Things To Do With One-Year Olds
We went through a tricky phase with our twins leading up to the one-year mark and even afterwards, when they were awake for longer periods of the day, but not yet old enough for certain activities. This is a list I made of EVERY single thing I could think of, or of things I found online, to do with older babies and young toddlers. Some are outings and some are easy, fun things to do at home. Get busy!
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Cup of water, paintbrush, go outside on a warm
day and “paint” the driveway, garage, deck, yard, etc.
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Sandbox in the yard
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Stroller walks/go to the park
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Zoo
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Children’s Museum
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Play with water: swimsuits in the bathtub with
toys, bathtub paints and bathtub crayons, sit on counter with feet in sink and
play with water, cups, plastic toys, etc.
Water table outside.
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Play Pen Time
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Bedroom Play Time
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High Chair Play Time/Table Time before meals:
toys, plastic kitchen things, etc.
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Sidewalk chalk
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Walkers/toys you push as you walk/toy or cheap
umbrella strollers or play shopping carts to push around the house and fill
with things
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ABC magnets on the fridge
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Baby musical instruments
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Play music and dance
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Sesame Street
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Blow bubbles outside for them
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Board books
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Sign language for babies DVDS
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Add food coloring to white pudding and let them
paint with it (and eat a little), when done add sprinkles and let it dry.
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Baby/Toddler Story Time at the Library
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Grocery store trips
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Build a fort and play peek-a-boo in it
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Fill a purse or bag with things and let children
explore and dump out: old wallets, plastic grocery store cards, pictures, play
set of keys, pretend or old cell phone, picture books, little toys.
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Make a house out of cardboard boxes, cut doors
in a large moving box and tape pieces together with packing or duct tape
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Play in a load of laundry (use a basket and a
bunch of old clothes or clothes that you don’t mind being messed up/wrinkly)
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Play cars and trucks
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Blocks
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Stacking cups
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Visit a pet store
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Non-toxic finger paints; tape paper to table or
highchair tray.
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Use washed-out juice containers or plastic cups
and a ball to play bowling
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Video chat on computer with family
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Make shakers by filling plastic Easter eggs with
rice, tape or hot glue it shut
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Tupperware containers with dried lentils of
different colors from grocery bulk section to play with on a blanket on the
floor
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Build towers, roads, and cities with empty food
boxes.
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Make paper bag puppets: have them color it and
put on stickers
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Begin simplified version of hide-and-seek
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Hide stuffed animals around the house and have a
“safari,” using a flashlight to find the animals.
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Sock puppets, use markers
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Visit wading pools/kid splash pads
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Indoor playgrounds
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Basketball with a bucket
