10 Engaging Learning Activities for Children Aged 12 Months and Older

At 12 months old, your little one is entering a fascinating stage of development where they’re eager to explore the world around them. This period is marked by rapid growth in cognitive, motor, and social skills, making it an ideal time to introduce learning activities that are both fun and educational. Here are 10 engaging activities that you can do with your 12-month-old to support their development and keep them entertained.

1. Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are a fantastic way to engage your child’s senses and encourage exploration. Fill a shallow container with materials like rice, pasta, or sand, and add small toys, spoons, or cups for scooping and pouring. As your child digs through the materials, they’ll explore different textures, sounds, and even smells, which can help develop their sensory processing skills.

Benefits: Sensory bins help with fine motor skills, language development, and sensory exploration.

Tip: Always supervise your child closely during sensory play to ensure they don’t put small objects in their mouth.

2. Stacking and Nesting Toys
Stacking and nesting toys are great for developing hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Whether it’s stacking blocks or nesting cups, these activities challenge your child to think about size, balance, and order.

Benefits: Improves fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.

Tip: Start with simple stacking toys and gradually introduce more complex ones as your child’s skills improve.

3. Reading Together
At this age, your child might not understand every word, but reading together is incredibly beneficial. Choose books with bright pictures, textures, and simple, repetitive text. Point to the pictures as you read and encourage your child to turn the pages.

Benefits: Enhances language development, builds listening skills, and fosters a love of reading.

Tip: Make reading a daily routine, whether it’s during quiet time or as part of the bedtime ritual.

4. Music and Movement
Children love music, and it’s a great way to engage their bodies and minds. Play songs with simple rhythms and encourage your child to clap, stomp, or dance along. You can also give them instruments like maracas or tambourines to shake to the beat.

Benefits: Develops gross motor skills, rhythm, and coordination, and fosters a sense of rhythm and musicality.

Tip: Include a mix of fast and slow songs to help your child explore different tempos and movements.

5. Finger Painting
Finger painting is a wonderful way for your child to express their creativity while developing fine motor skills. Use non-toxic, washable paints and let your child explore the colors with their hands. You can guide them to make simple shapes or just let them enjoy the process of painting freely.

Benefits: Enhances creativity, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration.

Tip: Cover the play area with a protective mat and dress your child in old clothes to keep the mess manageable.

6. Puzzles
Simple puzzles with large pieces are perfect for your 12-month-old. Look for puzzles with easy-to-grasp knobs or chunky pieces. As your child works to fit the pieces into the correct spots, they’ll develop problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.

Benefits: Improves cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities.

Tip: Start with puzzles that have just a few pieces and gradually increase the complexity as your child’s skills improve.

7. Water Play
Water play is a delightful sensory activity that can keep your child entertained for hours. Set up a shallow basin with water and give your child cups, spoons, and small toys to splash and pour with. This activity can be done in the bathtub, a small pool, or even at the kitchen sink.

Benefits: Enhances fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and understanding of cause and effect.

Tip: Always supervise your child closely during water play to ensure safety.

8. Pretend Play with Dolls and Stuffed Animals
Pretend play is a great way to encourage your child’s imagination and social skills. Give them dolls or stuffed animals and encourage them to feed, bathe, or put them to bed. You can also model these actions and narrate what you’re doing to help your child understand.

Benefits: Develops social skills, language development, and imagination.

Tip: Use simple props like a small blanket or a toy bottle to enhance the pretend play experience.

9. Nature Walks and Outdoor Exploration
Take your child outside for a nature walk or explore the backyard together. Point out trees, birds, and flowers, and encourage your child to touch different textures like grass, leaves, and rocks. This activity helps your child learn about the natural world and develop a sense of curiosity.

Benefits: Encourages gross motor skills, sensory exploration, and appreciation for nature.

Tip: Bring a small bag to collect interesting objects like leaves or stones that you can examine together at home.

10. Building Towers with Blocks
Building towers with blocks is a classic activity that never gets old. Show your child how to stack the blocks and let them try on their own. As they build, they’ll learn about balance, coordination, and cause and effect (especially when the tower topples over!).

Benefits: Develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities.

Tip: Use soft or foam blocks to avoid any frustration or injury when the towers inevitably fall.


Engaging your 12-month-old in these learning activities not only supports their development but also strengthens the bond between you and your child. Each activity is designed to be both fun and educational, helping your little one grow in confidence, skills, and curiosity. Remember, at this age, learning through play is the most effective way to help your child reach their developmental milestones. So, grab some toys, set up a play area, and enjoy these precious moments of exploration and discovery with your child!