5 Tried And Tested Activities Guaranteed To Keep Your One Year Old Engaged!

I have, what you may call, a rather mischievous, overactive toddler who loves exploring nooks, crannies, and heights and is the visual embodiment of someone you just can’t leave unattended. So what is a mama to do when she has her hands full with work and chores and desperately needs to contain her little tornado?

Here are 5 games that I have tried and tested out with my toddler that only keeps him interested longer than it takes me to set up but also allows me to quickly sneak in a chore or two while he is busy! What’s awesome? He loves the games, wants to do them again and again and all of these games can be done with things you find around the house!

You may also like: DIY Fine Motor Activities Great for Toddlers!

In The Kitchen: 

While you are washing dishes or keeping an eye on your cooking and you want your toddler to stay put in front of you, here is what you do.

From one bowl to another

Image courtesy: nashvillian-pastoral blogger

I don’t know what it is but they love transferring things from one bowl to another. Start them off with about 20 baby potatoes and give them two bowls (a big and a small one or two coloured ones just to add variety). Then put the potatoes in one bowl and show them how to pick one and put from one bowl to the other.  This works on their motor skills. Start with potatoes and tomatoes and then gradually move on chickpeas and peanuts. You could even count as they transfer and introduce them to the concept of numbers.

In The Bedroom:

This is for when you are folding laundry or putting away clothes or even when you are getting ready.

Sorting socks:

image courtesy: pinterest.com

Babies have adorable colourful socks so make use of it! Pull out a bunch of socks and separate the pairs. Now encourage your toddler to bring the pairs together. Don’t expect any miracles but they will be considerably entertained by the colours and the sheer exercise of mixing patterns and holding two socks in their tiny little fingers.

You may also like: 8 easy activities to help kids wind down after a long day

In The Living Room:

This one is if you are desperately trying to watch your show and your toddler has woken up earlier than usual from his nap. Here is an easy-peasy activity you can set up.

Through the tube: 

image courtesy: maepensaemtudo.blogspot.com

Tape an empty toilet roll or a kitchen tissue roll to the wall. Give them a box of small pipe cleaners, pom poms, or even in a pinch bottle caps. Keep a bucket or a vessel under the roll and watch them be completely engrossed in putting things through the tube and watching it fall into the bucket. I can’t explain why, but they love it!

In The Car: 

This is for when you are stuck in unending traffic jams and your toddler has already seen everything there is to see outside the window and has started getting restless.

Look through the bag:

Image source: pinterest

You know those strange little toys, mini figurines, old credit cards, and other knick knacks you have around the house? Here is when they all come in handy. I collect about 8-10 of these and put them in a drawstring pouch and just throw it in my bag. My odd accoutrement of things includes tiny toys you get from chocolates, a plastic baby figure from my baby shower cake (!), toy vegetables, a colourful bottle cap…you get the drift. When your child starts getting restless in the car, simply hand over this pouch and let them spend time simply looking through the pouch, picking out toys, and putting them back. Never leave home without this one. Also, your makeup pouch can be used for this activity in a pinch.

You may also like: Busy bags you can make at home that will save you on your next trip!

In The Bathroom:

Need to use the bathroom and there is no one at home to take care of your toddler? Been there!

Push through:

I seat my child right outside the bathroom and give him toy cars and toy animals and ask him to push it to me under the door. Trust me when I say this, they love it when you talk to them from behind a door and they will keep pushing things to you and you can either just have them all in the bathroom and ask them to keep sending more or just push them back out and hear them squeal in delight!

Use the door for music:

Here is a bonus task! Give them ladles of different types – steel, wood, plastic and show them how to make music by banging on the door. When you hear the music stop, you know they are tired of the game and that is your signal to come on out of the bathroom!

You may also like: Apps to keep your toddler occupied when you need to take a bathroom break!

Image source: livestrong.com

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