Do you know one-year-olds that want to do everything by themself?
Do these young children also love to mimic whatever you’re doing?
Montessori is ideal for this child! There are a lot of options for Montessori toys for a 1-year-old. Like many parents, you might assume that Montessori activities are too involved for one-year-old children. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth! There are loads of Montessori-inspired activities for one-year-olds.
Montessori revolves around three things: hands-on learning, self-directed learning, and developing key life skills such as independence, self-esteem, and concentration.
While the typical one-year-old isn’t ready to play collaboratively, there are lots of hands-on learning and self-directed activities that they are developmentally ready to tackle. In other words, a one-year-old is beyond baby play!
This fact is great news for a stay home mom and dad. Plus, baby activities don’t have to be…well, babyish! To give you an idea, we’ve compiled a brief list of examples that are suitable for kids between the ages of 12 and 24 months.
One Year Old Milestones
According to the CDC, observing your child’s movements, speech, play, and learning is critical to understanding his development. If you’re concerned or curious about a child’s development, the CDC offers a free milestone tracker app and printable checklist.
Briefly, however, the CDC offers this list of developmentally appropriate milestones for a one-year-old child:
Social and Emotional
- Is shy or nervous with strangers
- Cries when mom or dad leaves
- Has favorite things and people
- Shows fear in some situations
- Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
- Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
- Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
- Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”
Language/Communication
- Responds to simple spoken requests
- Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
- Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)
- Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
- Tries to say words you say
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
- Finds hidden things easily
- Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
- Copies gestures
- Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair
- The child bangs two things together
- Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
- Lets things go without help
- Pokes with index (pointer) finger
- Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy”
Movement/Physical Development
- Gets to a sitting position without help
- Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”)
- May take a few steps without holding on
- May stand alone
5 Easy Montessori Activities for a One-Year-Old
Banana Peeling
This tasty activity is easy for parents to prepare and lends right into practical life. It doubles as a snacking opportunity too, so you can take care of two birds with one stone.
Cut an unpeeled banana into thick slices. They will resemble thick disks. Carefully slice along one side of each to make a “starting place” for your little one to grab onto, and then demonstrate to them how to lift and pull the peel off of the banana slice.
Most one-year-olds are able to handle this well, and they love the payoff: a delicious slice of banana! I love this banana slicer from Montessori Services!
Threading with Large Beads, a Strainer, or a Can
This activity is great for developing hand-to-eye coordination in toddlers. Clean out an old coffee can or any container with a thin, plastic lid that snaps on securely.
Poke small holes around the lid, and get some thin, colorful sticks to push through the holes. Make sure that the sticks are long, so that they can’t be swallowed by your tot.
Instruct your child to put all of the sticks in the container by pushing them through the holes. If they appear to struggle, consider making the holes a little bigger.
More Activities for 12-Month-Olds
Pointing and Naming
Because it can be done just about anywhere, this activity is very useful in a number of situations. As you’ve probably surmised, it simply involves pointing to objects and asking your child to name them.
You can do this with actual children’s picture books, or you can simply point out objects when you’re out and about with your kid. As your child gets older, you can also create a photo album with photos of friends and loved ones and have them name each one as you point to them.
Loading & Unload Clothes
Get a little help on laundry day by including your toddler. Place the dirty clothes hamper by the washing machine, and show your little one how to place clothes inside. Most kids get a kick out of it, and you get a little assistance too!
Food preparation is a fantastic activity for even the youngest child!
Peeling Stickers
Stock up on poster boards, pieces of paper, cardboard boxes, and packs of stickers. Let your toddler decorate the poster board with dots as they see fit. Demonstrate how to peel stickers and intervene when you need to. Stickers are an excellent way to help develop fine motor skills.
Infant & Toddler Montessori Resources
- Montessori Services has loads of infant & toddler Montessori items
- AMS Suggested Infant & Toddler Materials
- Amazon has endless ideas for Montessori toddler & infant activities
- Montessori in the Home for Infants and Toddlers
- Montessori Toys for Babies & Toddlers: 7+ Ideas for You
- The Ultimate Infant & Toddler Montessori Toys Guide
- My Top Infant and Toddler Montessori Materials
- Montessori Infant & Toddler Activities
As you can see, there are all kinds of ways to introduce your one-year-old to Montessori activities. By starting your child on them early in life, they will get that much more out of their Montessori learning experiences.
The greatest part about the Montessori lifestyle is how many activity variations and extensions exist! Use your imagination and follow your child’s lead. A little observation can go a long way.
Check out this post if you are looking for activities for toddlers!
Best,
Marnie