Ideas for indoor play and physical activities recommended for 1-year-olds
Around age one, children become much more physically active—walking, running, and greatly expanding their range of movement.
Their curiosity also blossoms, and you’ll see major developmental changes: they begin to speak, express themselves, and assert their opinions.
For teachers wondering, “What should we play today?” with these energetic one-year-olds, this is a must-read!
Here are some recommended play ideas for one-year-olds.
You’ll find plenty of options—from activities like eurhythmics and mat play that let kids move their bodies to the fullest even indoors, to imaginative role-play, sensory play that uses their fingertips, and simple crafts that spark excitement.
Find the perfect activities for your children and have fun together!
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Indoor play and physical activity ideas recommended for 1-year-olds (21–30)
Copycat game
Let’s have fun with body mimicry! Here are some ideas for a copycat game that’s sure to make everyone smile.
While copying the teacher’s movements, strike unique poses like animals or heroes and play together.
You’ll find yourselves laughing and saying, “What is this?!” as you move your bodies.
While playing, kids build flexibility and balance, and the best part is learning through fun—“Can you really do this pose?” You might even discover some unexpected moves!
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!
Indoor play and exercise ideas recommended for 1-year-olds (31–40)
interactive play
Interactive bonding games that children can enjoy with their caregivers.
Have your child sit on the caregiver’s lap, touch their body while they are lying down, or hold them to build closeness.
When your child is on your lap, keeping time with your feet to the music helps develop their sense of balance.
In touch-based play, let your child enjoy the ticklish sensations.
It’s also recommended to enjoy fingerplay songs while your child remains on your lap.
At first, hold your child’s hands and make the movements together, and gradually transition to having them imitate the caregiver’s actions.
Share plenty of physical affection to enrich their hearts.
Sensory Color Play
This is a color play activity where children can enjoy visuals, textures, and the fun of colors blending.
First, the caregiver generously applies several kinds of paint onto white drawing paper and prepares one sheet per child, sealed inside a transparent bag.
It’s helpful to raise children’s awareness of colors beforehand with picture books or songs about colors.
Then hand out the paint-filled bags and make comments like, “What color is this?” or “What a beautiful color.” Children can look at and touch the bags to enjoy the feel of the paint and paper, and when they press on the bag, the colors blend and change into new ones.
It’s also nice that they can enjoy color play without getting their hands dirty.
Let’s make a ring.
Let’s use unwanted newspapers or scrap paper and some vinyl tape at the preschool to make rings.
There are endless ways to play with the rings! Hang them on hooks, use them like ring toss, or try spinning them by hand… As long as the activity isn’t dangerous, let the children enjoy using their own ideas.
Be especially careful about putting rings around the neck—this is dangerous, so keep a close watch.
If you use vinyl tape in a variety of colors, children can notice color differences and choose their favorites as they play.
It’s also a great idea to prepare rings in intentionally different sizes.
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.
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.