What do you do with a 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. I make sure he has his own table and I have a box with some snacks and treats I can place his toys in.
Any other tips for keeping your toddler happy (and busy)? I keep him busy by putting him in boxes full of things to do, from small plates to large plates. I keep him out playing with anything grown up, even if it’s for a game of hide and seek.
Every day is a learning experience for us kids. This is especially true for 2 and 3 year olds. Keeping them busy means we have plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. I have a few ideas I can throw away or plan on throwing away:
One of the first activities my kids did at their Montessori preschool is learning to pour water. Recreate the activity at home, using a large, rimmed baking sheet to catch spills, a small bowl to pour water into, and a plastic measuring cup with a handle.
Besides painting, you can use a sponge for water play as well. Fill a bowl with water and allow your child to dip the sponge and squeeze the water out. You can also have him squeeze water out of the sponge into another container, just like you did with the water pouring activity.
Finding things to do with a 1 year old isn’t reserved for at home. In fact, I try to get out and about with my kids at least once a day so they’re not home all the time. Here are a few ideas you can do for getting out of the house:
One of the best outdoor activities is to pack your toddler’s meal and take it to the park! Bring a picnic blanket where you can both sit and enjoy a meal outdoors. Pick a spot under a tree so he can lie down, watch the leaves move, and relax in the shade.
A favorite pastime, especially with my eldest, was walking around the neighborhood. We’d explore everything, from leaves on the ground to sprinklers on the sidewalk. I went at his pace, starting with one block at first until we were able to explore most of our area.
Many cities have a children’s museum that offers hands-on discovery. I like those that cater to kids of all ages.
What do you do with a 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is all over the place. I make sure he has his own table and we have a play area. I do a lot of reading and no one quite puts a bookshelf into a pile of rubble.
What is the craziest thing you have done for your 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. Everything from books to toys to toys to toys. He even takes out all the trash! I really love it!
What is your biggest challenge with older kids? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. Everything from toys to books to toys to toys. He even takes out all the trash! I really love it!
What is the craziest thing you have done for your 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. Everything from toys to books to toys to toys to toys. You name it, it is a challenge. Older kids get bored quickly and get huffy (that is, they will turn into little snakes when they are older than about 2 years old), so it is very difficult to keep my kids from getting too bored. I have a flight attendant help with everything, from changing seats to adjusting toys.
What is the craziest thing you have done for your 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. Everything from toys to books to toys to toys to toys to everything. You will probably get a lot of questions about baby gear, but first you need to decide what is and is not baby gear. Gear that prevents your child from getting too big or to the floor (like a pants pocket or a small bag).
What is the craziest thing you have done for your baby? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. Everything from toys to books to toys to toys to toys to everything. You can either keep your baby on the floor or try making the baby sit still for a challenge.
Make sure that the house is still baby proofed with stairways gated, no blind cords hanging down where baby can reach them, pots and dishes put back away from counter edges, and household cleaners out of reach.
What do you do with a 1 year old? I have a 18 month old and he is always getting into everything. I have a kitchen, bathroom and living room setup.
Hi Jill! When my little ones are on a diet, I like to think they are more interested in making music and eating healthy than eating real food. I run a low carb, protein and low fat lifestyle blog that focuses on great foods and healthy eating ideas.
Hi Divya! I live in Jharkhand, India, and while I have a great relationship with my dietitian, we don’t eat very much house-made. We do, however, have a few favorites that we love about it:
One of the first activities I did as a child was to eat nothing more than a large, MacAndRice sized breakfast. I went at his pace, but the result was one of the best, simple lunches I have ever seen.
There is one problem with our house: We do not have a bathroom. We don’t like to have to deal with dirty, dirty people putting things in our mouths. We get so frustrated with our bills that we don’t have a choice but to stay in the house.
Every little child needs a stuffed friend he or she can grab in the crib at night (once the child is older than a year old, of course), a blanket at night (the parent who gives it to the child is unclean), or a small bowl of soup at night (although it is season for that habit). All you need are a few inspirational ideas to play with your toddler on the road or in the crib.
There is one problem with our house: We don’t have a bathroom. Toddlers love trying to put on a show, so we usually stay home and read books and play music the entire time we are sleeping. We find that making music can be made to sound more like a dance than a song, since the notes will be inaudible when the horn rings again.
We love making new music ideas for kids’s room music class. We take great pride in our creations and often show our kids the videos we make or the music we make.
