for toddlers include treasure hunt, ball rain, peekaboo, bucket basketball, the colour shop, sink the boat, the ball pit car wash and musical balls. Most take under two minutes to set up and need nothing more than the balls, a bucket and a few toys. Below are 12 games with the rules, the age they suit and how long they take to prepare.
"What else can we do in it?" is a question we hear a lot at Soft Play Market, usually a few weeks after a ball pit arrives. Children love a pit, but a few new games keep it fresh. Here are 12 we like, with clear rules, the right age and set-up time. For games with more than one child, see ball pit games for siblings.
What are the best ball pit games for toddlers?
| Game | Age | Set-up time | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Peekaboo | 6 months+ | None | Nothing |
| 2. Ball rain | 6 months+ | None | Nothing |
| 3. Treasure hunt | 12 months+ | 1 minute | 3–5 soft toys |
| 4. In and out | 12 months+ | None | A bucket |
| 5. Ball run | 18 months+ | 2 minutes | Cardboard tube or foam wedge |
| 6. Bucket basketball | 2 years+ | 1 minute | Bucket or laundry basket |
| 7. Sink the boat | 2 years+ | 1 minute | Plastic tub |
| 8. The colour shop | 2½ years+ | 2 minutes | Baskets, toy till optional |
| 9. Musical balls | 2½ years+ | 1 minute | Music |
| 10. Car wash | 2½ years+ | 1 minute | Toy cars, a tea towel |
| 11. Ball pit snowman | 3 years+ | None | Nothing |
| 12. Treasure map | 3½ years+ | 5 minutes | Paper, pen, small toy |
Games for babies (from sitting, around 6 months)
1. Peekaboo
Sit outside the pit, duck down behind the wall and pop up with "peekaboo". For older babies, cover a toy with a few balls and let them uncover it.
2. Ball rain
Gently drop a handful of balls around (not onto the face of) your seated baby. Most babies love the sound and the movement. Keep it slow and gentle.
Games for 1 to 2 year olds
3. Treasure hunt
- Bury three to five soft toys under the balls while your toddler watches.
- Ask them to find "teddy" or "the duck".
- As they get better, hide them while they're looking away.
Use toys too big to be swallowed.
4. In and out
Your toddler fills a bucket with balls, tips it out, and repeats. Simple, but toddlers will do it for ages.
5. Ball run
Prop a large cardboard tube or foam wedge against the pit wall. Your toddler rolls balls down it into the pit. Wrapping-paper tubes work for 7cm balls if they're wide enough; test first.
Games for 2 to 3 year olds
6. Bucket basketball
- Put a bucket outside the pit, about a metre away.
- Your child throws from inside the pit.
- Count the balls that go in, then move the bucket back.
7. Sink the boat
Float a plastic tub on top of the balls. Your child adds balls one at a time until the "boat" sinks. Count as you go.
8. The colour shop
You're the customer, your child runs the shop. Ask for "three red balls and one blue, please". Pay with pretend money, then swap roles.
Games for 3 years and up
9. Musical balls
Play music while your child moves around the pit. When it stops, they freeze holding one ball and tell you its colour.
10. Car wash
Toy cars drive through the pit "car wash", then out onto a tea towel to be "dried". Children make up their own rules quickly with this one.
11. Ball pit snowman
Your child lies back and you gently cover their legs and tummy with balls (never the face), then they burst out on the count of three.
12. Treasure map
- Draw a simple map of the pit with an X.
- Hide a toy near that spot.
- Your child reads the map to dig it out. Let them draw maps for you too.
How do you keep ball pit games safe?
- Stay with your child, especially under 3. Our guide to supervising a baby in a ball pit has more.
- Use 7cm balls, never smaller than 6cm for under-3s.
- No balls, toys or hands over the face.
- No small toys that could be swallowed.
- Check for cracked balls and remove them.
Which set-up works best for games?
A deeper layer of balls makes hiding games better. Most of our ball pits come with 150 to 300 balls; for a deeper pit, the Soft Jersey Ball Pit with 450 balls is about £144. Adding a slide, such as the Mini Step & Slide Set with Ball Pit (about £237), gives you games like "slide and find". Top-up balls come in boxes of 750 (£142.50).
Frequently asked questions
What can I do with ball pit balls outside the pit?
Lots. See our guide to ball pit ball activities.
How long should a ball pit session last?
Let your child lead. For toddlers, 10 to 20 minutes at a time is typical.