During the one-year-old stage, little ones are in full discovery mode. Beyond major milestones—like those wobbly first steps, the long-awaited first word, or discovering the power of a pointed finger—toddlers become naturally inquisitive. With curious hands and busy little feet, they begin using all five senses to explore the world around them.

Sensory play is an incredible way to support this budding development—especially around that 12-18 month mark! It’s not just about keeping them entertained (though that’s always a big plus!); it’s also about offering hands-on experiences to help them make sense of their environment. The secret here? Choose activities that truly spark curiosity and foster growth for this unique age group, making every moment fun and meaningful.

Fortunately, coming up with engaging options for babies, toddlers, and young children doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive! There are plenty of ways to inspire learning and fun that fit any schedule and budget. That’s why today, I’m sharing a collection of toddler activities that you can incorporate into any routine. Let’s dive in!

15 Activities for 1-Year-Olds: Playful Ways to Learn and Grow

When you think about it, growing and sensory play have a lot in common. Both can get messy, spark creativity, and are full of wonder! Yet a lot of the time, when we think about supporting the development of our 1-year-olds, we focus on keeping them entertained with picture books and colorful toys.

As beneficial as both of those can be, playtime can be SO much more than that! It can be playing with musical instruments to discover new sounds, or using ice cubes to explore different temperatures. Simple items with simple goals can lead to long-lasting benefits—and that’s just the beginning.

Ultimately, sensory play allows you to get creative, explore new methods, and sneak in significant developmental wins. Whether you’re targeting gross motor skills or hand-eye coordination, there’s an activity on this list that’s perfect for the occasion.

But before you choose any new activities, let’s talk about what one-year-olds can do at this stage! This helps you skip the guesswork and incorporate play ideas that are as beneficial as they are exciting.

What Can 1-Year-Olds Do?

Explore through movement. Every kid begins walking independently at a different age. For some, it’s 9 months, while for others, it’s 18 months or more. However, no matter where your little one is in their journey, chances are they’re moving in one way or another. Crawling, walking, cruising, shimmying—it all counts!

Pick up small objects. Using their thumb and forefinger (also known as the pincer grasp!), little ones can begin picking up and manipulating small objects. Whether it’s grabbing Cheerios or playing with pom-poms, those fine motor skills are in full effect!

Interact socially. At a year old, children, of course, won’t be having full conversations. However, they begin to recognize familiar faces and voices, and imitate other kids around them.

Engage in short bursts of focused play. During these 12-18 months, little ones will begin to engage in what’s known as “relational play.” This means that they start to understand the “purpose” of a toy, and become interested in it for longer than just a few seconds

Start showing preferences. Yep, your little one can start becoming picky as early as a year old! (Just joking here.) At this stage, children can begin to show preferences for people, toys, faces, voices, and even routines.

Understand simple words. Just because one-year-olds can’t fully talk yet doesn’t mean they don’t understand what you’re saying! Slowly but surely, little ones begin to recognize common words, respond to their name, and follow simple directions.

Gesture with meaning. Like I mentioned above, kids can’t say much at this age, but they can gesture! Once they begin to associate words with actions or objects, you’ll find that they point, reach, or raise their arms more.

What Are Good Activities for 1-Year-Olds?

Outdoor Play for 1-Year-Olds

Edible Beach Sand: Colorful and squishy? A one-year-old’s dream! DIY edible sand is perfect for squishing, squeezing, and exploring. Take it outside in the summer to recreate a full beach experience right at home! For more like this, check out “Fun Food Crafts for Toddlers.”

Sensory Wall: Place age-appropriate and kid-friendly materials on a wall and let your one-year-old explore at their own pace. It’s a great way to stimulate developing brains and experience new sensations. Check out “How to Make an Outdoor Sensory Wall” for an easy step-by-step guide!

Taste-Safe Chalk Paint: This was one of my favorite discoveries when my girls were younger. Taste-safe chalk paint is washable, vibrant, easy to make, and, most importantly, exciting! It’s a great way to get outdoors, support gross motor skills, and have a little fun—all at the same time.

Outdoor Sensory Path: If you loved the idea of a sensory wall, then get ready to make an outdoor sensory path! It’s an exciting way to engage tactile, visual, and auditory senses. And the best part? You can create this multi-sensory experience using any age-appropriate materials you prefer.

Fine Motor Activities for 1-Year-Olds

Taste-Safe Finger Painting: Taste-safe paint is the perfect way for one-year-olds to explore their creativity and discover new textures. Plus, you won’t have to worry about any upset tummies from accidental hand-to-mouth contact! Simply visit my taste-safe paint recipe, or use regular yogurt with food coloring.

Ice Painting: Exploring different temperatures is essential for both fostering cognitive development and enhancing sensory integration. However, because little ones aren’t able to regulate temperature as quickly as adults can, this ice painting DIY is the perfect exploration activity to try out. It’s colorful, taste-safe, and it’s done in a way that keeps the environment safe and controlled!

Chia Slime: Trust me, kids are never too young to enjoy slime. This taste-safe chia slime recipe is perfect for developing fine motor skills, offering sensory stimulation, and reducing anxiety. And of course, even one-year-olds will love the opportunity to squish, squeeze, and stretch this material.

Colored Noodles: This colored noodles DIY has always been one of my all-time favorite sensory activities. Is it slightly messy? Yes. But does it work across all age groups for collaborative play? Also yes! All you need is dyed noodles and a few plastic toys. Your little one will love getting their hands all tangled up as they explore new textures and sensations.

Squeegee Fun: Talk about enhancing fine motor skills! This squeegee fun activity is the perfect way to spend a sunny day outdoors and build all of those little hand muscles. Kids will love the opportunity to paint on the windows and get a little messy. Meanwhile, you’ll love how long the activity keeps their attention. It’s a win-win!

Cognitive and Recognition Activities for 1-Year-Olds

Family Lift the Flap DIY: Remember when I mentioned earlier that one-year-olds are beginning to interact socially? This lift-the-flap activity is a fun and fantastic way to practice recognition. All you need is an empty wipes container and a few family photos! Not only is this activity fun, but it’s also super inexpensive and easy to creatctivity Packs: It’s never too early to start exploring colors, emotions, and weather with your little one. This Toddler Bundle activity pack helps you get a head start with age-appropriate activities featuring animal sounds, foods, weather patterns, and more!

Exploration Activities for 1-Year-Olds

Sensory Bins: There are SO many sensory bin benefits, which is what makes them such a great activity! Simply fill a shallow bin with age-safe materials, add a few scoops, and let little ones explore. Just make sure to keep your hawk eyes out for any items that could pose a choking hazard.

Sensory Calming Bottles: You don’t always need something elaborate when it comes to keeping 1-year-olds entertained. Sometimes, all it takes is a DIY snsory bottle—also known as a “calm down jar.” It’s a fantastic opportunity to practice mood regulation while aiding brain development.

Rice Find Activity: Traditionally, this rice letter find activity is great when kids are learning the alphabet or practicing counting. But for one-year-olds, just place a few materials underneath the rice and let them dig through and explore! At this age, it’s more about exploration and different textures.

Sensory Table: A sensory table is essentially just a bin on wheels—but that’s all the more exciting! You can move it to different environments or set it up for multiple children to enjoy. If you need a little inspiration, make sure to check out “Sensory Table Ideas for Blooming Playtime Fun.”

There are plenty of exciting, age-appropriate activities that help little ones grow and explore!

The true beauty of sensory play lies in its adaptability to different age groups. Whether you’re working on fine motor skills with one-year-olds or teaching your preschooler how to write, sensory activities can be tailored to meet kids right where they are. And, most importantly, each activity supports learning, creativity, and development every step of the way.

Looking for other ways to transform your home and enrich playtime? Order our new book, Playful by Design! It’s a step-by-step guide designed to demonstrate all of the best ways to spark creativity and foster essential skills. Plus, you can learn how to design a space that evolves with your family, interests, and budget.

Don’t forget to head to the Mothercould blog for endless sensory activities! I share sensory play ideas for different age groups, occasions, and needs. Also, make sure to join Mothercould In Your Pocket! It can be your go-to resource for activity packs, helpful how-to guides, and kid-approved recipes.

15 ACTIVITIES FOR 1-YEAR-OLDS: PLAYFUL WAYS TO LEARN AND GROW