As the saying goes, toddlers are like sponges. Their development from ages 1 to 3 is so accelerated that they're learning something no matter what they're doing.

When you've played your 5000th game of memory, here are suggestions for activities for toddlers to get you and your kid out of the house and into the world to help expand vocabulary, engage their curiosity, and teach them social skills.

1. Explore a Children's Museum

Find a children's museum near you

Most children's museums are designed with learning activities for toddlers that enhance imagination and language skills, with scaled-down versions of places and situations you'd find in the adult world, such as banks and grocery stores.

Pro Tip: Enhance the "real life" experience by giving your kids a shopping list. Be sure to wait until they're in line to "pay" by telling them to add one or two items you forgot. D'oh!

2. Go to the Zoo

Find a zoo near you

A visit to the zoo is a great way to engage a kid's curiosity about the world through the amazing creatures that live here.

Pro Tip: Eschew the stroller for a long walk through the zoo (physical activity!) and ensure a solid nap for both of you.

3. Visit an Indoor Playground

Find an indoor playground near you

We know how hard it is to find toddler activities when the weather's bad. Luckily, indoor playgrounds are the perfect place for kids to get active and learn social skills.

Pro Tip: Add visual cognition to the mix by giving your child cues as to what to play with next, eg, "Play with something the same color as your shirt," or "Look for a toy with wheels."

4. Attend a Yoga Class

One counterintuitive way to channel a toddler's boundless energy is by slowing them down. In parent-tot yoga classes, you'll bond with your child as he learns body awareness and the value of focused concentration.

Pro Tip: In letting the teacher lead the way, you're teaching your kid how to follow directions from someone besides Mom or Dad or their imaginary friend.

5. Sing Along at a Music Class

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Anyone who's heard "The Wheels on the Bus" knows without question that music can teach kids patterns, along with listening skills.

Pro Tip: Create a playlist of the songs you hear in class—extra extra credit if you can find more "grown-up" versions. There's gotta be a rock cover of "Wheels on the Bus," right?

6. Check Out the Aquarium

Find an aquarium near you

As they watch fish glide through the water, kids can learn about the ocean environment and what lies beneath the surface.

Pro Tip: With an aquarium's brilliantly hued denizens, it's also a novel way to teach kids about colors.

7. Break a Sweat at Open Gym

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With obstacles scaled down for little ones, kids get some exercise, and learn important social skills, such as the awareness of their surroundings and how to take turns without a stop light.

Pro Tip: Seek out a kids' gym with parent-child classes so you can get some low-impact exercise in too.

8. Roam an Art or Science Museum

Browse museums near you

Toddlers are nothing if not curious. Satisfy that itch at a museum, which often house hands-on activities and exhibits for little ones.

Pro Tip: Engage kids' imaginations by asking them to imagine their own stories about each exhibit—for example, naming the dinosaurs, or making up an origin story for an eye-catching sculpture.

9. Cook Up Something in a Cooking Class

Find a cooking class near you.

Is your little one a 'fraidy-cat when it comes to trying a new dish? Parent-tot cooking classes encourage children to be curious about food.

Pro Tip: Pick a color, and ask your kid to pick a new food in that color to plan a meal around.

This article was originally written by Anita Chu and has since been updated by our editors.

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