Activities for 1-Year-Olds (#1)
I bought a pack of cards with activites to do with one-year-olds. Strangely enough that MA in Medieval Studies has not transferred all that well to motherhood. I’ve tried telling the kids stories of early insular saints, but they seem uninterested. And the Latin lesson was a total bust. What I need now is some early childhood education skills. Thus, the purchase. And, since I’ve noticed that a stockpile of “cheap things to do to keep toddlers entertained” is not a prerequisite for motherhood, I’m sharing. With visuals.
Squishy
Put ketchup in a ziplock sandwich bag, pushing out any extra air. Double bag it unless the risk of ketchup everywhere gives you a thrill. Give to children, showing them how they can squish the ketchup around.
Verdict: Totally uninterested.
Stumble it!
Donate to the Zoë and Lennox Simpson Memorial Fund
and the 529 college savings accounts get a kickback.
August 3rd, 2007 11:43
That looks like something my son would do. LOL Love that giant caterpiller though!
Something we like (that I read somewhere) is to fill up the highchair tray with some water. It only holds like an inch or so. I give him some measuring spoons and he happily splashes away for awhile.
August 3rd, 2007 11:54
OOooo. I like that idea. I think I’ll try that.
August 3rd, 2007 12:37
They may be still too young, but wooden puzzles by Melissa and Doug are great. They have all different types, some with latches over the pieces, etc. Also, washable finger paints and crayons are great, but that maybe a few months away yet. I would recommend putting them in their highchairs for the painting and/or coloring. Then you won’t be chasing them around the house as they paint/color walls, furniture, the cat, etc. Oh, bubbles… M loved bubbles.
August 3rd, 2007 13:09
Great idea to share such activities. Not sure the right age for this, but my mothe said sometimes she would put us in the bathtub (without water) and spray a whole bottle of shaving cream in it for us to play with.
BTW, a PhD in Developmental Psychology also does not transfer so well to motherhood.
August 3rd, 2007 13:46
Aw, c’mon, Stacie — everyone knows you should start kids off with Homeric Greek instead!
An MS in Computer Science is just as useless, but we do tend to have good “toys” around, like keyboards and cables.
August 3rd, 2007 15:54
You can mix food coloring with the shaving cream, too. We do this outside on an old shower curtain, they finger paint it, we hose it down and start over.
Ketchup, pudding etc, usually go over well just squirted on the high chair tray to smoosh around.
Brown paper bags. just to crinkle and rip.
Sand box. I would lose my sanity without ours. They will eat it at first, but usually get over that quickly.
If I think of anything else that has worked for us over the years, I’ll let you know.
August 3rd, 2007 16:17
Oh, yes, the sandbox.. Great one! M. loves to dig!
August 3rd, 2007 18:58
Does the caterpillar come with the cards?
My graduate education in teaching ESL is coming in handy, if only from keeping me from worrying about their language skills and having a clue what to expect over the next few years. In terms of entertaining them, though, all they need is a bunch of blocks and my mouth to shove them into. It’s an acquired taste.
August 3rd, 2007 19:55
Wires. Give them wires.
August 3rd, 2007 21:56
The water in the high chair tray thing was a HUGE hit. Brian was less than thrilled as they splashed water everywhere, but they were so delighted. Giggles, huge grins. These kids love water.
August 3rd, 2007 23:53
We do the shaving cream thing, too, except on a black garbage bag taped to the kitchen table.
If we’re outside I give my two year old my biggest rubbermaid container with water in it, and a bunch of smaller containers, measuring cups, spoons, etc. and he’ll pour and mix forever. Also works well with rice and dried beans indoors. Umm, what else? When he was younger I would give him a container filled with his smaller toys (balls, cell phones, blocks) and he would spend an hour taking them out and putting them back in. I’ll stop now, but if you want more, just shoot me an email, I’ll be glad to help!
August 5th, 2007 16:45
bwhahahahahaha - don’t you just love it when they prove everyone wrong and totally don’t LOVE that new thing/activity/process??
I can’t believe how big they’re all getting, oh how time has flown *sigh*
A
August 5th, 2007 17:08
Two things. I like how YouTube has as a suggested related video, “toddler identifies European country flags”. Yep - twins not interested in ketchup on the one hand, toddler showing advanced geography skills on the other. I see the connection.
Also, my not-so-inner pedant is happy to see you saying “uninterested” instead of “disinterested”. It’s a really stupid pet peeve to have, I know. But I read your entry and let out a little squeak of joy.
As for games for one-year-olds - gah. I can’t remember back that far with my daughter, and can’t project that far with my boys. I have a feeling that once she was walking, her toy watering can was a big hit, but that may be 18 months-ish.