Toddlers can be great fun, but sometimes we do not know what to do with them. They do not usually have the vocabulary they need to express all of their needs and wants, but they are not babies any longer, either.

They want to interact. You want to make sure that they learn while having fun. Learning through play is one of the best things you can offer a toddler. Here are a few ways to do that.

Indoor Things and Activities to Do with a One-Year-Old

Book Walks

Many Kindergarten teachers use book walks to talk to their classes about the books they are reading, but you can do this with a toddler. You probably read books from cover to cover with your toddler, and this is great, but think about ignoring the words a little. When you first open to a page, point out objects, colors, or people.

Ask your toddler questions about the page and search for things with them. For instance, say, “Can you find the brown bear?” or  “What color is this bear?” or “Can you find the bear?” Your toddler does not need you to read every word accurately.

Talk about what the people are doing. You can ask questions, and he or she may only give a one-word answer, but that’s okay. You help your child build vocabulary the more you talk to one another.  

Artwork

Like water play, you will want to do this in an area that can get messy. Let your child fingerpaint. If you are worried about hands going in the mouth, use pudding, whipped cream, or other foods that may be dyed.

Your child may turn a bit blue for a while, but it is still fun! Finger painting can also be a sensory activity where your child explores different textures and smells. 

Sorting

Let your toddler help you sort blocks by color or shape. This activity helps your child with early math skills as well as motor skills. Children learn through play, so making a game of sorting may mean tossing blocks or small objects. Let your child put pom poms in an old film canister.

This simple activity is fantastic for fine motor skill development. If you can also get him or her to put different colors in different canisters, this can improve those skills as well. 

Be Silly and Make Faces

Bonding with your child does not have to be an educational activity. You can simply have a good time sometimes. Let your child be silly and lead you in a dance, game, or making faces. Toddler games will rarely make sense. Just go with it. 

Make Music

Let your toddler make musical instruments. You might make a drum, shaker, guitar, or harp. The instructions for these are on several websites, but you do not have to do anything fancy.

An old pot or formula tub can be a drum, a water bottle with beans inside is a quick shaker. The sound and motor skills obtained are great for your baby. Music and creativity are encouraged for toddlers and young children.

Outdoor Things and Activities to Do with a One-Year-Old :

Water Play

Sure, you may want to do this one outside, but children love to pour and dump. This activity is incredible for fine and gross motor control. As you prepare your child to pour his or her own drink, you begin with water outside or in the tub.

You might also set up a toy wash. It’s like a car wash for their toys. Set up a soapy bucket and a clean water bucket. Choose toys that can get wet, such as Duplos/ Mega Blocks, dinosaurs, trucks, dishes, and food (playsets). Let your child wash them in soapy water and then in clean water. Here’s a secret: they need to be washed, and this way, your child gets some fine and gross motor activities.

Sandbox Fun

Kids still love sandboxes. Get one with a cover that you can keep bugs out, but have a good time playing with sand. Provide a variety of toys such as colanders, shovels, cups, or dolls.

Let your child bury his or her toys in the sand like you might bury them at the beach. Enjoy the texture and warmth of the sand. Talk about the color, what he or she feels, and the smells. Like the water play, you can have fun with several senses in the sandbox.  

Chalk

Draw or color a picture with chalk instead of crayons or markers. Chalk may be a bit easier to clean off the walls if your child wanders off with it. You can let your child draw on different colors of construction paper to explore the color changes.

You can also get sidewalk chalk and draw pictures before and after a rain. You can see how the chalk changes when it is wet and what happens when you pour water on chalk drawings. Enjoy doodling with your child. 

Go for a Walk

Talk to your toddler about the things that you see and hear on your walk. You can talk about the colors of flowers, the size of the animals, or the speed of the cars. You might ask your child questions about what he or she sees too.

If your toddler is not good at walking by your side calmly yet, you can use a stroller to keep them confined while enjoying the fresh air. 

Final Thoughts

You can do many activities with your child, but the most important thing to remember is to interact with your child. You do not want your child to lack vocabulary skills because you lacked interaction.

Children learn through play. They learn the conservation of objects with peek-a-boo and gravity with drop and pick up games. They may not be able to vocalize what is happening, but the concepts are building.

The more you talk to your child about the environment, their emotions, and your observations, the more your child will learn. If you have a favorite activity, let us know. 

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