Activities for 12month old

[Stillhoping1990]

Hello!

I’m a stay at home mum with 12 month old twins. I feel we need more activities to do at home rather than just play with toys - but I also feel this is such an awkward age and activities are quite limited. Can anyone recommend anything we can try? I’d love to try some arts and crafts type activities but not sure if it’s safe at this age as everything goes in their mouth! Also maybe play-doh?
What are babies doing in nursery at this age?

Totally safe, crayons, paint sticks, watercolours. Most things are non-toxic.

Everything will be a complete mess but it is great for them! Don't try and do anything structured as it will be a disappointment (for you)!

Also maybe some pikler style equipment if you have the space?

I would say if not too cold or wet (I know it’s difficult this time of year) but to get them outside, to the park, the woods, that sort of thing. Fresh air does all the things you can’t do inside the house. You could see if they’re into messy play, or make it edible if you’re worried about things going in mouths. Giving them little tasks if they enjoy imitating you, ‘cleaning’, ‘cooking’.

They will have very little attention span so setting up various stations that they can come and go to. They are far too young for a sustained activity and attention is roughly their age in minutes + 3 minutes.

We were lucky enough to have lots of surestart centre around when DD was younger so got lots of good ideas.

Treasure basket of everyday objects

Busy board with switches to flick, door springs to twang

Big hitters were toys frozen in blocks of ice.

Salt dough rather than play DOH as it doesn't matter if they eat it but it's so salty they probably won't.

Indoor sand pit but use rice or couscous and you can set up funnels etc or hide toys.

Cooked pasta + food colouring

Gloop - corn starch and water.

You want to look at Play Schemas depending on which schema they are on depends on what they will enjoy doing most.

We go to groups everyday.

Some can more than others but ones ran by volunteers/church groups are usually donation/couple of quid max. We go to two groups that are ‘messy’ play - playing with coloured spaghetti/shaving foam/paint which I feel ticks off DD need to be creative/sensory play but without me having to organise/clear up.

It gets much easier once they learn to walk confidently. We’ve spent ages ‘playing’ in the garden this morning. I was tidying up the boarders whilst DD played beside me.

Why not try finger painting? Pop bibs on them (maybe the bibado style ones that cover their whole arms and torso etc) and put the paper and paint on their high chairs and just let them have fun. Get some paint brushes and the most often you do it the more they’ll get used to holding brushes. Will be messy but it’s also great for them!
Same with pens / crayons.
We have a little bag of musical instruments that babies this age enjoy. You can set up the instruments and show them how you can play them loudly and quietly. Make it almost like a mini musical class.
Other things to do indoors are take the cushions off the sofa and let them climb on them.
Play music and have a little dance party. Also good to use the instruments for this too.
Get them a mini toy hoover and brush etc so they can pretend to clean with you whilst you clean. Get them to help you with laundry. Ask them to put clothes into the basket. My son loves putting things in boxes so it keeps him entertained.

The suggestion of going out to playgroups is good too. If it’s a bit wet I like to go somewhere like a plantation / Glen / forest and letting them splash in puddles if they’re confidently walking.

If you have Instagram - The Busy Toddler is fab for this stuff! So many very simple ideas that keep kids occupied for SO LONG.

Hello!
I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your ideas and tips!
so far we tried playdough - I made my own and made it extra salty so they wouldn’t eat it! But they weren’t too fussed about it. We tried crayons and paints - they put it all in their mouth! So maybe I will wait a bit longer for that. I found messy play with noodles and playing with rice was great! Also water play. Unfortunately play groups are all on during nap time! I think once they’re walking, we’ll have so much more to do!

Definitely second treasure baskets... Kept my daughter occupied much longer than any toy! They can be themed or just general. Here's a nice article with lots of ideas and I've attached a photo of my first one... She played with that loofah for ages! And another favourite was a set of wooden coasters from a charity shop - she loved exploring them, banging them together etc etc www.howweplayandlearn.com/post/treasure-baskets

Hi there! I totally get where you’re coming from—12 months is such a tricky but exciting age! Sensory play is a great option at this stage since it engages their curiosity while being safe for mouthing. You can try edible playdough (made from flour, yogurt, or mashed banana), water play with cups and sponges, or simple finger painting using yogurt mixed with a bit of food coloring.
Nurseries often focus on sensory exploration, music, and simple cause-and-effect activities like dropping objects into containers. If you're looking for more inspiration, I recently came across a great resource on this Sensory Activity Board, which features expert reviews on interactive and educational toys designed to boost development and creativity for little ones. Might be helpful! 😊
What have your twins been most interested in lately?