Active play for the one year old (1055)

One-year-olds enjoy playing by themselves or beside other children. They aren’t yet able to play with other children. They are possessive of their toys and cannot yet share with others.

Some activities to do with the one-year old include playing ball. Roll a ball to her to "catch". Provide blocks for them to build with. They enjoy looking at themselves in mirrors. Make sure the mirrors are unbreakable. Talk to them about what they see in the mirror.

Children this age enjoy filling containers over and over with water, sand, rice or other safe materials. Take time to enjoy picture books with your child. Talk about the pictures and name objects in them. Spend time talking about the size, shape, and texture of everyday objects. Make comparisons, such as, "This ball is bigger than that ball." The one-year-old is beginning to understand many words and is building his vocabulary daily.

Look for wheeled toys without pedals. These give the young child an opportunity to move around and demonstrate independence. Let her push or pull a favorite toy.

Remember, children this age love doing the same thing over and over. They also enjoy exploring and experimenting.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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