what do you do with your 1 year old?

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I have just one baby, 12 months and am just a bit stumped for fun stuff that we can do together. I work part time - 3 days. So far, we go to baby rhyme time which he loves, then we have a big session at the swings once a week and I try to go swimming with him once a week, but truth is i am embarrassed to be seen in my swimsuit so I usually find a way to put it off. He goes to a childminder and they just play with toys and bang stuff which he also loves.

Does anyone have regular fun activities? I cannot afford alot of structured things really (caterpillar music and the like), but I have no experience with children and feel a bit lacking in inspiration!

Ideas gratefully received!

Free playgroup at a local bookshop, softplay, park, lake (first time yesterday- there is a shallow sandy bit for paddling), duck feeding (big hit) sandpit, garden time.

TBH anything that results in laughter is good, basin of water to splash hands in add some bubbles, clap hands resulting in foam everywhere ( best done in garden/ tiled floor) is something DS loves.

Mine's older, nearly two. I think she was harder to entertain around the age of one, if I recall. Attention span so short! We did a playgrouo once a week and I always met up with a friend and similar aged baby once or twice. Even if the DC ignore each other you feel better with the adult company. One of these friends is a someone I met at a sure start group and bravely (for me!) asked round for coffee. She was really pleased and we've become close friends. For Christmas, DD was given some money which we use to buy a season ticket to a local petting farm, so we go there at least once a week as it's effectively free.

Oh! Basin of soapy water to play in in the kitchen. That sounds fun! He loves playing in his bath, that might be a good one.

Thanks. :)

petting farm idea sounds fantastic. I would love that too! (off to google local petting farms).

Thanks! I would honestly never have thought of things like this, thank you very much.

If you like the idea of soapy water, then there are all manner of fun things to make a fine mess with. Bowl of flour (hoovers up fine!), flour and water (needs cleaning up straight after!), jelly, paper shreddings. DD had a playpen up at that age that was used as a ball pit (2 bags of balls from freecycle). We took it down as she needed the space but now asks for them in her paddling pool sometimes. If you have a garden, sandpit, paddling pool, bucket of soil all fun. We also used to spend hours climbing up and down the stairs if nothing else to do!

Your welcome, whisk or sieve to make lots of bubbles.

We just bought this www.elc.co.uk/Sand-and-Water-Table/122808,default,pd.html for my 1 year old and he absolutely loves it!
Keeps him busy so I can have a cup of tea and watch him enjoying himself!

That looks great vez thanks! We played with a basin and soapy water yesterday and he thought it was the best thing ever. I think too it is changing my mindset- not neccessarily doing structured things, but having fun. Today will be swings and extended story time. We have a petting zoo near us so am thinking of asking a local mum I do not know too well if she wants to go there with us. I feel guilty because on my days off I have so much housework to do and never seem to get around to just playing.

I have printed out a bunch of these ideas and have it on the fridge... hoping to keep things fun and fresh.

thank you all again.

Following on from the soapy water thing, if you have a patio/path outside, my friend gives her 2 yr old thick paintbrushes and she loves doing outdoor water painting.

Collecting leaves, pebbles etc on walks or in your garden is quite a nice idea - a scavenger hunt Examples of things for your LO to hunt for: a blade of grass, a brown leaf, a green leaf, a twig, a daisy, a pebble, etc.

A simpler alternative is to have your LO fill their basket with as much of one kind of item as they can find (it's a good idea to choose something that isn't going to create damage to your garden - stones or fallen twigs might be appropriate items). Maybe the odd worm!!!! And of course you'll need to do most of it!

Or you can hide a few toys in the garden for LO to find. Our 9 MO already likes to find her teddy perched amongst the branches of one of the shrubs in the garden - she's not crawling yet so we have to carry her and see if she can spot him!

Hide and seek sounds good. DS has a very favourite toy, it has a rattle inside and if I hide it behind my back and shake he cannot contain himself! He likes crawl chasey too, but sometimes gets so excited he vomits.