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Activities for 1-Year-Olds: 5 Screen-Free Play Ideas at Home

Activities for 1-year-olds are at their best when they are simple, repeatable and shared with you. At this age, a familiar face, a toy that vanishes under a cloth or a block dropped into a basket is plenty to explore, and your child may want to repeat the same action twenty times. The five ideas below are screen-free and use things you already have, with materials, steps and ways to adjust them as your child becomes more confident, plus advice on keeping everything safe for a mouthing, crawling or newly walking toddler.

Weebou Editorial Team7 min read
A toddler sitting on the ground and smiling with a toy car behind her
Ordinary days. Lovely moments.
In this article
START SMALL. SEE WHERE IT GOES.

A little preparation

Choose a safe, clear floor space and put away anything small enough to swallow. A good rule of thumb is that an object should not fit inside a toilet roll tube, and nothing with button batteries or loose parts should be within reach. Use large, sturdy items such as wooden blocks, soft toys and a board book, and sit on the floor at your child's level, close enough to touch but not so close that you crowd them.

Offer one simple action, say a few words about it and then pause. Your child might watch first, copy you or invent a completely different game, and all of these are good responses. Sessions can be as short as two minutes and often end suddenly when your child crawls away; that is a natural stopping point. Keep cloths away from faces and never leave a baby alone with a basket, a bag or a cord. If you have questions about your child's development, speak to your health visitor or doctor.

What to know and try

Put in, take out

Dropping things into a container and tipping them out is one of the most absorbing games at this age. It teaches your child that objects can be inside and outside something, and that actions have effects. The tipping-out is often the main attraction, and there is no need to stop it.

You’ll need

  • A wide, stable basket or a large plastic tub
  • 3 to 5 large wooden blocks or soft balls
  • A towel or mat underneath

How to do it

  1. Sit on the floor with the basket between you and place one block inside.
  2. Say 'in' as you drop it and wait to see if your child watches or reaches.
  3. Offer a block and let your child choose what to do with it.
  4. Describe the action with one or two words: 'in', 'out', 'bang'.
  5. When your child tips the basket, say 'all gone' and let them do it again.
  6. Stop when they lose interest and leave the basket within reach.
A shallow woven basket holding three large wooden blocks on a soft rug, with a few blocks spilled beside it
Illustrated example of the finished activity. Your child’s version can look different.

Make it your own: For younger or less steady children, use a larger, lower tub. For older toddlers, add a second container so they can move things between the two.

Find a partly hidden friend

Hiding a toy under a cloth teaches that things still exist when they are out of sight, and a half-hidden toy is easier to find than a fully hidden one. Your child decides whether to pull the cloth and enjoys the moment when the friend reappears.

You’ll need

  • A soft toy with a clear face
  • A thin, light cloth or muslin square
  • A cushion to sit on

How to do it

  1. Show the toy and say its name.
  2. Place the cloth over the lower half of the toy while your child watches.
  3. Pause and say 'where is teddy?' in a gentle, curious voice.
  4. Let your child pull the cloth away, or lift it a little to help.
  5. Greet the toy with a smile and say 'there you are!'
  6. Cover the toy a little more each time if your child is ready.
A soft toy rabbit with its ears and face visible under a light cream cloth on a cushion
Illustrated example of the finished activity. Your child’s version can look different.

Make it your own: Start with the toy mostly visible. For older toddlers, hide the toy under one of two cloths and see where they look.

Take turns with a sound

Copying a sound or gesture your child makes shows that you are listening and starts the back-and-forth rhythm of conversation. The exchange matters more than getting a particular word, and your child may answer with a smile, a babble or a wave.

You’ll need

  • Your voice and hands
  • A wooden spoon and a plastic tub for a drum
  • A cushion or lap

How to do it

  1. Sit facing your child and listen for a sound they make, such as 'ba' or 'mmm'.
  2. Repeat it back softly and wait.
  3. If they answer, copy again, and if they do not, try a gentle clap.
  4. Offer the spoon and tub and tap once, then pause.
  5. Let your child tap in return, and copy their rhythm.
  6. Finish with a wave or a cuddle when they look away.
A small plastic tub turned upside down as a drum, with a wooden spoon resting on it on a soft rug
Illustrated example of the finished activity. Your child’s version can look different.

Make it your own: For quieter children, use a gentle clap or a smile instead of a sound. For older toddlers, add a new word or a simple song.

Explore one book slowly

At this age, a book is something to hold, point at and mouth as much as read. Naming a single picture and following your child's lead builds vocabulary without any pressure to finish the page, the book or the story.

You’ll need

  • A sturdy board book with large, clear pictures
  • A comfortable spot on your lap or a cushion
  • A soft toy to join in

How to do it

  1. Sit comfortably and let your child hold or touch the book.
  2. Point to a familiar picture, such as a dog, and say its name once.
  3. Wait for your child to point, pat or look at you.
  4. Follow the page they choose, even if they go back.
  5. Make the animal sound or action and let your child copy if they want.
  6. Close the book when attention drifts and leave it where they can find it.
A sturdy board book open at a page showing a large simple picture of a dog, resting on a soft blanket
Illustrated example of the finished activity. Your child’s version can look different.

Make it your own: For younger children, choose a book with one picture per page. For older toddlers, ask 'where is the dog?' and let them point.

A safe cupboard basket

Toddlers love real objects, and a basket of safe kitchen items offers new textures, sounds and weights. Choosing and handling a wooden spoon or a silicone cup is real investigation, and it keeps your child close while you get on with your day.

You’ll need

  • A low basket or box
  • A wooden spoon, a silicone cup and a small plastic colander
  • A clean washcloth and a plastic measuring cup
  • A mat to sit on

How to do it

  1. Check every item for sharp edges, small parts and splinters.
  2. Place three or four items in the basket and set it down within reach.
  3. Sit beside your child and let them pick what they want.
  4. Name the item and what it does: 'spoon, stir'.
  5. Show a simple action, such as stirring in the cup, and wait.
  6. Swap two items next time so the basket feels fresh.
A low basket holding a wooden spoon, a silicone cup and a folded washcloth on a play mat
Illustrated example of the finished activity. Your child’s version can look different.

Make it your own: For younger children, offer only two items. For older toddlers, add a small plastic bowl for pretend feeding.

Make it work for your family

Follow your toddler's cues and stop when they turn away, fuss or need a break. One action repeated many times is not a sign of boredom; it is how children at this age learn. Rotate toys every few days rather than putting everything out at once, so that familiar items feel new.

If you have concerns about skills your child has lost or is slow to develop, talk to their doctor or health visitor. For more ideas, see activities for 2-year-olds and infant activities. Weebou's learning games are designed for ages 2–6+, so these one-year-old ideas stay screen-free; later, the alphabet game can join your routine.

Parents also ask

What can a 1-year-old play with at home?

Large blocks, a basket, soft toys, a light cloth, a board book and safe kitchen items such as a wooden spoon all work well. Choose things too large to swallow and stay close, since toddlers often mouth and drop what they hold.

How long should a play session last for a 1-year-old?

Often just a few minutes, and that is fine. Toddlers repeat one action many times and then move on abruptly. Watch for turning away or fussing and end the game warmly, leaving the materials within reach.

Should a 1-year-old use screens?

These ideas are screen-free. Many health bodies advise limiting screen time for very young children, so check current guidance from your doctor or health visitor. Real-world play, talking and reading together offer lots of learning without a device.

Sources & further reading

Explore these primary sources for further context on this topic.

Choose materials and activities that suit your child, supervise as needed and adapt the ideas to their interests and abilities. About our editorial approach

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