Looking for activities for 1 year olds? You’ve come to the right place.
But these are not baby activities. This is post for tabies. Do you have a taby in your life? A taby is “not a baby anymore, but definitely not a toddler”. My 16 month old? He’s a total taby. And I made this list of “Activities for 1 year olds” just for him and all his taby friends in the world.
Tabies are not easy to entertain. They’re mobile. They’re curious. They’re a little verbal but not so verbal I can reason with and have a conversation with you verbal. They’re also a frustrated little bunch who want to be wild and free like toddlers but just don’t have the abilities yet.
Busy Toddler’s Parenting Book is Here!
Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting: From Their First “No” to Their First Day of School (and Everything in Between)
What are the best activities for 1 year olds?
When I’m looking for a taby activity, I’m looking for a couple of things: is it easy to set up? Because he might only play for a minute and I better not have spent hours on this.
Is it taste safe? He’s probably going to lick/bite/or eat some of the activity so I need things that are taste safe.
Is it something he can be successful with? My taby is frustrated enough that he can’t keep up with his siblings. I need activities that he can feel and be successful at.
RELATED: Looking for toys ideas for one year olds? Check out my favorites here!
So I went looking for taby activities…
And I found 30+ amazing activities for 1 year olds. I looked all over Pinterest, went to my friends’ blogs, and put together an awesome list of links for you to check out.
I separated the activities into two smaller lists: fine motor activities and fun & easy activities.
Get ready to click through to some amazing blogs!
Fine Motor Activities for 1 Year Olds
Card Slot Drop – Busy Toddler
Cheerios Fine Motor Snack for Toddlers – Living Life and Learning
Animal Tape Rescue – Busy Toddler
Poker and Boxes: Simple Baby Game – Happily Ever Mom
Taby Dot Sticker Wall – Busy Toddler
Book Drop – Happy Toddler Playtime
Push and Pull Homemade Toy Box – Laughing Kids Learn
Colander Pipe Cleaners – Hello, Wonderful
Clothes Pin Pull – Days with Grey
Tape Pull Fine Motor Activity – Mama.Papa.Bubba
Pom Pom Drop – Hands On As We Grow
Ridiculously Simple Activity to Keep Toddler Busy – School Time Snippets
Pom Pom Oball Push – Busy Toddler
DIY Tugging Box – Laughing Kids Learn
Pipe Cleaner Pick Up Sticks – Toddler Approved
Simple Toy Push – Busy Toddler
Toddler Activity: Pipe Cleaner Sprinkles – Hands On As We Grow
Taped Toys Fine Motor Activities – Laughing Kids Learn
Golf Tee Push – Busy Toddler
Colorful Velcro Tower – School Time Snippets
Bottle Top Toddler Toy – Teach Me Mommy
Drop Box Taby Activity – Busy Toddler
Pasta Threading Activity for Toddlers – Laughing Kids Learn
Sensory Activities for 1 Year Olds
Taste-safe sensory activities for one year olds (please use good judgment and supervision).
How to Make a Sensory Bin for a 1 Year Old – Busy Toddler
Fill It Up Station– Busy Toddler
Discovery Basket for Babies and Toddlers – Mama.Papa.Bubba
Toy Tractor Sensory Bin – Munchkins and Moms
Scoop and Dump Station – Busy Toddler
Spring Art: Baggie Painted Flower – Toddler Approved
Duplo Wash Sensory Bin – Mama.Papa.Bubba
Corn Meal Sensory Pool – Busy Toddler
Edible Sand: Sensory Activity for Babies – Happily Ever Mom
How to Make Rainbow Spaghetti – Messy Little Monsters
Scooping Rice Sensory Bin – Busy Toddler
Rainbow Sensory Play for Toddlers – Happily Ever Mom
Baby Play Dough – Mama.Papa.Bubba
Fun and Easy Activities for One Year Olds
Taby Sticky Wall – Busy Toddler
Sort and Drop Color Activity with Lego – Toddler Approved
Rainbow Tube Pom Pom Drop – Hello Wonderful
Drive and Drop – Days with Grey
Baby Ball Drop – Busy Toddler
Up and Down Obstacle Course for Toddlers – Bambini Travels
Painting Foil – Messy Little Monsters
Gross Motor and Art for Infants – Bambini Travels
Homemade Edible Paint – Fun at Home with Kids
Which activities will you try first?
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Annmarie says
This was such an awesome article, offering such great ideas. Sometimes we as mothers get so tired and bogged down, we can make things complicated when trying to figure something to occupy the little ones. But these ideas are really cool, easy and simple. My son enjoys doing these things, sometimes more than his more costly toys, lol. Thanks so much for your help.
sophielagirafe says
Thanks for sharing such an wonderful list ., i’m always very confused what kind of gifts to buy for my nephew and I was looking for a useful toys which can encourage him in learning, these wooden block toys are really the perfect gifts for him. Hope he would love to play and learn with them.
sharon says
Your ideas are fantastic and easy to do. I am a Grandma of an almost 1 year old and am thrilled to have found your site! Thank you.
Madhavi says
I love this website and I really want it to try on my little one who is 15 months old
Remya says
Love this. Definitely going to try some of these and sharing for sure 🙂
Nilda J Stanley says
I am a daycare teacher with 1-2 year olds…could you include more activities for a group of children in this age range?
Lauretta kambai says
thanks for putting more light please am a creche teacher age range 3month -1year 6month what can of stage performance can these kids do