Entertaining 1 year old

Activities for 1 Year Olds

Toddlers aren’t babies anymore, but they aren’t big kids yet either. Whether indoors or outdoors, crafts or educational games, here are fun activities for 1 year olds.

One-year-olds are in that “in between” stage, don’t you think?

They’re not babies anymore, especially as they grow more interested in being mobile and developing motor skills. Their ability to play is more advanced than an infant, plus they won’t exactly sit still for a long time.

But they’re also not at the “preschool” stage yet, either. They’re still limited with what they can do, especially on their own. They don’t follow instructions too well, much less create a final product or craft.

If you’re looking for activities for 1 year olds, you’ve come to the right place. In fact, take a look at what one parent had to say after gathering ideas from this article:

“Every time I have looked for activities for 1 year olds, the activities were too advanced for a one year old because they were geared towards 2 and 3 year olds. These activities are perfect for that ‘in between’ age! Thank you for putting this together! It’s reassuring to see that some of the stuff we have been doing is age appropriate and there are other ideas that can stem off of those.” -Jacqueline Corey

One year olds can’t focus for several hours, so these toddler activities are short. Think of them as bite-size activities to liven up your routine. I also suggest doing no more than one activity a day, and relying on your regular routine to fill the rest of the time.

These activities are for the entire range of 1 year olds, from 12 to 24 months. If you find your child isn’t ready for a particular activity yet, hold off for a time when she is and try a different one for now. And finally, I’ve divided these activities by category to make them easier to refer to.

Ready to start? Here we go:

Table of Contents

Playful activities for 1 year olds

Most interactions with toddlers will happen at home, the very place where boredom tends to fester (cabin fever, anyone?). But don’t worry—as you’ll see, all you need are a few inspirational ideas for playtime with your 1 year old right at home.

1. Play with a blanket

Sit your toddler down and have her grasp the ends of a blanket (a small one is fine). Then, sit in front of her and grasp the other end. Make waves with the blanket by moving it up and down.

This was a favorite activity with my kids. In fact, as they went through preschool and even elementary school, their teachers would do this with all the students in a game of “parachute.” They’d all grab an edge of an oversized piece of cloth and wave it up and down together.

Free printables: Grab your printable calendar of all these activities I’m sharing! Check them off as you go along, or use the blank template to add your own ideas. Join my newsletter and get it below—at no cost to you. So many parents love the printable calendar:

“We have done a few things from your list and I have checked them off of your calendar and added them to the blank calendar. I love your list because you give suggestions with objects and things that I had never thought of. We really appreciate you sharing your ideas—they are great!” -Elissa B.

“Thank you! I’m glad I came across your list. It is age appropriate, inexpensive and not messy. We really appreciate it.” -Sally S.

2. Play musical instruments

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.

Kids love playing with instruments, from xylophones to drums to maracas. Mine have played with both acoustic and battery-operated toys, and I much preferred the acoustic ones.

If you grab a set of instruments, you can even introduce one instrument a day or week, so your 1 year old can truly explore each one’s sounds and feel:

Wooden Musical Instruments for Kids

3. Sing nursery rhymes and have a dance party

Hold a dance party at home (plus develop those gross motor skills)! Crank up music you like and dance along with your little one. If she can’t stand yet, carry her in your arms as you dance to the music.

Bonus points for singing and dancing to nursery rhymes with movement! A few interactive songs include:

Where Is Thumbkin?
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Hokey Pokey
Wheels on the Bus
If You’re Happy and You Know It
I’m a Little Teapot
Pat-a-Cake

Check out these gross motor activities for 1 year olds.

4. Blow bubbles

Nothing delights 1 year olds more than popping bubbles. Stick to simple bottles of bubbles like this, or make plenty with a small bubble machine. A machine makes awesome bubbles for a long time (plus you don’t get tired from blowing bubbles).

5. Play with a ball

Playing with a ball is so versatile. Roll a ball back and forth to one another. Encourage your 1 year old to kick or throw the ball as well. And you can also play “basketball” and teach him to throw the ball into a set place, like into a laundry basket.

6. Play with a balloon

Like a ball, a balloon makes for fun play. If the balloon still has helium, attach a weight to the string so the balloon floats to your child’s head level. He’ll have a blast hitting the balloon and waiting for it to come right back.

If the balloon is deflated, cut the string off and have him toss it in the air and catch it. The air in the balloon makes for a slow fall—and an easier catch—for him.

7. Look at photos and paintings

You likely have walls and surfaces filled with picture frames and artwork. Carry or show your toddler the different images throughout your home. Explain who the people are in the pictures, or what the artwork is all about.

An alternative is to flip through albums (remember those?) and share old photos of loved ones. He’ll enjoy looking at people—familiar and new.

8. Play with blocks

I’m a fan of blocks since they’re easy to stack. Teach your child how to stack one block on top of the other. Build a tower and have him knock it down, or help him build something out of the blocks.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks

Take a look at these 1 year old lesson plans organized by theme.

9. Lay out a large piece of cardboard on the floor

Cardboard is going to be one of your child’s favorite toys. Simply dismantle a cardboard box for plenty of fun! One activity my kids enjoyed was to step and dance on it with their feet. I also encouraged them to draw on the cardboard with washable crayons like these.

And of course, you can always keep the box as-is for your 1 year old to crawl through for endless pretend play.

10. Play with household items

It doesn’t take much to keep kids entertained, especially if we teach them the value of simple play. Safe household items make for excellent playthings. Take any item nearby and see how you can turn it into a toy. For instance, these are some of the “toys” my kids loved playing with:

Rolling duct tape back and forth on the floor
Looping pipe cleaners in and out of an upside-down colander
Playing drums with wooden spoons

11. Read books

This is one of my favorite activity to do with kids! There were times I didn’t know what else to do with them that we’d sit and read until my voice got too tired. Scatter books throughout your home, and visit the library regularly for new selections.

Playful chores for 1 year olds

Yes, chores can be fun for your 1 year old! In fact, doing chores is not only one of the best habits you can instill now, they’re also an enjoyable activity for kids. Here are the best activities that are chores-related:

12. Water the plants

Fill a small cup, or get a child-friendly watering can, and show your child how to water plants. Stick to low, floor plants or those you can move for better access.

13. Wipe surfaces

Need to wipe the coffee table? Spray the surface, then hand your little one a rag he can use to wipe. I recommend eco-friendly products when you do this with him.

14. Put toys away

After playing with a set of toys with many parts (blocks, for instance), make a game of putting them away. You might count each piece as you put them away, or sort them by color. You and your toddler can also take turns tossing the pieces back in the box.

Get ideas for Montessori activities for 1-2 year olds.

Arts and crafts activities for 1 year olds

One year old arts and crafts focus more on introducing basic concepts than creating a final product. Finger painting, for example, is about experiencing the different textures of paint, not creating a picturesque image.

Check out a few ideas for fun and simple art activities, or take a look at this video:

15. Finger paint

Finger painting with a 1 year old is more about the experience of painting than producing a work of art. In fact, your child’s paper will likely be nothing more than a soaked sheet with layers of paint.

But that’s beside the point. Finger painting allows him to touch paint, learn what it is and what happens when you mix them together. He’s using his fingers, which is a perfect introduction to painting if he can’t grasp a paintbrush yet.

He’ll also experiment with putting it on a surface (and yes, sometimes on himself), and you’ll have a fantastic opportunity to discuss color.

I recommend getting washable finger paint like these. You don’t need a ton of colors right now, only a few to mix and experiment with. Get smocks to cover his body or keep him in his diapers and bathe him afterward to avoid a mess.

Here’s a photo a fellow parent sent of her one-year-old’s finger painting:

16. Paint with a sponge

Another way to paint without grasping a brush or using fingers is to paint with a sponge. You can talk about the different patterns a sponge can make and show him a few ways to apply it, such as dabbing or rubbing it straight down.

Get simple sponges without the brittle surface on the other side. You can also use scissors to cut these in half so he can hold them better.

17. Color on a large piece of paper

A fantastic way to develop fine motor skills and grasping a crayon is to encourage your child to color. Tape a large piece of paper onto a low table, such as a coffee table or an art table, and have her scribble colors all over.

Use washable crayons or pencils so you don’t have to worry about damaging any surfaces. I also designate a children’s table that adjusts to my kids’ height, which is a great option if you don’t want other surfaces in your home to get colored.

Get more ideas for arts and crafts for 1 year olds.

18. Draw with chalk

Chalk is another art supply that lends itself well to 1 year olds. Bigger chalk like these are easier to grasp, and they work well either on a chalkboard at home or on the sidewalk outside.

19. Make a collage

Gluing bits of material on a piece of paper is a fun activity for your child.

Let him lead the activity rather than trying to create something discernible. For instance, don’t insist on making clouds with cotton balls and tell him where to glue. Instead, let him decide where he wants to place the pieces.

You can use any type of bits to glue. Cut junk mail or old scraps of paper into small bits and have him practice gluing. Start with a glue stick, then work your way up to liquid glue. If he can’t squeeze the bottle, pour some onto a plate he can dip the bits into.

Here’s how one parent helped her toddler created a collage out of used gift wrapping paper:

20. Apply stickers

Stickers help your child develop the “pincer grasp,” that fine motor skill of using her thumb and pointer finger to pick things up. Lift the sticker first, then have her pull the rest off the sheet.

Finally, give her a paper or other surface to place the stickers on. You can re-use old pieces of paper or even create a “card” she can decorate and send to a loved one.

Sensory activities for 1 year olds

Everything is a sensory experience for kids, but certain activities lend themselves well to discovery. These ideas allow your child to play and learn about how things feel. Check out these sensory play activities for 1 year olds:

21. Play with dirt

I’m a big fan of letting kids play in real dirt. We would either head to the park or play with an empty pot of soil on the patio, where they loved digging and playing with trucks on the surfaces.

Encourage your toddler to get his hands dirty. Find an empty spot at a park or your garden with plenty of soil to dig and explore.

22. Pour water

One of the first activities my kids did at their Montessori preschool was learning to pour water. Recreate the activity at home, using a large, rimmed baking sheet to catch spills, a small bowl to pour water into, and a plastic measuring cup with a handle.

Fill the measuring cup with a little bit of water and show your child how to hold the handle and pour the water into the bowl. Once he’s finished, repeat for a fun exercise in pouring.

23. Squeeze water with a sponge

Besides painting, you can use a sponge for water play as well. Fill a bowl with water and allow your child to dip the sponge and squeeze the water out. You can also have him squeeze water out of the sponge into another container, just like you did with the water pouring activity.

24. Play with toys in a bucket of rice

There’s something thrilling about dipping your hand into a bucket of rice. Your child will love exploring the feel of rice, especially when he can play with toys at the same time.

Fill a large container or sensory bin with rice and place a few simple toys inside. Encourage him to find the toys or use it as a setting for pretend play.

Get more ideas for sensory activities for 1 year olds.

Out and about with a 1 year old

Finding activities for 1 year olds isn’t reserved for at home. In fact, I try to get out and about with my kids at least once a day so they’re not home all the time. Here are a few ideas you can do for getting out of the house:

25. Visit a kids play area

Depending on where you live, you might have a play area dedicated to young toddlers. Some are outright indoor playgrounds, while others are play rooms with pretend furniture and props.

I’ve gone to restaurants with impressive play areas as well (and not fast food, either!). Many malls also include a children’s play area. Regardless of where you go, get there when it opens so you have more chances to have the place to yourself and avoid the crowds.

If you’re in Los Angeles, a few to check out are:

Peekaboo Playland
Samo’s Clubhouse in Santa Monica Place
The Great Room Café
Under the Sea

Check out these rainy day activities for 1 year olds.

26. Have a picnic at the park

One of the best outdoor activities is to pack your toddler’s meal and take it to the park! Bring a picnic blanket where you can both sit and enjoy a meal outdoors. Pick a spot under a tree so he can lie down, watch the leaves move, and relax in the shade.

Take a look at these outdoor activities for 18 month old toddlers.

27. Go on a nature stroll

Walking through nature is one of my favorite activities, and it doesn’t have to be strenuous! Local spots can include a favorite trail, a botanical garden, or wetlands near your place.

You don’t have to go far, either. Base your outing more on time spent outdoors than actually trying to get through the whole place, even if it means staying near the entrance.

For instance, rather than trying to get through your entire hike, walk for 15 minutes in one direction, then another 15 minutes back.

A favorite pastime, especially with my eldest, was walking around the neighborhood. We’d explore everything, from leaves on the ground to sprinklers on the sidewalk. I went at his pace, starting with one block at first until we were able to explore most of our area.

Get more ideas about outdoor things to do with a 1 year old.

28. Go to a children’s museum

Many cities have a children’s museum that offers hands-on discovery. I like those that cater to kids of all ages. Several include a “tot room” for little ones without the ambush of the big kids.

You can go to a “regular” museum as well. Toddlers will be happy walking around and exploring a new place.

29. Attend kid-friendly concerts

There’s something about watching people play live music right in front of you. Kid-friendly concerts don’t have to be an extravagant outing. Many farmers’ markets include live music from a band, and your city might offer concerts in the summer.

Learn the things to teach a 1 year old.

30. Go on a children’s train ride

Kids love riding trains, no matter where they are or what the view offers. We’ve gone on train rides at farmers’ markets or at the pumpkin patch. I’ve also put them on kids-only train rides at the mall or a kids play area.

31. Go for a swim

Warm weather calls for a dip in the pool! Introduce the pool to your toddler early on so he feels comfortable swimming with you.

Remember to practice pool safety, including always being within arm’s reach and keeping an eye on him at all times. (That includes whether he’s in or out of the water.)

Take a look at these children’s books about swimming.

Conclusion

As easily entertained as toddlers can be, it’s amazing how challenging it can be to find activities for 1 year olds every day. But as you can see, you can do many of these activities in a few minutes in the comfort of your home, as well as plan for exciting ones on big days.

One year olds aren’t babies we can carry around in a wrap anymore, but they’re still small without the skills a preschooler may have.

These activities cater to that “in between” stage. You’ll introduce your child to new concepts and environments while relishing in his ability to find joy in simple activities. Yup, even if it’s singing Hokey Pokey and coloring on cardboard.

Get more tips:

Rainy Day Activities for 1 Year Olds
Need Outdoor Activities to Do with Your 1 Year Old? Start Here.
What to Do When You’re Seeing 1 Year Old Tantrums Already
Fun Places to Take a 1 Year Old
Art Supplies for 1 Year Olds They’ll Actually Use

Don’t forget: Join my newsletter and grab your printable calendar:

25 Fun and Engaging Activities for 1-Year-Olds

Share on PinterestJayme Burrows/Stocksy United

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If you have a 1-year-old, chances are you already know it’s an exhilarating age. From learning to walk and talk to dancing, giggling, and playing with toys, your little one has come a long way — and for good reason. Babies make huge developmental leaps during their first year.

But how do you keep your newfound toddler engaged and entertained? The good news is you don’t need fancy toys, devices, or games.

Here are 25 fun-filled activities to help your love bug conceive, create, and learn.

Create a sensory station

From the moment children are born, they use their five senses to learn about the world. Why? Our senses help us make sense of things in varying ways.

Creating a sensory basket, or sensory station, will give your child the opportunity to explore new objects in a safe and creative way. And bonus: Sensory play supports cognitive development and the development of fine motor skills.

You can fill a bin with rice, blocks, pasta, fabric, water, or dish soap bubbles and drop in toys or other items. Provide cups or scoops. Allow your little one to explore, digging through the materials and discovering items. An important note: Always supervise during these activities and don’t provide any items that could pose a choking hazard.

Build a busy board

From zippers and latches to snaps, buckles, and knobs, busy boards are a great way to encourage exploration, creativity, and promote muscle dexterity. Not sure where to start? Check out this beautiful board by Something Turquoise.

Count on fingers and toes

Toddlers love to count things, so show your little one how to count by touching each of their fingers and toes as you recite the numbers.

Write in sand or rice

Looking for a creative way to engage your 12-month-old? Try filling a shallow container with rice or sand and letting your little one draw in it. The feel of each material is extremely appealing and will allow your child to learn, grow, and explore.

You can also try this with yogurt or food purées if your little one insists on putting everything into their mouth.

Play with blocks

From brand-name plastic bricks to simple wooden stacking blocks and other construction-based toys, block building can help your child develop their fine motor skills and enhance their hand-eye coordination.

Shop toddler-friendly blocks online.

Sort toys by color

There are countless color-matching toys on the market — and for good reason. Color matching helps children develop their cognitive skills. Grab your favorite color-matching game or toy or make your own, using construction paper, paint, pom-poms, and/or popsicle sticks.

Complete puzzles

Puzzles, particularly baby and toddler puzzles, appear deceptively simple. After all, most contain only a few, large, chunky pieces. However, completing puzzles with your little one will help improve their motor and cognitive reasoning skills. It will also help them understand the concept of a whole and parts.

Shop toddler-friendly puzzles online.

Make a discovery basket

Much like a sensory bin, station, or basket, a discovery basket will give your child the chance to explore unique objects and items. Simply fill a basket with child-safe things you have around the house. Your child can then explore and experiment to better understand the contents.

What to include? Consider a basket of kitchen tools — from dish towels and spoons to colanders and plastic lids. Or, create a musical basket with items that rattle, bang, and clang. You can even theme by color, collecting various red, blue, green, or even rainbow-colored items.

Stack ’em up

From blocks and rings to Tupperware and cups, stacking toys is a great way to help your child develop dexterity and grasp the concept of “big” and “little.”

Shop stacking toys online.

Have your child fetch objects

Asking your child to collect objects around the house isn’t just helpful, fetching objects — like a bottle, cup, or ball — will help your little one learn to listen and follow directions. It will also foster independence and an overall sense of pride.

Make music

Children love music — and for good reason. Music can be light and lively or super soothing, and kids feel this. They sing. They dance. Music helps children, young and old, sleep and relax. It can also help them develop socially, emotionally, and linguistically.

So play music. Make music, and find creative ways to incorporate both song and dance into their daily lives. Whether this means a dinner playlist or dance parties during bath time is up to you.

Shop toddler-friendly musical instruments online.

Play house

From building forts with cardboard boxes to caring for dolls or pretending to grocery shop, playing house is a great way to expand your child’s imagination and foster creativity.

Go ‘fishing’

Fishing games are relatively common — from board games to bathtub toys. So catch your child’s interest with a pretend fishing set and watch them improve their motor skills as they have fun playing.

Shop fishing games online.

Make a DIY ball pit

Babies love ball pits, but most parents don’t. Public pits tend to be dirty and unclean. However, you can make your own ball pit with plastic balls and a playard or plastic pool. Cheap and easy entertainment!

Shop ball pits online.

Build a fort

Whether you’re 12 months old or 12 years old, forts are fun. Drape some blankets over your furniture, hang sheets from the ceiling, or set up pillows or cardboard boxes for a cool, creative playspace.

Play with puppets

From finger and hand puppets to sock puppets, puppet play will encourage creativity and help foster your child’s social and emotional development. No strings attached!

Shop puppets online.

Create a tunnel maze

Children love tunnels. After all, there’s something about crawling into — and out of — a tube that’s very appealing. Making a tunnel maze will encourage exercise and help your child use cognitive reasoning skills. And bonus: If you opt to DIY it will give you something to do with all of those oversized diaper boxes.

Run outside

While there is a lot to be said about creative play, the benefits of basic play — like walking, running, jumping, and dancing — cannot be overstated. So go outside. Run. Play tag. Jump. Spin around. And work up a sweat.

Ride a tricycle or push car

Twelve-month-olds likely cannot ride tricycles — at least not yet — but many can and do before their second birthday so don’t be afraid to explore this and other outside activities. Some models come with push handles for parents to allow trike fun before your little one has mastered riding on their own.

Shop tricycles and push cars online.

Turn on the sprinklers

You don’t need a pool or even a water table for outdoor water play. A simple sprinkler that your child can run through can provide plenty of entertainment. Bring along some cups to catch the water and a towel for drying off and snuggles once the fun is done.

Paint with water

If you’re looking for a creative way to let your little one paint, look no further than water. With some colored construction paper and a paintbrush, your child can create a mess-free masterpiece.

Play with play dough

Whether you make your own modeling clay, salt dough, or buy a pack of Play-Doh doesn’t matter, what matters is that your little one is exploring their world with a new and creative medium. Bonus: Playing with dough helps your child develop dexterity and fine motor skills.

Color

Little ones love doodling and scribbling. My 18-month-old regularly draws on scraps of paper, and my kitchen wall. And while I wish his artwork wasn’t so predominant, I happily engage his creativity. Why? Because it helps him focus, it encourages self-expression, and coloring improves muscle dexterity.

Finger paint

Finger painting is fun for children of all ages, but it can be messy. Try giving your 1-year-old a pile of paint and you’ll see what I mean. However, it doesn’t have to be messy. Simply put a sheet of paper and a few drops of acrylic paint in a Ziploc bag and voila! Your little one can squish and spread the paint through the plastic bag. You have tons of mess-free fun.

Shop finger paints online.

Paint in the bathtub

Looking for another mess-free way to let your little one play? Consider letting your child paint in the bathtub using finger paints.

While it may seem like your toddler needs a lot of attention, you do not need to invest a lot of money to keep them entertained. Rather, you just need to be inventive, innovative, and creative. Play will happen. Fun will follow. We promise.

Baby's Birthday 1 Year: 10 Best Family Party Ideas | Holiday again!

The first birthday of a child can be called a children's holiday with a big stretch - most often it's just a sincere family feast, which makes sense to fill with all sorts of touching moments.

I looked through hundreds of articles describing the birthday of 1 year, and I can conclude that there are well-established traditions for this occasion. All the scenarios are too similar...

I can't write a universal scenario for such a case, so I'll sketch out, as usual, a few interesting ideas, and you can choose for yourself.

How to decorate a room for a child's birthday 1 year

First of all , it is the first birthday of the baby that cannot do without balloons, so get inspired in my article "20 ideas for decorating a room with balloons. "

Secondly, a large decorative number "1" or the first letter of your child's name on such a day is not just decoration. These are significant symbols in the life of a little man. Here are 50 pictures of Letters and Numbers for Holiday Decor.

Thirdly, , I am against family photos in front of furniture, wallpaper and curtains. Here are my 15 photo booth ideas.

My children have already grown up, but I suddenly thought that when I was a year old I would decorate the room like this: the sun (a large yellow balloon), clouds from bundles of blue and white balloons, grass and flowers from long sausage balloons and inflatable animals in this colorful forest…

Ready-made paper decorations

It's fashionable and affordable now, but you can't describe it in a nutshell. All decorations are quite LARGE. If you are interested, I have a selection of pictures and decorating tips in these articles (follow the red links):

I wish you pleasant viewing (click on the red words):

Here is more about accordion balls (many examples).

Here is everything about ready-made paper pom-poms with a link to the site.

Large volumetric stars (56 cm in diameter)-here with examples of

Paper Multi-colored pompons-also an excellent decoration, we see pictures

9000

002 And here are more honeycomb balls. What a beauty, look!

Do you know what forfeits are? These are fans for decoration. Love!

Ready-made kits for children's birthday

Fortunately, all this can be bought ready-made, themes are very different. Let your guests be in funny caps, hang the inscription “Happy Birthday” on the wall, lay out bright napkins on the table, and stick spikes in the form of clowns, umbrellas or flags in the canapes.

Here you can choose such decorations to decorate the holiday.
(premade jewelry sets of 24 pieces)

Photo-madness

Young parents usually take a lot of pictures of a child under one year old. We use these pictures to decorate the holiday and entertain guests.

When I was preparing to write an article, I looked through a huge number of man-made wall newspapers that mothers designed for their one-year-old children. Amazing fantasy and golden hands, you will find pictures without difficulty.

Here are ideas for wall newspapers:

a train and 12 wagons with a photo of each month of a child's life
palm tree marked with height and weight
the carriage in which the birthday girl rides
starry sky (naturally, all photos are cut out in the form of stars and in the birthday rocket)
balloon on which the hero of the day flies
photo in the center of the flower, in the egg (instead of the chicken)
12 pictures of a child on the clock face
film with frames
calendar (photo of each month)

For me personally, the design of a wall newspaper is too time-consuming, so I make computer photo presentations.

Presentation topics:

“1 year old everyone!” (Find photos of yourself, photos of siblings, photos of your parents, uncles and aunts with only 1 year olds). Firstly, it's fun, and secondly, it's easy to find out who looks like whom. Here, for example, how my husband's nephew looks like his uncle (between photo shoots - 40 years).

"How I grew up" (here, collect the best shots from the hospital to today)

Another way to impress your guests!

I must say right away that it took me a LOT of time to make such a tree, but not only I am satisfied with the result, but also everyone who was directly involved in the birth of my Katyusha. I found a photo of great-great-great... who were born in the 19th century seven generations ago. From experience I can advise: do not take photos of brothers and sisters! Draws! Here it is important to gather exactly those relatives, without whose participation your child would not have been born.

Just imagine, two families (on the side of mom and dad) united in one branchy tree thanks to a little man ... I must say right away that I don’t have a template, I drew in Photoshop from scratch. In the finished version, there are also oak leaves. I removed them to make it easier for you to see the essence of the tree. Relatives of the same generation are connected by thin lines, so it's clearer.

Here is a little more expensive: souvenirs are ordered with the image of the baby (something goes for gifts and prizes to guests): key rings, cups, T-shirts, plates and pillows, calendars and notebooks. By the way, you can simply enter the name of the child in the finished design.

Another option that touches all guests is posing on a rocking horse. Hint to your relatives, let someone give the baby such a gift (by the way, the tradition has been going on since the time of Peter I, on such a horse the prince was jokingly dedicated to the military leaders of all Russia). My son looks amazing! Photos from an old phone, sorry for the quality :-).

Fashionable sweet table (candy bar)

If you find a place in the room that the baby cannot reach, I strongly advise you to arrange a festive sweet table. There are colors for boys and girls. Of course, we won’t offer any of this to children, but it’s beautiful how ... You can easily find many examples of thematic design for the first birthday. Check out my article on candy bar.

This is both a decoration and a treat. If you are in Moscow, call, we will do everything in the best possible way :-). Here are examples of the work of our decorator (general design and candy bar in the same style):

Birthday scenario 1 year

You can start with the "official part". It is always interesting to know which famous people were born on this day. For example, on September 2, besides my son, Valentin Gaft, Proklova, composer Andrey Petrov and the brilliant Leonov were born. And Keanu Reeves is also nice. This information can be beaten: “Probably, Vova has a great acting future ...”

Galileo Galilei, Savva Morozov and Mikhail Naryshkin were born on the same day with their daughter Katya. It already smells of ingenuity and entrepreneurship...

All interesting information about the day your child was born can be found at http://www.calend.ru/. (Just find the day you need in the calendar on the left. By the way, it will be interesting for guests to find out about yourself, entertain them too).

The most solemn part

As you understand, a long feast is tiring for a baby, and shooting toasts looks rather boring. My suggestions: in order for the memory of the event to be preserved for many years, wait for the moment when the child is cheerful and full, take him in your arms and stand in the center of the room. We will place all the guests around with a beautiful candle in our hands (symbolizes 1 year of a child’s life and just sincerely). Point the camera at the first guest, he says a concise congratulation, blows out the candle. Move the camera to the next congratulatory.

This is a chance to shoot a beautiful family video and listen to all the wishes in a row in a compressed version. Let some famous melody arranged for kids (bells) sound in the background. In my opinion, any song from “Beatles for Babies” - Yesterday is very suitable, for example:

The child will look at the candles with interest and the very moment of blowing out. By the way, later, when you need to blow on a candle on a cake, he doesn’t need to explain anything :-). It remains only to help, since the forces to pay off on their own are still not enough.

Choir and orchestra

I offer a sincere performance of the song “Sleep my joy, sleep”. Turn on karaoke, distribute “musical instruments” to all guests: spoons, rattles, bottles, rustling baby food packages, and so on. Something that the child used all year. The main thing is that objects can make a muffled sound.

BUY children's musical instruments here.

During the performance of this song, people begin to imitate the famous moment from the movie "Garage", give out charming undertones and losses. The kid, of course, also needs some kind of "rattle".

Folk dance

For some reason, it seems to me very important to emphasize the connection with the ancestors on such a day, and guests of all generations immediately come to life, leave the place at the festive table for the sake of an incendiary national dance.

Let a child in the arms of an adult feel like "Lady", "Lezginka", "Hava Nagila" or "Gopak", whichever is closer to you. Both adults have fun, and the kid stomps a couple of times under the folk hits that have been proven over the years.

And if you are not too lazy to do folk costume in the size of a one-year-old dancer ... it will be unforgettable!

or such a dance…

I still won’t forget the tears of emotion when in the first minutes of the celebration of the girl’s birthday I turned on Antonov’s song “Anastasia”, and in front of all the guests who had just sat down at the table, a wonderful couple appeared - a young beautiful dad with a baby in his arms in a slow dance:

Life has widened the distance to me,
You have come, spring is more beautiful.
Birds in the sky are chirping: "Nastya",
Herbs echo: "Anastasia".

Yes, the girl's name is Anastasia, she is already finishing school, but everyone remembers this moment!

Not every name has a song, but since then the presenters have simply turned on a “slow dance”, to which a couple dances: a mother with a son, a father or grandfather with a girl, sometimes an older brother (if the difference is 15 years, and this happens). You get the gist. It must be HUGE! Goosebumps and all that…

Let's laugh a little

I admit, I found this collection on Vkontakte, I don't know the author, but if it comes up, I'll be happy to indicate the name of this witty person on the site. The person imagined what topics would be on the forum if it was organized by kids under one year old. It was very funny to my guests, and, of course, I tried to read as artistically as possible.

These topics could be on the forum for children under one year old :-):

“Trying to feed me cauliflower: how to react?!”
“I didn’t poop for only 2 days, how to escape from a straw, Dufalac, enemas, etc.?”
"How do you like the Chico Polly chair?"
“A trip to the district clinic. Boiled”
“My bare butt pictures on the Internet. How to deal with it?
"Titya is separated from her mother - is this possible?"
"Do they kiss you on the ass?"
"Tell me a speech therapist for my grandmother"
"How many phones have you sucked on yet?"
“How to learn to sleep without releasing the chest? As soon as I fall asleep, it falls out”
“What position to take in a dream, so that all the family would look and be touched. Sharing experience»
“Wash every day. Are there any other dirty ones?
40 more such phrases HERE

Artist

For this moment, it is better to remove the festive outfit from the child.

Prepare a beautiful frame for your future masterpiece. For 3-4 saucers (disposable plates are also suitable), smear a thin layer of finger paints of different colors to get high-quality prints of a child's hand. Help dip the pen into the paint and make a print on a sheet of paper. Once dry, invite guests to write their names.

Large selection of finger paints at different prices HERE.

Changelings

This is an old and rather fun entertainment, so it is quite possible to invite guests to guess the fairy tale characters and the names of the most famous fairy tales affected by semantic changelings:

Green Socks - Little Red Riding Hood
"Penza Artists" - "Bremen Town Musicians"
"Calm Pierrot" - "The Adventures of Pinocchio"
"Big" - "Thumbelina"
"Light Berry" - "Scarlet Flower"
"Ostrich Penguins" - "Swan Geese"
"Soup in a saw" - "Porridge from an ax"
"Vanya and the Hare" - "Masha and the Bear"
"Girl with a leg" - "Boy with a finger"
Monochromatic Fish - Ryaba Hen
"Sun King" - "Snow Queen"
"Dog Shelter" - "Cat's House"
"Mouse in the Hat" - "Puss in Boots"
"Copper Bird" - "Goldfish"

Fortune-telling and predictions

First, I propose to hold a contest among the guests “Who will the birthday boy be” (meaning the profession). We write down all assumptions. And now, according to the old tradition, lay out household items in front of the child that symbolize the occupation. Here, for example, what my imagination was enough for:

Money (a photocopy of a banknote is possible) - financier, economist, accountant
Tassel - famous artist
Book (notebook) - famous writer, poet, journalist
Photo frame - fashion photographer
Vitamin jar - doctor
Comb - make-up artist, hair stylist
Beautiful little thing (mirror, figurine) - interior designer
Keys - builder, designer
Car - automotive business
Candy - confectioner, cook
Spoon - restaurant business
Seal (children's stamp) - lawyer, judge, notary
Lighter (preferably empty) - fireman
Flashlight - Policeman
Glasses - scientist, researcher, teacher
Computer mouse - programmer
Toy dog - veterinarian, trainer
Phone (toy, of course) - businessman, leader
Doll dress - fashion designer
Pistol (toy tank, epaulette) - military

The guest who is closest to the correct answer wins. Prize to him!

You can also give out funny tasks. Print pictures of cars, houses, vacuum cleaners, TV sets and pot sets. Invite each guest to draw out one card with the words: “ I will give him (her) for the wedding .... car"!

Memory vase

It's time to leave a memorable collective souvenir for the baby. Purchase a plain white ceramic vase with no pattern and china and ceramic markers. Pass the vase in a circle right at the festive table. Let the guests leave their wishes, signatures and small drawings. The vase can be replaced with a separate white cup, plate or tray.

I bought special markers for decoration, they are available in large stationery stores.

Cake

Well, everything should be traditional here, the birthday of 1 year at this moment is similar to all the rest 99 :-). Song, blow out the candle. You can turn on the Barbarikov song: "Happy Birthday" for the background.

Of course, I want the cake to be the most original, beautiful and delicious. Confectioners usually say - "we will make any cake", and you and I spend hours on the Internet, flipping through pictures in search of an interesting idea.

Now in every city there are pastry shops that offer absolutely fantastic stories, you just need to find them!

Gifts for guests

My sister gave everyone these chocolates:

She gives everyone a template. Enter any name, insert a photo of the child in Photoshop, and the file can be downloaded on my Yandex Disk (file in layers, will open only in Photoshop.

That's all! happy!

P.S. By the way, have you thought about what to give?

Here is my selection of gifts for 1 year old with links to the store :-). I recommend taking a look, as these are not just ideas, but tips from a twice mom with prices, photos and a link to the store.

And come back in a year, there is a selection about the birthday of 2 years!

Irina Panasyan

How to celebrate a baby's first birthday? Ideas for celebrating a child's birthday 1 year

It seemed that not so long ago you brought a small bundle with a squeaky lump from the hospital - and now the time is coming when your little man turns a whole year old. Behind were many sleepless nights and days filled with endless troubles and worries. The first year is a very serious date for you and your child, symbolizing the first passed stage of a long life journey.

The first birthday of a child is a very exciting day for parents. This is an event that can be turned into a real holiday for your child and his peers - one that everyone would remember forever.

How to spend it in such a way that memories of it remain for a long time, and the day spent is full of positive emotions? Many parents think about this question for a long time, whose children are approaching a significant date - 1 year.

How to organize a birthday party for a 1 year old child?
Whom to call for the first birthday?
What time is the holiday?
Brief scenario of the birthday of a child 1 year
How to decorate a room for a party
How to decorate a table for a child's birthday 1 year old
What to cook for the first birthday
Birthday cake for a child 1 year old
Baby's First Birthday Posters
Birthday outfit
What to give the baby?
Photo session of the birthday of a child 1 year old
Scenarios of holiday contests

How to organize the birthday of a child 1 year old?

Parents want to celebrate their first birthday in a special way. To organize an excellent fun holiday, you need to prepare for a long time and not miss anything:

Determine the venue: home, cafe, nature. Be sure to consider the needs of the child. If it's summer outside, then you can safely organize a holiday in nature. The child will walk outdoors with the rest of the children. And after the holiday, tired and full of emotions, go to a deep sleep
Determine the approximate time. With a small child, this is a rather difficult task, because the schedule of a child under 1 year old changes very often
Define the guest list. You should not invite people to the holiday whom the child does not know at all. Children react differently to strangers. Let only the people closest to the child be on the guest list. It will be very good if you invite children
Determine for yourself how you see the upcoming holiday: a fun holiday exclusively for children, or you want to have fun for adults as well; everything will be thought out for the little things at the holiday or decide to get by with a beautiful cake and balloons; Will there be a holiday theme?

By answering these questions, you will know you will be able to make a clear preparation plan:

Pick an outfit for the birthday
Make or order invitation cards (optional)
Make or order a wish book (not necessary, but will remain as a keepsake)
Think of party accessories
Determine how you will decorate the room
Find the right contests
Think about how the festive table will look like
Order a beautiful cake in advance
Print the best photos of the first year of life

Since a young mother has little free time, it is better to start all preparations 2 months before the event in order to gradually carry out each stage of preparation

Whom to invite to the first birthday?

There are two options for choosing guests: the first is close relatives and friends, and the second is mothers with the same yearlings. It would be quite reasonable if you decide to celebrate the child's birthday at home, in a small family circle, with those people who sincerely love the baby and took part in his upbringing during the year. Yes, and a child in a year old will bring more joy to communication with those to whom he has long been accustomed.

Relatives do not always live next to us, so you can invite the baby's first friends. You should not call everyone with whom you play together in the sandbox, even if your baby is very sociable. Not the fact that other children are the same. Therefore, for the first time, it will be enough to invite 1-2 mothers with children. But you need to be prepared for the fact that the children do not have the same modes, and one of them will not be able to come at a convenient time for you. In addition, you will have to carefully consider the children's menu so that it is festive and hypoallergenic for all kids at the same time.

What time is the holiday?

If you sleep twice during the day, it will be more convenient to celebrate between naps, approximately from 12. 00 to 16.00. If you are going to celebrate with loved ones, then the second dream of the child will not prevent you from quietly continuing the holiday while the baby is resting. If the child sleeps once, then you need to celebrate after sleep too.

Brief scenario of the child's birthday 1 year

The first birthday of a child is the holiday that can tire the baby. Therefore, the script should not be too intense for the child. Let the guests participate, but the baby does not need to be pulled to every competition. He gets tired of it quickly. You can draw up a general outline of the scenario. And already the mother, based on the list of guests, the nature of the child, the venue and the budget, will refine and supplement it.

General scheme:

Meeting guests. Guests can be met in poetic form and officially. But, given that all the guests do not come at the same time, you can simply meet all the incoming guests with a birthday boy in your arms and receive gifts. The kid will be happy with such an abundance of new things
Invite waiting guests to look at the photos of the birthday boy that you have hung on the walls or photo posters
When all the guests have arrived, you can invite everyone to the table for the first toast to the birthday boy. After the toast, you can sing the classic song “Happy Birthday to you” to the birthday boy. Toasts during the evening can be pronounced in a funny way. It's a children's holiday. The speaker of the toast can sing a toast, can dance or speak while standing on a chair
Contests. In order not to tire the guests, it is better to present the contests in parts. Alternating children's and adults, mobile and drinking
Arrange a photo session before the baby is tired of everyone's attention
In the interval between competitions and toasts, together with the guests, compose a memorable telegram for the child. Print out the form. And ask the guests to take turns naming adjectives. Fill out the telegram. Then read the result
Birthday cake
After the cake, you can watch a film about the first year of the life of the birthday boy
After the movie, ask the guests to fill in the wish book

For the birthday of a one-year-old child, such a scenario is enough. Don't overdo the contests. Remember that your child is still a toddler. Don't let him emotionally overload.

How to decorate a room for a party

If you decide to celebrate your little one's birthday at home, it is enough to decorate only the room where the celebration itself will take place. To decorate the room, you can use balloons, colored banners, place photo albums with children's photos in prominent places, or publish a festive wall newspaper. When decorating a room for the holiday, you should follow some recommendations.

When decorating walls and ceilings with colorful balloons, choose them carefully. Balls made of thin, fragile material burst much faster, and this sound can greatly frighten the baby.
Give all your guests multi-colored paper caps on their heads and pipes, because adults also sometimes want to fool around and return to childhood.
Draw greeting posters, print baby photos. You can make an interesting photo newspaper. Surely you have photos of the baby in different poses and funny moments, place them in the form of a train of 12 wagons, where in each wagon there is a photo of a baby from birth to a year old, or take photos of a birthday boy taking off on painted balloons. If you don't know how to draw, an art editor, such as Photoshop, will come to your aid, or contact a professional who will help you make a calendar or photo collage out of your photos, or maybe he will just pick up interesting frames.
Organize a place for your baby to play, bring his favorite toys, entertainment, turn on his favorite songs in a low voice.

You should not decorate the room too generously: a lot of new impressions and bright colors on the walls and ceiling may not have the best effect on the fragile psyche of the crumbs, he may get upset and start acting up.

How to decorate the table for the birthday of a child 1 year old

The table can be decorated with:

Nice tablecloth. In stores, you can find options for disposable tablecloths with a children's theme. The tablecloth will immediately give the table a festive look and the appropriate mood
Disposable colored plates. Plates can be chosen in the same theme as the tablecloth. They come in different sizes
Disposable colored cups. Similarly, the theme can be matched to the tablecloth and plates
You can buy or make your own meal toppers
Champagne bottle can be labeled with matching stickers
Small bows can be tied on forks
Each guest can put a beautifully decorated napkin on a plate, and a beautifully packaged chocolate bar next to it. This will serve as a bonbonniere for guest

The design of the children's candy bar deserves special attention:

Buy a lot of different sweets: gelatins, marmalade, sweets, dragees
Bake or order beautiful cupcakes. If you bake yourself, then bake in beautiful disposable paper cupcake tins
Prepare a lot of themed toppers
Stretch over a candy bar saying "Happy Birthday"
Put a lot of juice jars
Arrange a lot of fruit on a pretty dish

The design of a candy bar largely depends on your budget, as custom-made beautiful sweets are not cheap.

What to cook for the first birthday

Despite the fact that the child will not appreciate the culinary skills of the mother, this is not a reason to leave festive dishes boring. Salads, snacks, meat and other dishes can be decorated in the form of insects, animals and other things.

As for dishes for adult guests, in this regard, the hosts should not have any difficulties in choosing the menu - here you can serve whatever they like. But the festive table for one-year-olds has its own specifics, since at this age their diet is not yet so wide, so the main emphasis should be on the bright design of the table.

For children, a separate table of appropriate size should be set up so that the little ones can feel comfortable and free. Dishes must be served in their original design. For example, fruit slices can be placed on a beautiful plate in the form of a funny face or a bright ornament. Cookies with pieces of fruit will also be appropriate. Moreover, they can be offered in the form of healthy “sweets” wrapped in bright paper.

Various curds are also recommended for the children's table, which the majority of children love very much. And, of course, there must be various juices to quench your thirst.

Birthday cake for a child 1 year old

A child is unlikely to appreciate the beauty of the cake, but you can order a beautiful cake for memory and for a photo that matches the theme of the event, the child's gender, and the child's interests.

Depending on the child's favorite hobbies, the cake can be made:

With figurines of Masha and the Bear
Crowned
With ball
With bodysuits and booties
With teddy bears

Cakes with mastic are popular, as they allow you to choose almost any design of the future cake.

Posters for the child's first birthday

It will be interesting to use posters containing photos of the child in the design. The poster can depict anything you like in a children's theme:

A steam locomotive, in the cars of which photos
Watch with a photo of a child instead of time digits
Just a beautifully designed poster without any theme, where photos will be framed

Posters can be used to decorate a child's room or hallway if there is a party at home. If the holiday is on the street, then hang it between the trees or on a prepared stand.

Place the best photos of the first year of the baby's life on the poster.

Birthday outfit

It is quite natural that on the first birthday of their child, each parent tries to dress the birthday boy in all the best. With girls, this issue is easily resolved - young ladies try on lace dresses and bright shoes with great pleasure. Boys do not always take into account the opinion of their parents, and very often new clothes cause a feeling of rejection in them.

Try to talk to your child, tell them that today is their birthday and the birthday boy should be the most beautiful on it. If the persuasion does not work, and the baby categorically refuses a new thing - do not insist, dress him in casual clothes. The most important thing is that your child feels comfortable in any situation.

What to give a baby?

The tradition of receiving gifts on a birthday is certainly pleasant for both the birthday man and the giver. There are usually no problems with choosing a presentation in this case.

However, when purchasing something interesting for your baby, you should avoid things that are not recommended for this age, namely:

large soft toys;
toy sets containing many small parts;
products made from suspicious materials that are potentially dangerous to a child;
toys with harsh sounds.

Everything else depends only on your imagination and desire to please your baby. The following purchases can be used as a gift:

locomotives, cars, tractors, etc.;
dolls or miscellaneous animals;
drawing sets, easels;
sports equipment - balls, skipping ropes, skittles, wheelchairs;
building kits, cubes, pyramids;
original books with thick pages;
swings, sledges, items of children's furniture - chairs, tables, chests of drawers;
clothes.

Photo session of a child's birthday 1 year

You can arrange a photo session on your own, or you can invite a photographer. To make the pictures more interesting and so that the plates are not visible in the background, it is better to organize a photo zone.

The photo zone can be organized in the simplest way, which can be done without difficulty with the help of improvised means.

But you can try, spend more time preparing and make a very interesting and beautiful photo zone, near which any guest will want to take a photo. Or rent a photo studio for 1 hour.

The first birthday should be spent in such a way that beautiful photos, videos and simply the best moments of the holiday remain in memory.

Scenarios of holiday competitions

The well-being of the child and his mood depend on a properly prepared program, the purpose of which is to amuse the guests and give them the opportunity to have a good time at your place. There should not be too many competitions themselves - 4-5 exciting fun is enough. At the same time, be sure to think over in advance a way to encourage the winners and participants in the games, stock up on interesting souvenirs for children and adults.

What are the best contest ideas for such a day? Of course, your child and their fellow guests are still young enough to fully participate in the festive game program. Therefore, it should be designed primarily for adults. We offer a lot of options from which you have the opportunity to choose the most optimal for your case.

Marksman

All kids participate. For the competition, pacifiers are needed, which will need to be spit as far as possible. The one who does it best is declared the winner.

“One-year-old water drink”

All children are given bottles of drinking water equipped with teats with small holes. The task of the winner is to drink as much liquid as possible in one minute of time. The action can be accompanied by perky music.

The same competition is easily adapted for adults. If the men present express a desire, they can be given the same attributes, but instead of water, pour champagne. Most likely, the winners in this case will be all.

“Like two drops of water”

Adult guests take part in this competition. An envelope is prepared in advance, where notes are added with indications of different parts of the body and face. Each of the guests, in turn, takes out one note, and they say which of the relatives the birthday boy looks like in terms of the body part. All data is recorded by the organizer, after which the results are summed up and the result is announced.

For example, a child can be three times like mom, five times like dad, and several times like grandparents.

"Real gourmet"

For this competition, you need to save a few jars of baby food. Labels must be sealed in advance with paper tags with the inscription - the number of the container. Each of the adults present must take turns tasting the contents of the jar and trying to guess what the puree is made of. After everyone has finished “sampling”, you need to peel off the labels with numbers to understand who is the best versed in baby food. Win here - guess the names of mashed potatoes in all jars.

"Mr. or Mrs. Precision"

If the hero of the occasion does not particularly mind, he will be the main participant in this competition. Each of the adult guests takes turns picking up the baby in his arms and offhand calls his approximate weight. The one who turned out to be more accurate than everyone else in their assumptions is awarded some kind of comic prize.

"Guess the fate"

This entertainment involves the participation of the birthday boy first, and then, if desired, all the other kids who came to visit him. On a large tray placed on a chair or children's table, some objects are placed in a chaotic manner. Your child must choose one of them, and this choice will symbolize his future destiny or preferences in life. As attributes for an action, you can use:

book - symbolizing the mind and the desire for knowledge;
keys - good welfare;
ring - love and quick marriage or marriage;
coin - prosperity and wealth;
skein of thread - a long and happy life;
bottle - a penchant for fun;
screwdriver - technical ability;
chocolate - sweet life.

Of course, one should not take such “predictions” very seriously, but the interest of the kids in the contest and the general fun in this case are guaranteed. It is especially funny when the baby is not content with one object, but captures almost everything with his little hands.

"Letters from the Future"

This task should be entrusted to adult guests. The organizer of the holiday invites everyone to write congratulations to the birthday man, which he will be able to read in seventeen years, on his 18th birthday. Participants are given envelopes with an inscription indicating when the letter was written and when it should be opened.

"Who is the most attentive"

This competition in the form of a quiz will be of interest to those who were directly involved in the upbringing of the birthday boy in the first year of his life. Mom, dad, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, godparents - all those who, undoubtedly, will compete with each other for the title of the most attentive relative with great pleasure.

Attributes for the quiz can be made by yourself. It can be a large paper daisy with question petals. As its alternative, a small box is considered, where leaves folded into a tube with written questions are folded. Participants take turns tearing off the petals, or taking a piece of paper out of the box, and answering the questions there.

There can be a lot of them, for example:

What was the weight of the birthday person at birth?
How tall was he born?
What does he like to eat?
What dish does the baby refuse?
Give the name of the doctor who delivered the baby.
When did the baby's first tooth come out?
When did he first go on his own?
How many teeth does the baby have today?
Name the day of the week when the baby was born
What are the godparents' names?
When did the baby go through the rite of Baptism?
Name the time of the child's birth.
How much does he carry now?
What zodiac sign does he belong to?
Name the color of the birthday boy's eyes
What is his favorite toy?

Do not forget that you are doing all the preparatory activities not only for yourself and your guests, but first of all for your baby.