Toddler Activities/attention Span

Set up scheduled time for activities. 1 hour for free play - you playing with them then go to the 'bathroom' and see how long they play alone. Then come back and switch out toys, go check on the 'laundry', etc. This will teach them to play on their own.

Set up time to play in the kitchen (while you clean, cook, etc). This can be with playdo, shaving cream, utensils, toys in their high chair/booster, etc.

Set up a time for snack time. Could be something they can play with too like fruit loops, m& ms, cheerios and ask them to put all the cheerios in a bowl, all the m&ms in a bowl, etc.

Set up reading time where you sit with them - could be 5 or 50 minutes depending on their attention span. My daughter from age 1-2 wanted to listen to/have us read her books for like an hour each morning and before bed!

Outside time - even if it's cold...as long as it's not freezing, icy or dangerous to be outside. Run around, scaveneger hunt, pick up sticks in the yard, leaves, etc.

"Out of the house" time - McDonalds playplace, Bounce U or Monkey Joes, free activites at a library, Home Depot, etc.

I find if you try to structure the time then it seems to go by faster and it keeps them busy and they do not get as bored!

Are you looking for something they can do unsupervised? While I am a FT working Mom on my days off, we (My 2.5 y.o.) do fun things like 'Find the letter___" everywhere in the house. so, while I am wiping down counters in the kitchen, she is looking for letters. Same while I am putting away laundry or cleaning bathrooms. It is like a game for her and I randomly hear, "there is a letter___" out of no where and it makes me smile. We have also tried a program called abcmouse.com which will require you to be involved but it is always new and they can create their own avatar. I have never been enthusiastic about computers to young children but I realize I can't leave my kids under the same rock I choose to be under. So, we do about 30 minutes a day (if everyday!) and she is learning through repetition, reading, activities, etc.

the only thing I can think of for the to do while you are not directly there but caring for other needs of babies or house would be puzzles, matching cards, etc. but again, that does get boring after a while.....sorry couldn't offer more and best of luck!

Okay, it is important for a child... to entertain themselves. Too.
Why?
It builds problem solving/creativity/self-reliance and nurtures self initiative and curiosity.
And, if a child is always entertained, it being done for them, they get used to that.
And when you are doing house stuff, which all Moms do no matter what age their child is... a child, will learn that. It is about, the child learning the routines... of... the home... and of Mommy. And you cannot completely avoid, them interacting or just staying in one place. Kids, mingle. They wander around. They get in each others hair. All the while, they are learning. And this is good. They learn, how to navigate in their world. In our world.

When I am home with my kids, even from when they were babies, I did house stuff and what I had to do. And toggling between the kids. And making sure that basic safety is in place and monitoring them while I did house stuff. I was attentive to them, but was not attached at the hip with them like a Siamese twin. My kids, also, were good about investigating their curiosity... and their interests and proclivities. Which is good. This is ALSO how they discover... themselves. But if things are always done for them or entertained for them, they do not get that opportunity. To discover, themselves.

And if a kid gets not interested in a toy after 3 minutes. Fine. They can, explore. Just make sure the house is safe, per their ages. Teach them what is off limits, teach them the words for "danger" or "don't touch" or hot/cold etc.

All of this, are life lessons for the child.

put away almost all the toys. In a week switch the toys you have for some of those you put away. This will make those toys new and different and fun.

Let them do art of all kinds. Look on pinterest for ideas.

Set up obstacle courses.

Blow bubbles for them to pop (use a fan to blow lots at once)