Make a Bird Feeder
A pine cone, some lard, and birdseed. Hang it up and wait.
A bowl of warm soapy water buys you a genuinely peaceful half hour.
Set up a small washing station with warm water and unbreakable dishes. One of the most reliably absorbing toddler activities there is.
Warm water is regulating for an overstimulated nervous system, which is why this works so well in the late afternoon. Washing also gives a toddler something genuinely useful to do, and that sense of contribution matters more to them than we assume.
Never leave a child alone with standing water, even a shallow bowl. Test the temperature yourself first.
Two old towels underneath will absorb almost everything.
A pine cone, some lard, and birdseed. Hang it up and wait.
Not a craft. An actual dish that the family eats.
A stack of sticks, leaves and cardboard tubes for things to live in.
A tray of rice, some cups, and twenty minutes of total absorption.
Find a smooth stone, paint it, leave it somewhere for a stranger.
One pot, a few seeds, and a reason to look out of the window every morning.