How to Play With a 1-Year-Old

One-year-old babies are delightful. They have many abilities and a delight for life, making them enjoyable to watch. At a year old, babies are just discovering play time, and there are many fun games you can play that will be both entertaining and educational for the child's development. Only play with the baby when he is happy and content and do not try to play a game in which the baby is not interested at the time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Give your baby a variety of toys with which to play. Make sure the toys are age-appropriate and at least the size of your baby's fist. Small toys are a choking hazard and should not be given to babies. Large balls, puzzles, shape sorting, noise makers and blocks are all excellent toys for one-year-olds. Learning toys with music and the alphabet can also be fun.

    • 2

      Create a specific play time for each day. A one-year-old thrives on a regulated schedule and will soon learn what time of day is play time. Try playing with your baby when she is happy and not hungry for best results.

    • 3

      Make games slightly challenging for the baby. Keep toys just out of reach so the baby has to get up and grab them. Show the baby how to use certain toys, such as by showing her what holes to place a piece in or how to stack blocks. Babies learn by example more than any other way.

    • 4

      Play finger games with the baby, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" and any other fun rhyming finger games. Babies love to mimic and sing and will have a lot of fun copying you and playing along with the songs.

    • 5

      Try playing hide and seek with your one-year-old. Tell the baby to go hide, and then try and find him. After he understands the concept of being found, reverse rolls and have him find you. Act really surprised when the baby finds you. This will entertain the baby and result in lots of laughs and giggles.

    • 6

      Practice walking with a young baby. Grab her hands and lead her around the room. You can also help her push a chair across a smooth floor for balance practice.

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