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)
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!
Masking tape toy
Stick 2–3 strips of masking tape horizontally on the wall, leaving a small gap in the middle to form a tunnel.
Then drop balls or beanbags through it—simple and fun.
It helps children develop control of hand strength, aiming skills, and concentration.
You can place a box underneath and adjust how loose the tape is to match each child’s developmental level.
Children with disabilities can also enjoy success at their own pace, building confidence.
It’s easy to start with everyday materials, and it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces!
Playing strawberry picking
For a strawberry-picking pretend play with one-year-olds, start by enjoying a strawberry craft together.
Crumple up red tissue paper and stuff it into a plastic bag.
As you work, describe and mimic the sounds and textures of the tissue paper for the children.
Once the bag is full, seal the opening and stick on black dot stickers to look like seeds.
Clip the finished strawberries around the room with clothespins and let the children enjoy “picking” them.
They’ll smile at the strawberries they picked themselves.
Have a wonderful time together.
Agar play
Let’s try playing with kanten (gelatin) for a fun jiggly, wobbly feel when you touch it! To make it, just pour hot water and gelatin into any container you like and let it set.
If you add food coloring after the gelatin, you can make colored gelatin—so be sure to try adding your favorite colors.
If you want it cold, put it in the refrigerator after it has set.
Once it’s firm, take it out of the container and squish it up, mix different colors together, or put it into other containers and play pretend as a jelly shop or juice stand.
It’s easy to do, so give it a try!
ghost light
@necosensei.to.asobo 5 minutes to make! Super easy and so much fun!Nursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcare#Childcare CraftingSimple craftParenting#AtHomePlayShadow PlaySleepless Night#HandmadeToys
Shinako World (Chorus ver.) – Shinako
Cute ghosts appear—so fun! Here’s an idea for a Ghost Light.
It’s a unique idea that will make your time at home even more exciting.
You’ll need a toilet paper roll, plastic wrap, rubber bands, a permanent marker, and a light.
Draw a ghost on the plastic wrap with the permanent marker, then attach it to the toilet paper roll with rubber bands.
Shine a light through it and a ghost appears on the wall! You can use your smartphone’s light, so give it a try easily.
garbage bag ball
https://www.tiktok.com/@rano.mama_asobi/video/7453813532077903112Let’s make a big ball and have fun! Here’s an idea for a garbage-bag ball.
It’s a DIY ball you can make with materials you have at home.
All you need are a trash bag and vinyl tape or duct tape.
After sealing the bottom of the trash bag with tape, blow air into it and tie the opening.
Wrap vinyl tape around the inflated bag, and you’re done! Its fluffy feel is addictive, and kids are sure to get excited! The soft material means it won’t hurt even if it hits you, which is a nice bonus.
Let’s Play at Home with Your 1-Year-Old! Play Ideas Using Things You Have at Home (21–30)
Jump play
@renamama_asobi♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
Let’s get moving and play using colored construction paper! Here’s a jump-play idea.
It’s a unique activity that lets you use your brain while having fun moving your body.
All you need is a space where you can see the TV—tape four colors of construction paper to the floor, and you’re ready! Search for “tapete de movimiento” on YouTube.
Kids jump onto the color that appears on the screen one after another, so they won’t get bored.
Give it a try!