Free or cheap play ideas for 1 year old

[Sparklesandglitter]

Hi, I am after some ideas for things to do with dd, 1 year old that are free or very cheap for over the summer holidays. I am going to get her some crayons today but I am stuck for ideas that don't involve spending money both inside and away from home
TIA

A few pans (or cake tins) and a wooden spoon to bang them with (and ear plugs for you!)

Do you have a garden? Bug hunt together!

Anywhere nearby with ducks? feed them!

Where are you located?

No garden, it's more things we can do together. Shes happy playing with all her toys but I feel like I'm not interacting (probably projecting my own insecurities on to her! LOL) I'm in the north west

Park

Threading pasta shapes onto thread/string/ribbon. You could paint them first.

Beanbags are good for lots of games, inside and out: throw them into a box; knock things down with them; throwing and catching.

Mine would also play with pegs for hours...do need to watch for pegged fingers though..

Things like helping with the washing, loading and switching machine on, shaking washing when out, even if not walking can do from sitting!

A basin, plastic cups and bottle with water are good for a while too: maybe best done in park though if you have no garden

Swimming? Lots of places have free or cheap holiday sessions round here, or fun sessions for small children.

Thanks, some good ideas there! What about crafty/paint things is she too little still?

We take DD (3) to the garden centre where there are lots of aquariums which she loves, its free and I don't feel guilty for not spending money. We've been going since she was a baby.

With my 11 month old, I sometimes put his baby bath on the sitting room floor, on top of a plastic mat, with just a couple of inches of water in and let him reach his hands in to splash around.

We also go to the garden centre to look at the fish and budgies. The library is great as a change of scene too. Putting on lively music for us to dance and sing too is also fab.

I give my DS who is 14 months old a few bowls and pots, a spoon and a water bottle that allows water to drip out very slowly. He loves dripping the water from one bowls to another and pouring it into the pots. Can keep him occupied for a full 20 minutes which is a record for us!

Make GLOOP - using cornflour and water - kids LOVE the texture!

Cardboard boxes. With a little imagination you can make some great playthings. We made a farm ( you can buy bags of animals for next to nothin), a kitchen , four rings on top and a cut out doorway, an airplane, a car. A bag of playsand in a washing up bowl .

Swimming

Swimming
Salt dough making and painting
Finger painting
Filling a paddling pool with balls (ball pit)
Soft play
Park
Museums (science museum, natural history etc)
Library
Rhyme time activities
Playgroups