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 1-Year-Old! Play Ideas Using Things You Have at Home (21–30)
Secret Base Dome
https://www.tiktok.com/@mami_asobi/video/7397396632746183944Let’s secretly play in your very own room! Here are some ideas for a secret-base dome.
For children, a secret base is a special place that sparks their sense of adventure and imagination.
It’s an appealing space they can use freely—as their personal hideout or a place to invite trusted friends to play together.
This time, let’s make a secret-base dome using materials you already have at home.
You’ll need newspaper, plastic bags, and duct tape.
After making the walls and roof with the newspaper and plastic bags, blow air in through the entrance using a fan.
It will puff up softly and it’s really fun!
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.
Let’s play Bento Bus
Would you like to enjoy “Bento Bus Pretend Play” with one-year-olds who are starting to show interest in food? First, prepare bus-shaped sheets—one per child—and also prepare the bento ingredients, again one set per child.
Have the children stick the ingredients onto their buses.
Once their very own bento buses are complete, have them sit on chairs, hold the steering wheel, and off they go! Let them steer along to the “Bento Bus” song.
You can also assign the children to play the roles of the ingredients that appear in the song.
Let’s have a fun time together.
sheet swing
Let’s have some fun with a swing using a bed sheet.
Place one child at a time on the sheet, and have two adults firmly hold the ends.
Then slowly lift and gently sway side to side.
Even children who are too young to sit on a regular swing can easily experience the sensation of swinging this way.
Be careful not to swing too much, as it can be dangerous.
If the child seems scared, slow down a little.
If you don’t have a sheet, try using a large towel instead.
sensory toy play
Fun for all ages! Here are some sensory toy play ideas.
You’ll need: food storage bags, colored water, oil, adzuki beans, erasers, toy goldfish, beads, bells, hair gel, and tape.
Put the materials you prepared into the bag along with the hair gel! Changing up the colors and textures makes the feel different and more interesting.
Sensory toys are recommended not only for infants but also for preschoolers—they’re engaging to look at and touch, and kids will be totally absorbed.