I did a search for activity ideas sometime ago and ended up copying and pasting them, reading occasionally, instead of really trying them out. I NEED to get this going soon. Hopefully, after this project I’m doing… Gotta try to make more structured play and do some crafts so he can learn more.

Right now, his  structured activities are
-Exercise by walking with me for 30mins downstairs around our estate. Besides just walking, we go through walking up and down stairs, climbing up playground stairs and sliding down slides.
-Reading books with me. Learning a rhyme or a poem. Listening to songs or audiobooks.
-Playing shape sorter after reading lesson.
The rest of the activities he does are just free play or things I just happened to think of at the moment. Like helping me to do some chores.

One Year Old Activities
-Typical play activities for that age should include LOTS of the following:
1) Movement activities such as walking, running, climbing, slides and swingsets.
2) Sensory play, e.g., water play (a bucket of water and a paint brush on a side walk can keep them occupied for hours), sandboxes, etc.
3) Play that involves cause and effect (great for thinking skills). Putting things in and out of containers is a favorite activity. A small, empty laundry basket and some stuffed animals or blocks can keep them busy putting them in, taking them out, pushing it around, etc. Plastic peanut butter jars are great as well (cleaned of course). They love putting things in them, putting the top on, dumping things out, etc.
4) Social interaction play like pat-a-cake, so big, rhymes and fingerplays like The Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc. These activities encourage language development as well.
5) Reading and exploration of books.

I’m glad we are ALREADY doing 1,3,4 and 5. Except I need to make or get materials for 2- More Sensory play needed.

Below Taken from Source-”Skill-Building Activities”

What To Teach Your 1 Year Old (source)

Let him explore. One year olds are curious and learn from the world around them. Look for ways to baby proof his play areas. Let him explore low kitchen cabinets that have safe things like plastic bowls, spoons, or pots and pans.

Let her use her sense of touch. Fill a box with things your one year old can feel: sticky tape; soft felt; rough sandpaper; wadded wax paper; or nylon scrubbers. Let her use her hands, feet, or mouth to explore touch.

Practice working switches and buttons. One year olds like cause and effect toys. They also like to turn light switches off and on, and off and on, and off and on. Point out the light to them when it goes off and on. You won’t really have to teach your one year old to turn the TV off and on once they figure it out. You will probably want to buy a clear plastic guard sold at Babies R Us to protect it.

Find hidden objects. A one year old should be good at this by now. Practice hiding a toy under a blanket, or behind the chair, and letting him find it. Toddlers like to do things over and over, so stack up blocks or lightweight boxes for him to knock over time after time, as well. Put a toy under the bottom box for your one year old to find.

Sort shapes. There are a lot of shape sorters out there. Get one that is simple with big pieces and only a few shapes because a one year old can easily get frustrated. Show her how to fit a round shape into a round hole.

Imitate you using objects. By now, your toddler probably tries to hold a phone like you do, or use a pen like he sees you doing. Talk to him about the objects you are using. Let your one year old experiment with them as long as they are safe and you are with him. Give him a crayon instead of a pen, for instance.

She can follow a few commands. Tell her simple things to do, like “wave bye-bye”; “roll ball to Momma”; or “bring me the book”. Your one year old won’t always follow the instructions, but praise her when she does. A one year old can respond to “No!” sometimes, too, but your best response is distraction along with the “no”.

Your one year old loves to learn new words. Help her by saying nursery rhymes, singing songs, and reading simple books. Toddlers love repetition, so say the rhymes two or three times. She will let you know her favorites by her response. Many one year olds enjoy pointing to pictures in a bright colored picture book as you read the word. Point to and name objects around the house.

A one year old wants to be near you all the time, so include him in your chores. Tell him about what you are doing, and why. Let him throw clothes in a basket, or pick up some toys. Give him a washcloth to “dust” with.

Clap when your one year old does something you like. Hug her and tell her she is special. Show your delight when she says a new word. Call her by her name and use it frequently.

Keep him safe. Cover electrical outlets if you haven’t already; get a safety latch for cabinets that contain glass items or cleaning supplies; stay close to your one year old near stairs, and let them practice climbing with you nearby; make sure you have his hand, or he is being held, or in a carrier when you are outside and near a street; make sure your one year old is in the proper car seat for his size and that you know the correct way for him to be in it.

Craft Ideas For One Year Old:

• Making shakers by putting different food items into jars or tupperware.
• Finger-paint a picture (you can use paper and paints or even baby food on the tray of a highchair). I then took a picture of it, printed it out on fabric transfer paper (available at craft or office supply stores) and made t-shirts out of the artwork. -finger-paints: You can even make “Paints” with things like instant pudding mix’s or store bought icing in a can so they aren’t toxic. These come in all colors, or simply by one can of WHITE icing & a box of food coloring & mix up 3 or 4 different colors of “icing-paint”… To thin the Icing, simply add a bit of milk, a few drops at a time. Tempura paint can be fun for them to squish between their fingers and when smeared on paper
• Cut a picture frame out of foam and allow Junior to glue items on.
• Sensory: Spaghetti play, Jelly play, Squirty cream play Slippery silk- this is cornflour and water (also known as gloop) play dough, Sand play, Water play
• Treasure basket. This is a basket containing everyday touchy feely objects. E.g, brush, fur, bark, sea shells, crinkly paper, sponges, scourers
• Brush painting, sponge paintng, print painting

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