Fun things to do with a non-walking 1-year-old

[HairyToe]

I'm used to entertaining DD1 who is nearly four and most of the time can come up with some activity to amuse her which I can enjoy as well (or at least which won't drive me insane with boredom).

Now experiencing the joy of a 1-year-old DD2 who despite cruising for what feels like an eternity is still not walking. She is (it goe without saying) adorable and obviously I love her to death but I keep running out of ideas when it comes to entertaining her.

She can't quite manage pretty much everything (if you know what I mean - jigsaws, duplo, no idea about shape sorters) and there is only so much putting things into cups and taking them out again that I can manage in a day. Ditto enthusiastic peepo and other physical games - OK for half-an-hour tops, then what. I feel bad 'cos she seems to get quite grumpy and frustrated.

Can't propoerly remember this stage with DD1 and anyway she was walking by now so we could go out to the park and stuff and she'd toddle around for ages.

Any good ideas for fun with a 12 monther?

An open packet of baby wipes, an assortment of containers, and leave her to it!

get all your pans out and give her a wooden spoon to bash them with.

Have you tried her with a push along walker? They can get from A to B without the long route around the furniture. I would never have thought of getting one, until my childminder said DS was getting around with her DD's at 10mths. He walked alone at 12 mths, but loved the independence. You do have to turn them around when they meet a dead end like the wall or a door!!
Does she like a story read to her, or action rhymes and songs for her to try and imitate? Ones which involve clapping work well with this age. Or what about a nursery ball to push to and fro between you. And in the garden on a warm day dare I suggest finger painting under direct supervision, lovely hand print pictures? Have a bath afterwards to get clean and play with water toys.

have you seen the Heuristic Play thread?
sounds like you need a wnaky basket...

Bath toys squeezy bottles maybe you can take her swimming. Or if you don't want to pay to go swimming, get a paddling pool. (Ok not with the horrid weather we got today.

Why can't you take a child who isn't walking to the park. My son couldn't walk at 12 months, but loved the swing and could go down the slide if someone helped him.

Hi everyone Thanks for all your replies. Sorry for the delay in getting back on here.

I've re-read my post from Tuesday and i sound like a right moaning minny - I think I was having a bad day. To be honest I do most of the things mentioned here - its just sometimes she seems so bored and grumpy. Its probably just frustration from trying to walk. I'm feeling a bit more positive now and the last couple of days have been much better.

I have read about wnaky baskets before on here but have not got organised enough to put one together. I'll have a look at that thread and get a bit more motivated.

Go to a cafe with a friend and eat cake and drink tea?

Am being v. naughty but it seems you got lots of good suggestions.

By the way I do take her to the park (with her big sister). Its just that there's only so much swinging and sliding we can do before I end up giving in and letting her crawl on the floor (did i mention she's huge-98th percentile - my arms just can't hold her for that long!). Once she's at ground level she's got an uncanny knack for finding every piece of unsavoury cr*p on the floor and getting it into her mouth.

I'm hoping once she's up on her feet this will be less of a problem!

Make BIG bowl of jelly and let her get stuck in or noodles, they love squidging it through their little fingers and it doesn't matter if she eats it. Of course, best done outside in a nappy!!!! Your older dd will probably join in too!

I have exactly the same problem with my 12mth old dd, she;s not quite walking yet either and gets so easily frustrated being in the house! I make sure I go out every morning and afternoon even if its just to the cornershop or my nan's house

I also bought her a couple of cars and she pushes them up and down the house for ages saying 'brum brum'! so cute!!
she also seems to play for longer if i put some of hers toys/tubs/pans etc on a little coffee table and she can stand up and play at it.

Thinking about giving her a bowl of water and toys/funnels etc to play with but keep putting it off (scared of the mess!)

llyynnn it's only water....she'll LOVE it!!!