Activities for 1 year olds

Somewhere between twelve and eighteen months your baby turns into a toddler who wants to do things, not just watch them. They can sit and dig, pull themselves up on the sofa, post a block into a box and take it out again forty times. The activities here are built for exactly that stage. Every one uses ordinary household things, takes five to fifteen minutes, and needs no set-up beyond fetching a bowl. We have written out the steps, what your child is actually learning while they do it, and a way to make it easier or harder depending on the mood of the day. Pick one, do it after breakfast, and call it a win.

286 activities

A Different Brush illustration A Different Brush from 12 months · 5 min A Few at a Time illustration A Few at a Time from 12 months · 5-10 min After the Bath, Before the Story illustration After the Bath, Before the Story from 12 months · 10-15 min Ball Down the Ramp illustration Ball Down the Ramp from 12 months · 5-10 min Ball Hand To Hand illustration Ball Hand To Hand from 12 months · 5 min Barefoot on the Grass illustration Barefoot on the Grass from 12 months · 5-10 min Bat Wing Flap illustration Bat Wing Flap from 12 months · 5-10 min Bath Toy Colours illustration Bath Toy Colours from 12 months · 5-10 min Big Box Push Along illustration Big Box Push Along from 12 months · 10-15 min Blanket Tunnel Crawl illustration Blanket Tunnel Crawl from 12 months · 20-35 min Board Book Page Turn illustration Board Book Page Turn from 12 months · 5-10 min Bottle Shaker Band illustration Bottle Shaker Band from 12 months · 30-45 min Box Fort Crawl-Through illustration Box Fort Crawl-Through from 12 months · 25-40 min Box Tunnel Crawl illustration Box Tunnel Crawl from 12 months · 30-45 min Brushing in the Mirror illustration Brushing in the Mirror from 12 months · 5 min Bubble Wrap Stomp illustration Bubble Wrap Stomp from 12 months · 5-10 min Car Paint Tracks illustration Car Paint Tracks from 12 months · 10-15 min Chair Crawl Under illustration Chair Crawl Under from 12 months · 5 min Cloud Spotting Lie-Down illustration Cloud Spotting Lie-Down from 12 months · 5-10 min Copy My Face illustration Copy My Face from 12 months · 5 min Copy My Sip illustration Copy My Sip from 12 months · 5 min Copycat Chat illustration Copycat Chat from 12 months · 5 min Cup Hide And Seek illustration Cup Hide And Seek from 12 months · 5-10 min Cup Rinse at Bath Time illustration Cup Rinse at Bath Time from 12 months · 10-15 min Cushion Mountain Climb illustration Cushion Mountain Climb from 12 months · 20-40 min Cushion Nest Snuggle illustration Cushion Nest Snuggle from 12 months · 5-10 min Cushion Tower Build illustration Cushion Tower Build from 12 months · 5-10 min Cushions Back on the Sofa illustration Cushions Back on the Sofa from 12 months · 5-10 min Doorstep Watch illustration Doorstep Watch from 12 months · 10-15 min Draw in the Oats illustration Draw in the Oats from 12 months · 10-15 min Empty the Washing Machine illustration Empty the Washing Machine from 12 months · 20-30 min Fabric Swatch Feel illustration Fabric Swatch Feel from 12 months · 5-10 min Family Photo Peekaboo illustration Family Photo Peekaboo from 12 months · 5-10 min Finger Family on Your Hand illustration Finger Family on Your Hand from 12 months · 5 min Finger Paint Fruit illustration Finger Paint Fruit from 12 months · 10-15 min First Sips Together illustration First Sips Together from 12 months · 5-10 min Flap Door Peekaboo illustration Flap Door Peekaboo from 12 months · 5-10 min Flour Hand Prints illustration Flour Hand Prints from 12 months · 25-40 min Foil Tray Drum Band illustration Foil Tray Drum Band from 12 months · 10-15 min Garden Splash Tray illustration Garden Splash Tray from 12 months · 10-15 min Gentle Hum Rock illustration Gentle Hum Rock from 12 months · 5 min Ghost Sheet Peekaboo illustration Ghost Sheet Peekaboo from 12 months · 20-30 min Go Again? illustration Go Again? from 12 months · 5 min Hallway Crawl Race illustration Hallway Crawl Race from 12 months · 5-10 min Handprint Bats illustration Handprint Bats from 12 months · 10-15 min Handprint Black Cat illustration Handprint Black Cat from 12 months · 10-15 min Haunted House Box illustration Haunted House Box from 12 months · 15-25 min Head in Your Lap illustration Head in Your Lap from 12 months · 5 min Hello, Kitchen! illustration Hello, Kitchen! from 12 months · 5-10 min Incy Wincy's Adventure illustration Incy Wincy's Adventure from 12 months · 5-10 min Jelly Squish Tray illustration Jelly Squish Tray from 12 months · 20-35 min Just Out of Reach illustration Just Out of Reach from 12 months · 5-10 min Lamp Post to Lamp Post illustration Lamp Post to Lamp Post from 12 months · 10-15 min Lap to Lap illustration Lap to Lap from 12 months · 5-10 min Laundry Basket Stand illustration Laundry Basket Stand from 12 months · 5-10 min Leaf Crunch Basket illustration Leaf Crunch Basket from 12 months · 20-30 min Leaf Pile Stomp illustration Leaf Pile Stomp from 12 months · 10-15 min Lights On, Lights Off illustration Lights On, Lights Off from 12 months · 5 min Loaded Spoon, Handed Over illustration Loaded Spoon, Handed Over from 12 months · 10-15 min Low Table Treasures illustration Low Table Treasures from 12 months · 20-30 min Mirror Quiet Look illustration Mirror Quiet Look from 12 months · 5 min Oat Tub Dig illustration Oat Tub Dig from 12 months · 25-40 min One Colour Treasure Basket illustration One Colour Treasure Basket from 12 months · 30-45 min One More Bubble illustration One More Bubble from 12 months · 5-10 min Our People Book illustration Our People Book from 12 months · 20-30 min Packing Paper Nest illustration Packing Paper Nest from 12 months · 30-45 min Paper Bag Tear and Stuff illustration Paper Bag Tear and Stuff from 12 months · 30-45 min Peekaboo Sleeves illustration Peekaboo Sleeves from 12 months · 5 min Picture Card Point & Name illustration Picture Card Point & Name from 12 months · 5-10 min Point and It Comes illustration Point and It Comes from 12 months · 5 min Pudding Finger Paint Splat illustration Pudding Finger Paint Splat from 12 months · 20-30 min Pumpkin Guts Tray illustration Pumpkin Guts Tray from 12 months · 15-30 min Quiet Box Lid Open & Close illustration Quiet Box Lid Open & Close from 12 months · 5-10 min Rice Bottle Roll illustration Rice Bottle Roll from 12 months · 5-10 min Ring Pass illustration Ring Pass from 12 months · 5 min Round and Round the Garden illustration Round and Round the Garden from 12 months · 5 min Scarf Post Box illustration Scarf Post Box from 12 months · 10-15 min Scarf Pull Tube illustration Scarf Pull Tube from 12 months · 5-10 min Scarf Through the Box illustration Scarf Through the Box from 12 months · 5-10 min Scribble Box illustration Scribble Box from 12 months · 20-30 min Shoe Box Lid Flip illustration Shoe Box Lid Flip from 12 months · 10-15 min Shoes by the Door illustration Shoes by the Door from 12 months · 5-10 min Slinky Ball Drop illustration Slinky Ball Drop from 12 months · 10-15 min Snow Globe Shake & Watch illustration Snow Globe Shake & Watch from 12 months · 5 min Sock Duster illustration Sock Duster from 12 months · 15-25 min Sock Tunnel illustration Sock Tunnel from 12 months · 5 min Sofa Toy Rescue illustration Sofa Toy Rescue from 12 months · 5-10 min Soft Blanket Burrito Wrap illustration Soft Blanket Burrito Wrap from 12 months · 5-10 min Soft Veg Sticks illustration Soft Veg Sticks from 12 months · 10-15 min Spoons In The Bowl illustration Spoons In The Bowl from 12 months · 5-10 min Squish Bag Painting illustration Squish Bag Painting from 12 months · 5-10 min Stir the Pan illustration Stir the Pan from 12 months · 5-10 min Story Time Lap Snuggle illustration Story Time Lap Snuggle from 12 months · 20-30 min Sweep Beside Me illustration Sweep Beside Me from 12 months · 5-10 min Textured Fabric Basket illustration Textured Fabric Basket from 12 months · 20-30 min The Pan Cupboard illustration The Pan Cupboard from 12 months · 20-30 min The Tub They Can't Open illustration The Tub They Can't Open from 12 months · 5-10 min The Two-Minute Song illustration The Two-Minute Song from 12 months · 5 min Thicker Sips illustration Thicker Sips from 12 months · 5-10 min Tissue Paper Rain illustration Tissue Paper Rain from 12 months · 10-15 min Toast Finger Snack illustration Toast Finger Snack from 12 months · 5-10 min Torch Under Blanket illustration Torch Under Blanket from 12 months · 5-10 min Touch the Garden illustration Touch the Garden from 12 months · 10-15 min Towel Sled Pull illustration Towel Sled Pull from 12 months · 5-10 min Tub Tower Topple illustration Tub Tower Topple from 12 months · 30-45 min Two Brushes illustration Two Brushes from 12 months · 5 min Two Hands Full illustration Two Hands Full from 12 months · 5 min Two-Handed Cup Hold illustration Two-Handed Cup Hold from 12 months · 5-10 min Uh Oh Drop illustration Uh Oh Drop from 12 months · 5 min Up on the Shelf illustration Up on the Shelf from 12 months · 5-10 min Warm Cloth Face Wipe illustration Warm Cloth Face Wipe from 12 months · 5 min Wash the Pumpkin illustration Wash the Pumpkin from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Hand Prints illustration Wet Hand Prints from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Sponge Squeeze illustration Wet Sponge Squeeze from 12 months · 20-35 min Where Did It Go illustration Where Did It Go from 12 months · 5 min Where Is Everyone? illustration Where Is Everyone? from 12 months · 5 min Which Book Tonight? illustration Which Book Tonight? from 12 months · 10-15 min Which One? illustration Which One? from 12 months · 5 min Who Says Moo illustration Who Says Moo from 12 months · 5 min Who's on the Phone? illustration Who's on the Phone? from 12 months · 5-10 min Whose Nose? illustration Whose Nose? from 12 months · 5 min Window Bird Watch illustration Window Bird Watch from 12 months · 5-10 min Window Wave illustration Window Wave from 12 months · 5-10 min Bowl Drum Concert illustration Bowl Drum Concert from 13 months · 30-45 min Carry The Toolbag illustration Carry The Toolbag from 13 months · 20-35 min Chunky Crayon Scribble illustration Chunky Crayon Scribble from 13 months · 5-10 min Flour Spoon Tap illustration Flour Spoon Tap from 13 months · 5-10 min Flour Spoon Trace illustration Flour Spoon Trace from 13 months · 5-10 min Leaf Basket Walk illustration Leaf Basket Walk from 13 months · 10-15 min Monster Walk illustration Monster Walk from 13 months · 20-35 min Watering Can Fill illustration Watering Can Fill from 13 months · 5-10 min Apple Picking Tree illustration Apple Picking Tree from 14 months · 10-15 min Barefoot When We Get In illustration Barefoot When We Get In from 14 months · 5-10 min Basin Boat Bob illustration Basin Boat Bob from 14 months · 5-10 min Bell Bracelet Shake illustration Bell Bracelet Shake from 14 months · 5-10 min Big Ball Roll illustration Big Ball Roll from 14 months · 5-10 min Big Box Push illustration Big Box Push from 14 months · 20-35 min Big Spoon, Small Spoon illustration Big Spoon, Small Spoon from 14 months · 5-10 min Bubble Wrap Path illustration Bubble Wrap Path from 14 months · 10-15 min Bye-Bye, Bath Water illustration Bye-Bye, Bath Water from 14 months · 5 min Cheers! illustration Cheers! from 14 months · 5 min Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt illustration Coat Pocket Treasure Hunt from 14 months · 5 min Cornflour Goop Tray illustration Cornflour Goop Tray from 14 months · 20-35 min Count The Socks In illustration Count The Socks In from 14 months · 5-10 min Cup on the Table illustration Cup on the Table from 14 months · 5-10 min Cup Tower Topple illustration Cup Tower Topple from 14 months · 20-35 min Cushion Story Nest illustration Cushion Story Nest from 14 months · 25-40 min Dinner Together illustration Dinner Together from 14 months · 20-30 min Feed the Hungry Monster illustration Feed the Hungry Monster from 14 months · 10-15 min Feet Flat, Then Scoop illustration Feet Flat, Then Scoop from 14 months · 10-15 min Fill the Jack-o'-Lantern illustration Fill the Jack-o'-Lantern from 14 months · 10-15 min Funnel Water Race illustration Funnel Water Race from 14 months · 5-10 min Ghost Footprints illustration Ghost Footprints from 14 months · 10-20 min Handprint Witch illustration Handprint Witch from 14 months · 10-15 min Hands on Hands illustration Hands on Hands from 14 months · 5 min Hello on the Screen illustration Hello on the Screen from 14 months · 5-10 min Hello, Mr Bus! illustration Hello, Mr Bus! from 14 months · 10-15 min Hello, Park! Bye, Park! illustration Hello, Park! Bye, Park! from 14 months · 5 min Help at the Elbow illustration Help at the Elbow from 14 months · 10-15 min Laundry Basket Haul illustration Laundry Basket Haul from 14 months · 20-35 min Leaf Window illustration Leaf Window from 14 months · 10-15 min Let It Land Everywhere illustration Let It Land Everywhere from 14 months · 10-15 min Lids On, Lids Off illustration Lids On, Lids Off from 14 months · 10-15 min Nesting Boxes illustration Nesting Boxes from 14 months · 10-15 min Oat Tub Fill illustration Oat Tub Fill from 14 months · 20-35 min Paper Bag Ghost illustration Paper Bag Ghost from 14 months · 10-15 min Paper Scrunch Bag illustration Paper Scrunch Bag from 14 months · 5-10 min Paper Tear Basket illustration Paper Tear Basket from 14 months · 10-15 min Peekaboo, Hello! illustration Peekaboo, Hello! from 14 months · 5 min Photo Book Browse illustration Photo Book Browse from 14 months · 5-10 min Pick Your Brush illustration Pick Your Brush from 14 months · 5 min Picnic Blanket Sips illustration Picnic Blanket Sips from 14 months · 20-30 min Pillow Path Walk illustration Pillow Path Walk from 14 months · 5-10 min Pine Cone Paint Roll illustration Pine Cone Paint Roll from 14 months · 10-15 min Play Dough Poke illustration Play Dough Poke from 14 months · 25-40 min Pom-Pom Cup Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Cup Scoop from 14 months · 5-10 min Pots And Pans Band illustration Pots And Pans Band from 14 months · 25-40 min Pumpkin Hunt illustration Pumpkin Hunt from 14 months · 10-15 min Put Toys in the Bin illustration Put Toys in the Bin from 14 months · 5-10 min Rip the Velcro illustration Rip the Velcro from 14 months · 5 min Roll the Pumpkin illustration Roll the Pumpkin from 14 months · 5-10 min Round Hole Posting illustration Round Hole Posting from 14 months · 5-10 min Shadow Puppet Wall Watch illustration Shadow Puppet Wall Watch from 14 months · 20-30 min Sink-Side Cup Play illustration Sink-Side Cup Play from 14 months · 10-15 min Sit on the Bottom Step illustration Sit on the Bottom Step from 14 months · 5-10 min Slow Breathing Bubble Watch illustration Slow Breathing Bubble Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Sock Pull illustration Sock Pull from 14 months · 5 min Soft Ball Roll Bowling illustration Soft Ball Roll Bowling from 14 months · 20-35 min Sound Hunt Walk illustration Sound Hunt Walk from 14 months · 20-35 min Special Delivery illustration Special Delivery from 14 months · 5 min Spider Tape Rescue illustration Spider Tape Rescue from 14 months · 10-15 min Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer illustration Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer from 14 months · 20-35 min Spoon Drum Beat illustration Spoon Drum Beat from 14 months · 5-10 min Sticky Foods First illustration Sticky Foods First from 14 months · 10-15 min Stuffed Animal Heartbeat Listen illustration Stuffed Animal Heartbeat Listen from 14 months · 5 min Teddy Says Hello illustration Teddy Says Hello from 14 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Teeth First illustration Teddy's Teeth First from 14 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Turn to Drink illustration Teddy's Turn to Drink from 14 months · 10-15 min The Hello Song illustration The Hello Song from 14 months · 5 min The Missing Piece illustration The Missing Piece from 14 months · 10-15 min Tin Tower Build illustration Tin Tower Build from 14 months · 5-10 min Top Ones, Bottom Ones illustration Top Ones, Bottom Ones from 14 months · 5 min Torchlight Bug Search illustration Torchlight Bug Search from 14 months · 25-40 min Towel Tug Fold illustration Towel Tug Fold from 14 months · 5-10 min Treasure Basket Walk illustration Treasure Basket Walk from 14 months · 25-45 min Tub Scoop and Pour illustration Tub Scoop and Pour from 14 months · 30-45 min Two Spoons at Breakfast illustration Two Spoons at Breakfast from 14 months · 10-15 min Unpack The Shopping illustration Unpack The Shopping from 14 months · 20-30 min Velcro Strip Pull Apart illustration Velcro Strip Pull Apart from 14 months · 5-10 min Watch Me Do Mine illustration Watch Me Do Mine from 14 months · 5 min Wave From the Window illustration Wave From the Window from 14 months · 5 min Wellies On illustration Wellies On from 14 months · 5 min Wide Tube Post illustration Wide Tube Post from 14 months · 5-10 min Window Raindrop Watch illustration Window Raindrop Watch from 14 months · 5-10 min Wipe the Highchair illustration Wipe the Highchair from 14 months · 5-10 min Wipe The Mirror illustration Wipe The Mirror from 14 months · 5 min Yoghurt Finger Paint illustration Yoghurt Finger Paint from 14 months · 20-35 min You Pull the Last Bit illustration You Pull the Last Bit from 14 months · 5 min Bath Time Names illustration Bath Time Names from 15 months · 5-10 min Garden Watering Round illustration Garden Watering Round from 15 months · 20-40 min Names on a Walk illustration Names on a Walk from 15 months · 10-15 min Orange and Black Sort illustration Orange and Black Sort from 15 months · 5-10 min Point, Name, Pause illustration Point, Name, Pause from 15 months · 5-10 min Scarf Sway Dance illustration Scarf Sway Dance from 15 months · 20-35 min Shaker Bottle Shake illustration Shaker Bottle Shake from 15 months · 5-10 min Shopping Into the Cupboard illustration Shopping Into the Cupboard from 15 months · 5-10 min Sock, Shoe, Coat illustration Sock, Shoe, Coat from 15 months · 5 min Sticky Spider Web illustration Sticky Spider Web from 15 months · 10-20 min Sticky Tape Line illustration Sticky Tape Line from 15 months · 5-10 min Under the Blanket illustration Under the Blanket from 15 months · 5 min A Short Goodbye illustration A Short Goodbye from 16 months · 5 min Animal Walk Parade illustration Animal Walk Parade from 16 months · 20-35 min Bean Bag Toss Basket illustration Bean Bag Toss Basket from 16 months · 20-35 min Before We Eat illustration Before We Eat from 16 months · 5 min Big Sock, Little Sock illustration Big Sock, Little Sock from 16 months · 5 min Big Steps, Little Steps illustration Big Steps, Little Steps from 16 months · 5 min Blue Cup Walk illustration Blue Cup Walk from 16 months · 5-10 min Car Goes Home illustration Car Goes Home from 16 months · 5-10 min Carry The Cutlery illustration Carry The Cutlery from 16 months · 5-10 min Carry the Mail illustration Carry the Mail from 16 months · 5-10 min Cup Nesting illustration Cup Nesting from 16 months · 5-10 min Dry Them Properly illustration Dry Them Properly from 16 months · 5 min Dust The Shelf illustration Dust The Shelf from 16 months · 5 min Feet First Down illustration Feet First Down from 16 months · 5 min Flour Dough Knead illustration Flour Dough Knead from 16 months · 20-40 min Foam First illustration Foam First from 16 months · 5-10 min Frozen Toy Dig illustration Frozen Toy Dig from 16 months · 25-40 min Hand Me the Duck illustration Hand Me the Duck from 16 months · 5 min Hula Hoop Step Through illustration Hula Hoop Step Through from 16 months · 5-10 min Knock And Count illustration Knock And Count from 16 months · 5 min Muddy Hands illustration Muddy Hands from 16 months · 5-10 min Music Box Wind & Listen illustration Music Box Wind & Listen from 16 months · 5 min My Turn, Your Teeth illustration My Turn, Your Teeth from 16 months · 5 min One Shoe, Then the Other illustration One Shoe, Then the Other from 16 months · 5 min Paintbrush Puddle Art illustration Paintbrush Puddle Art from 16 months · 5-10 min Pom-Pom Water Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Water Scoop from 16 months · 20-35 min Puddle Splash Count illustration Puddle Splash Count from 16 months · 5-10 min Puppet Story Den illustration Puppet Story Den from 16 months · 25-45 min Ring Ring, Hello illustration Ring Ring, Hello from 16 months · 5-10 min Roll It Or Stack It illustration Roll It Or Stack It from 16 months · 5-10 min Rub With Me illustration Rub With Me from 16 months · 5 min Shoes Off at the Door illustration Shoes Off at the Door from 16 months · 5-10 min Singing Scarf Wave illustration Singing Scarf Wave from 16 months · 5-10 min Sock Ball Basket illustration Sock Ball Basket from 16 months · 5-10 min Soft Toy Tuck In illustration Soft Toy Tuck In from 16 months · 5-10 min Sponge Paint Dots illustration Sponge Paint Dots from 16 months · 25-40 min Spoon Scoop Pom Transfer illustration Spoon Scoop Pom Transfer from 16 months · 10-15 min Stair Step Climb illustration Stair Step Climb from 16 months · 5-10 min Sticky Tree Walk illustration Sticky Tree Walk from 16 months · 15-20 min The Bottom Step illustration The Bottom Step from 16 months · 5 min The Bowl That Stays Put illustration The Bowl That Stays Put from 16 months · 10-15 min The Front Doorstep illustration The Front Doorstep from 16 months · 5 min The Last of the Yoghurt illustration The Last of the Yoghurt from 16 months · 5-10 min Tiptoe And Stomp illustration Tiptoe And Stomp from 16 months · 5 min Toy Tidy Scoop illustration Toy Tidy Scoop from 16 months · 5-10 min Trace The Lid illustration Trace The Lid from 16 months · 5 min Twenty Seconds of Soap illustration Twenty Seconds of Soap from 16 months · 5 min Up on the Step illustration Up on the Step from 16 months · 5 min Up to Bed, One Hand illustration Up to Bed, One Hand from 16 months · 5 min Wall Push Plank illustration Wall Push Plank from 16 months · 5-10 min Water Bottle Fill Help illustration Water Bottle Fill Help from 16 months · 5-10 min Water Pouring Station illustration Water Pouring Station from 16 months · 25-40 min Wellies Off illustration Wellies Off from 16 months · 5 min Who's at the Door? illustration Who's at the Door? from 16 months · 5-10 min Wipe The Table illustration Wipe The Table from 16 months · 20-30 min Zigzag Tape Path illustration Zigzag Tape Path from 16 months · 5-10 min

Other ages

Activities for 18 month olds · Activities for 2 year olds · All activities