Looking for activities for one-year-olds? This list has it all! Shortly after my children’s first birthday, I noticed a significant shift in their declaration of independence. Babies are not easy to entertain! On the one hand, my one-year-old was ready to hit the ground running (literally), and on the other, he demanded my full attention. It is pretty exhausting! We desperately needed activities for one-year-olds to help implement more independent playtime. (Not to mention gross motor skills!)
The problem was that I couldn’t find a list that helped my baby reinforce crawling, sitting, standing, hand-eye coordination, and learning through playful experiences as I had wanted.
So, rather than counting the minutes until nap time, I got to work creating new ideas and playing with the fun and easy ideas at home that I’ve found in my search to bring more life into our days! Use this list using your discretion with your older one-year-old.
RELATED: If you have an older one-year-old, you will also want to pin this list of toddler activities.
What activities can you do with your one-year-old?
Babies and toddlers are thought-provoking investigators: fun and easy baby ideas for all children to discover new ideas with everyday household items. Many one-year-olds will play inside and outside the home to encourage motor development.
IMPORTANT: All baby activities require adult supervision and consideration of the size of objects, harmful materials, and sanitation.
How do one-year-olds play?
One-year-olds play through discovery and using their senses. Children of all ages make connections to learning when they interact with objects and use repetitive play patterns. Age-appropriate activities should be created around the importance of sensory play and the concept of serve and return.
- Balancing blocks
- Climbing
- Communicating ideas
- Dumping cups in water
- Filling and dumping
- Grasping objects of different sizes
- Hearing new sounds
- Hiding objects
- Inserting objects into spaces of various sizes
- Listening to music
- Making choices in play
- Moving around the environment
- Pretending and using puppets
- Pushing and pulling toys with wheels
- Reading books
- Rotating objects like wheels on a toy
- Stacking
- Swinging
- Touching new textures
- Throwing and tossing
- Transporting items from one location to another
- Washing and squeezing a sponge
Toys for One-Year-Olds
Here are my favorite toys for one-year-olds. Inside this toy list, you will find toys that roll, bounce, stack, twist, turn, and allow your one-year-old to learn through play.
How do one-year-olds learn?
Reggio-inspired play ideas encourage babies to become researchers in their environment. These invitations for play are open-ended and focus on stimulating the senses through sound, texture, mobility, sight, smell, etc. Read this article how to introduce loose parts with infants and toddlers by Fairydust Teaching, to learn more.
Montessori is another popular philosophy that encourages parents to follow their child’s lead. Babies know how to use their senses, and Montessori activities encourage that. This Montessori Guide for Babies is an easy and helpful read.
RELATED: I love having this DIY magnetic wall for my one-year-old. I wrote this step-by-step guide to help you create one as well.
27 Simple Activities for Babies
Fun and easy baby activities do not require fancy supplies. Use this collection of ideas to encourage fine motor skills, grasping hands, and upcycling objects for play invitations. These baby ideas will challenge your child’s thinking and also offer opportunities to feel successful. Let’s help babies learn through play and exploration.
Sticky Grab
Have you tried using contact paper with your baby? It is a MUST! Here, your one-year-old is adding foam letters to explore a sticky texture.
Sticky Pumpkin
Let’s keep the contact paper going, and create a fall pumpkin with our toddlers! Makes an easy addition to my list of fall activities for kids.
Pick a Color
If you have a box and popsicle craft sticks, you can create this exploration of colors game in less than five minutes. This activity helps your toddler to grasp objects and use strength to pull.
Clothespin Pull
Strengthen your toddler’s fine motor strength as they pull and squeeze the clothespins. Stay close so they don’t pinch their fingers as they explore.
Strawberry Sensory Bin
After a trip to the strawberry-picking patch, I knew exactly what we needed. An edible sensory bin, of course!
Edible Baby Paint
Make edible paint with natural dyes. This is an easy way to introduce finger painting in the early years.
Touch and Feel Board
Make a simple sensory board for your one-year-old to pull up and explore.
Family Footprints
We hear it all the time that kids grow up quickly. Grab some paint and make this fun family footprint picture when they are still little!
Bubble Wrap Sensory
Have you tried using contact paper with your baby? It is a MUST! Here, your one-year-old is adding foam letters to explore a sticky texture.
Peas Sensory Play
My one-year-old gobbled up peas when he was a baby. Let’s toss them in a bin to taste and squish.
Noodle Sensory Play
You can make a noodle sensory bin using cooked or uncooked noodles! The cooked noodles get messy, but exploring a new texture is an excellent way.
Homemade Play Dough
Making homemade play dough is simple with this easy recipe. Use Kim’s tips to keep the play dough soft.
Sticky Grab Paper Rolls
One thing is for sure. The paper tubes and paper rolls in my house add up fast! Put them to good use and invite your one-year-old to stick them on contact paper.
Pom Pom Grab
Kitchen supplies make the best toys for toddlers! Grab your whisk, and invite your one-year-old to pick and pull the pom poms out. (small parts)
Hot Air Balloon Sun Catcher
This art project makes a sweet gift for grandparents or family members.
Ribbon Grab
Using ribbon is a fun way for your one-year-old to grasp and pull. Check out this simple tutorial to make your own.
Animal Sensory Board
Animal fabric has many textures for one-year-olds to feel and begin to understand the differences. You’ll need white card stock and some animal fabrics to make this sensory board.
Q-Tip Push
If you have a clean egg carton and some q-tips, this early toddler activity is for you! Invite your child to become the explorer as they push and pull the q-tips through the small holes.
Discovery Baskets
I love how Mama Papa Bubba creates discovery baskets for her littles. You’ll want to see his reaction as he tests that lime!
Neon Squit
By the time I captured this activity on camera, the boys were a little older. However, squirt bottles with a bit of food coloring and water are an excellent way to build fine motor strength at any age!
Baby Board Book Hack
Does your little one have trouble turning the pages? This is a genius hack from Teaching Mama!
DIY Sound Shakers
Add some dried beans to a repurposed baby food jar. Secure the top with tape and allow your toddler to discover new sounds as they move the can.
How to Introduce Sensory Play
Want to introduce sensory play, and are not sure how? Inside this guide, you will learn the benefits of sensory play, what makes a great filler, and the supplies to keep on hand for the years to come.
Nature Block Stack
When I say toddler fine motor activities do not have to be complicated, I mean. We scooped up some of our favorite wooden lacing blocks and headed outdoors for fun.
Velcro and Pompoms
This quick baby activity will allow them to explore texture and problem-solving. Read the easy tutorial to set this up today.
Quick list of all activities for one-year-olds
- Toddler Drive and Drop – Days with Grey
- Sticky Grab – Happily Ever Mom
- Sticky Pumpkin – Days with Grey
- DIY Pick a Color – Days with Grey
- DIY Sensory Board – Happily Ever Mom
- Velcro and Pom Poms – Teach Me, Mommy
- Q-Tip Push – Happily Ever Mom
- Clothespin Pull – Days with Grey
- Ribbon Box – Teaching Mama
- Dry Bath – Busy Toddler
- Outdoor Block and Sticks – Days with Grey
- Baby Board Book Hack – Teaching Mama
- Dry Noodle Sensory Play – Days with Grey
- How to Train for Sensory Play – Days with Grey
- Cereal Pool – Busy Toddler
- Sweet and Tasty – Days with Grey
- Magic Foam Spiders – Fun at Home with Kids
- DIY Animal Sensory Board – Find The Little Mind
- Shredded Paper Bin – Days with Grey
- Homemade Edible Paint – Fun at Home with Kids
- Baby Songs and Chants – Teaching Mama Hot Air Balloon Suncatcher – Rainy Day Mum
- Hot Air Balloons – Find the Little Mind
- Rainbow Family Footprints – Find the Little Mind
- 30 Engaging Gifts for One-Year-Olds – Days with Grey
- Messy Play Sensory Bins – Days with Grey
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
FAQ for One-Year-Olds
Old-year-olds have a typical attention span of twice their age. Yep, that is two minutes. (Oy!) Introduce lost parts, and toys for one-year-olds that encourage investigation and problem-solving to gain a few more minutes out of the play.
Fun and easy baby activities do not require fancy supplies. Use this collection of ideas to encourage fine motor skills, grasping hands, and upcycling objects for play invitations. These baby ideas will challenge your child’s thinking and also offer opportunities to feel successful.
Sensory play is a fun way to entertain a young child. Stay close to supervise as they squish, scoop, taste, and touch.
such an amazing toys thanks for sharing,i’m very confused on what kind of gifts to buy for my nephew and I was looking for a useful toys , which can encourage him in learning, thought of buying this chunky puzzle toy https://www.sophielagirafe.ca/store/wood-toys.html .but after reading you blog.,i need to go for that wooden puzzle toys and balance boads these are really the perfect gifts for him. Hope he would love to play and learn with them.
So happy you found this useful! Thanks for being here!