9 Activities For Your 1 year old {and older kids too.}

They don’t want to be rocked , cuddled or nursed all day long anymore. They try to jump out of your arms in stores and you are amazed by how much mess such a wee person can make! Your baby is exploring the world in whole new ways, on two feet, with more gusto and you aren’t so sure all those prayers for the newborn stage to end were well thought out.  Activities for 1 year olds are short, but having a bunch of fun quick ones on hand will help keep your little one busy and having fun.

1. Pour some pasta.( or rice, or lentils, or quinoa.)

2. We love our water table , my daughter got this Step2 Sand & Water Table for her birthday and it’s been a huge hit not only with her but 2, 3 and even almost 5 year olds! We add bubbles, extra toys and have a blast. You can make your own too.

3. Sing silly songs!  I video taped her reaction to show you how much this age responds to music. She has been sticking out her tongue and grunting for a week as a way of asking for me to sing it again.

Um um! Went the little green frog one day,
Um um , went the little green frog.
Um um went the little green frog one day,
and they all went um um ahhh!

But we all know frogs go ,
la di da di da,
la di da di da
la di da di da
We all know frogs go la di da di da,
They don’t go um um ah!!!

3. We love our water table , my daughter got this Step2 Water Table for her birthday and it’s been a huge hit not only with her but 2, 3 and even almost 5 year olds! We add bubbles, extra toys and have a blast.  You can make your own too.

4. Dig in the dirt.

5. Turn bath time into a pretend day at the beach by adding swim suits, sun glasses , pails and shovels.

6. Read. Gather a pile of books and let your toddler choose which books to read.

7. Make a Firetruck ( or other vehicle) for them out of a diaper box and play pretend.

8. Paint with bugs.

9.Make a drum and beat it!