Let’s play at home with a one-year-old! Activity ideas using things you already have at home
On rainy days or when your child isn’t feeling well and you’re staying home, you might find yourself wondering, “What should we play today?” As children reach around one year old, they start walking, their horizons expand, and their curiosity about the things around them grows even stronger.
As they can do more, the range of play widens too, so let’s stimulate their five senses by incorporating a variety of activities.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas for at-home play recommended for one-year-olds.
From active play and bonding games to sensory play and simple crafts, we’ve gathered activities that one-year-olds will be completely absorbed in! Best of all, they’re all things you can do with items you already have at home—so please use this as a reference.
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Let’s Play at Home with Your One-Year-Old! Fun Activity Ideas Using Things Around the House (11–20)
tag
Tag games like chase are great practice for moving their feet by walking and running.
You don’t need any special equipment, and it’s an easy way to get some exercise, so it’s recommended.
It works whether the caregiver runs around and the child chases, or the other way around.
If you play while calling out things like “Eek!” or “Wait up!”, your child will enjoy it even more.
When the child catches up to the caregiver, or the caregiver catches the child, pick them up or give them a hug to share some physical affection.
penguin walk
Let’s practice walking with a waddling penguin walk! The caregiver should place the child, facing forward, on top of the caregiver’s feet.
Hold the child’s hands firmly, then step together and waddle forward.
At first, slide your feet slightly and alternate moving forward and backward.
Gradually, try stepping as if you’re walking normally.
Caregivers, try to avoid bending your knees too much while walking.
Once you get used to it, try side-stepping, or let go of the child’s hands so the child can use you for support and walk on their own.
Make the movements gradually more complex.
Through this play, let your child discover how fun walking can be!
Handmade instrument play
Let’s have fun with sounds using musical instruments! For a 1-year-old’s craft, a drum is highly recommended.
You can make one by combining a deep paper plate, by putting a construction-paper lid on a paper cup, or even by returning a piece of cardboard to its original box shape.
Work together on the base, and have a parent or guardian step in for the tricky parts.
Leave the decorating—like sticking on stickers or drawing pictures—to your child.
Once the drum is finished, play by tapping it with sticks or patting it with the palm of your hand.
It’s also great to play along to music!
Balloon play
A play activity using balloons, which are often used to decorate indoor parties and events.
Children can enjoy the feel of lightly floating balloons by touching or tossing them, while also encouraging their free imagination.
It’s a good idea to make some preparations to prevent balloons from popping, such as placing them in pre-inflated bags.
There are many ways to play, like touching suspended balloons or playing peekaboo.
Why not incorporate these items, which can brighten up a rainy day indoors, into your childcare setting?
drawing
Drawing is a fun at-home activity you can enjoy even in short bursts of time.
For 1-year-olds, crayons are the recommended tool.
Let them pick a color they like and try drawing lines, making dots, or sketching simple shapes—most importantly, help them enjoy the act of drawing on paper.
While crayons usually look like thick pencils, there are also rounded crayons designed to be easy for 1-year-olds to grasp, so be sure to check those out too.
Enrich their sensibilities through drawing!