Fun with no prep needed! Indoor activities perfect for 1-year-old classes
Children in the one-year-old class are starting to walk, learning to jump, and becoming more and more active.
Even when you suddenly have to switch to indoor play, you’ll want to make sure they can still move their bodies a lot.
Sometimes the weather or staff scheduling forces an unexpected change to indoor play, leaving you unprepared or unsure what activities to do.
For teachers in that situation, here are indoor activities you can do even without any preparation.
We’ve gathered ideas that are perfect for one-year-olds, so please try incorporating them.
Let’s spend a fun time with the children through a variety of activities.
- For 1-year-olds! Indoor play ideas that make rainy days fun
- Ideas for indoor play and physical activities recommended for 1-year-olds
- Let’s play at home with a one-year-old! Activity ideas using things you already have at home
- [Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving
- [For 0-year-olds] Fun indoor play ideas using raffia tape (suzuran tape)
- [Childcare] Perfect Indoor Play Ideas for 0-Year-Olds!
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- Recommended for 1-year-olds! Craft play ideas and fun crafting techniques
- No prep needed! Indoor play and game ideas that 2-year-olds will enjoy
- Get excited! A list of popular and fun hand games that captivate children
- [Childcare] DIY Ideas for Circuit Play
- [For 2-year-olds] Let’s get moving! A collection of ideas for physical play and movement games
- [For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
Play Without Preparation! Recommended Indoor Activities for 1-Year-Old Classes (11–20)
Janjan GuruguruTsubasa Suzuki · Hitomi Kudo
Let’s have fun with various movements to a bright, tropical-sounding song.
Although the activity involves pairing up and holding hands, one-year-olds can’t yet control their strength and it could lead to unexpected accidents, so let’s have them enjoy it individually.
Teachers, please demonstrate the movements as a model for the children.
It’s a lively activity that will have the kids cheering.
Once they get used to it, adding your own original elements is recommended.
It also provides a full-body workout, so why not try it on days when outdoor activities aren’t possible?
Let’s hold hands
Games where friends hold hands and sing together are really fun, aren’t they? By holding hands, children learn about their roles and develop social skills.
The activity I’m introducing today has children join hands to form a circle.
While singing songs like “Let’s All Hold Hands” or the lullaby “Nen-neko,” they stand up and sit down, enjoying a rhythmic play where they can watch each other’s expressions.
It’s especially recommended for days when it’s raining and outdoor play is difficult.
Singing naturally helps develop a sense of pitch and rhythm, making indoor play even more enjoyable.
Five Gymnastics Exercises
Many children probably enjoy gymnastics danced to rhythmic music, which they’ve seen on kids’ TV shows.
Teachers likely research trends every day to keep up.
What matters most in gymnastics is that the teacher participates energetically and with joy.
Children will discover the fun of moving their bodies by imitating the teacher.
When you introduce a new song, the children may be confused at first, but as they get used to it, they’ll start expressing their individuality more and more.
big ball
Make balls using large plastic bags and incorporate them into indoor play.
They’re light and durable, so they won’t break even if children throw or hit them.
Adjust the number of balls you make to match the number of children in the class.
If you draw on the bags with a pen before making the balls, the colorful designs will get the kids super excited! The larger size encourages great physical activity as children stretch their arms wide and chase the balls far.
Another plus is that you can deflate them after use and store them, helping you take good care of your equipment.
Towel play
Actions like tracking a towel with their eyes or trying to grab it are perfectly valid play for one-year-olds.
A compact, long towel like a sports towel works well.
Also, placing towels on the floor for free play can be dangerous because they might wrap around a child’s body, so make sure a teacher is always the one handling the towels.
Kids are thrilled if you put a towel on them like a cape! If possible, try to gather towels in various colors and patterns.
Eurhythmics play
Why not try incorporating eurhythmics play to nurture children’s sensitivity and expressive skills through music? Since the goal of this activity is to move the whole body in time with the music, another perk is that it requires very little preparation! Try adding a variety of movements to different kinds of music, such as walking normally, speed walking, or walking backward.
You can also freely customize it by stopping the music mid-way for a pose, or by speeding up the tempo of the song.
If you’re ever short on ideas for indoor activities, be sure to enjoy eurhythmics with the children!
Play Anytime, No Prep! Indoor Activities Recommended for 1-Year-Old Classes (21–30)
sole art
A curious sensation! Here’s a fun foot-print art activity.
It’s great to set this up with the goals of letting children explore different textures with their hands and feet, and getting them familiar with paint and how colors spread.
How to play: Put a generous amount of several paint colors inside a large, thick plastic bag (such as a 70L bag).
After pressing out all the air, tape the bag securely to the floor.
Walking over the paint makes it spread in fascinating ways.
Feeling the cool temperature and squishy texture of the paint under the soles of the feet is sure to bring smiles.
Another delight is watching nearby colors mix and create unexpected new hues.
Because there’s a risk of slipping, be sure to hold hands with a parent or teacher during the activity.