Top Activities For a 12 Month Old Baby – Benefits and Tips For Parents

• They can sit up for some time on their own, without any support. Some can pull themselves up to a standing position or even stand up on their own.
• Their motor skills are well developed now, they can hold and throw items with intention. Though the ball may not go forward, babies can still bend down take it and attempt throwing it.
• Communication skills are also developing at a good pace. Some can say a few words while most babies can understand what you tell them. They will successfully communicate most of what they want to say, whether through gestures or words.

Top Fun And Engaging Activities For A 12 Month Old Baby

Your baby will show interest in challenging activities. They are not very keen to observe a moving or musical toy at this stage. They would rather take it apart and see the insides. For such a curious mind, here are some activities you can try

1. Peek-A-Boo

Babies love to hide and find things. It need not be you or some other person at times. You can play peek–a–boo with objects around.

What You Will Need?

• You, your baby, and some random items or toys

Benefits of Peek-A-Boo

Skill Development	Benefits
Encourages To Search	At this age, your baby understands they have to search and find the hidden item or person. They will look around and dig through bags to find what is missing. It is an important cognitive development that can help them remember, associate, or solve problems as they grow up.
Teaches To Wait	Babies can never wait. They don’t understand the concept of time. when they want something, it has to be instant. Playing a peek-a-boo where you just hide your face behind your hands and peek out after a few seconds, will teach the baby to wait. They will wait till you show your face. This is an important development.

a) Encourages To Search

At this age, your baby understands they have to search and find the hidden item or person. They will look around and dig through bags to find what is missing. It is an important cognitive development that can help them remember, associate, or solve problems as they grow up.

b) Teaches To Wait

Babies can never wait. They don’t understand the concept of time. when they want something, it has to be instant. Playing a peek-a-boo where you just hide your face behind your hands and peek out after a few seconds, will teach the baby to wait. They will wait till you show your face. This is an important development.

Tips For Parents

• Hide behind curtains or even blankets on your bed
• Hide their favorite toy in front of them, so that they learn to search for it
• Encourage them to hide by pretending you can’t see them even if they are in plain sight. They will slowly get the idea and start hiding.

2. Reading To Your Baby

Babies can’t read but will listen with keen interest. When you read to them, they hear the words; and see the book and pictures. It can be a very calming experience for both you and your baby to read.

What You Will Need?

• A few good age-appropriate books
• Yourself, your baby, and a quiet place

Benefits of Reading To Your Baby

Skill Development	Benefits
Improves Listening Skills	The more you read, the more your baby will pay attention to the words you read, to your voice, and try to understand what you are saying. It improves their listening skills, which is very essential for effective communication in the future.
Helps Develop Language	Reading regularly introduces your baby to new words, builds their vocabulary and develops their overall language. They can understand more words and speak them too, as they grow up.

a) Improves Listening Skills

The more you read, the more your baby will pay attention to the words you read, to your voice and try to understand what you are saying. It improves their listening skills, which is very essential for effective communication in the future.

b) Helps Develop Language

Reading regularly introduces your baby to new words, builds their vocabulary and develops their overall language. They can understand more words and speak them too, as they grow up.

Tips For Parents

• Opt for books in more than one language if feasible
• Repeat the books as it will familiarise your baby with the words
• Make reading a regular habit

3. Sensory Play

Sensorial development is very important for babies. they need to touch, feel and understand with all their senses. Only then will they learn to use them all in their regular life.

What You Will Need?

• Sensorial toys
• Items with different textures
• Your baby, yourself, and some patience

Benefits of Sensory Play

Skill Development	Benefits
Develops Senses	Using their eyes, ears, nose, and skin helps improve the functioning of all the senses. Your baby will learn to use them all in cohesion and explore their environment.
Can Calm Baby	Sometimes a baby is cranky or throws a tantrum due to overstimulation or due to a sensorial need. When all their senses are used and needs are met through activities, your baby is less likely to cause trouble by exploring when you step out. Sensorial toys can help calm down an agitated baby.

a) Develops Senses

Using their eyes, ears, nose, and skin helps improve the functioning of all the senses. Your baby will learn to use them all in cohesion and explore their environment.

b) Can Calm Baby

Sometimes a baby is cranky or throws a tantrum due to overstimulation or due to a sensorial need. When all their senses are used and needs are met through activities, your baby is less likely to cause trouble by exploring when you step out. Sensorial toys can help calm down an agitated baby.

Tips For Parents

• Use random things from around the house to expose your baby to different textures
• Always use the texture’s real name. Using different words cannot only teach your child the wrong words but can confuse them too when people around talk about the textures.
• Understand which texture your child prefers or hates. It can help in planning games or gifts in the future.

4. Play With Blocks

Blocks are one of the most common toys for babies at this age. It helps pique their interest to sit in one place and play by themselves. Many parents invest in many varieties of toys to identify which fancy toy satiates their baby’s wants. However, simple blocks are all a baby might need.

What You Will Need?

• Blocks of various sizes
• A clean place free of other items
• Your child, yourself, and some colorful blocks

Benefits of Play With Blocks Activity

Skill Development	Benefits
Improves Concentrations	Building a tower requires immense concentration as even one wrong step can send the tower crashing down at your baby’s feet. Your baby’s focus will completely be on building more and more.
Encourages Perseverance	Babies don’t give up easily. Though disappointed or frustrated, they keep trying. Every time the tower or blocks topple, the kids will build again. It teaches them to keep trying and not give up due to one failure. This is an important life lesson.

a) Improves Concentrations

Building a tower requires immense concentration as even one wrong step can send the tower crashing down at your baby’s feet. Your baby’s focus will completely be on building more and more.

b) Encourages Perseverance

Babies don’t give up easily. Though disappointed or frustrated, they keep trying. Every time the tower or blocks topple, the kids will build again. It teaches them to keep trying and not give up due to one failure. This is an important life lesson.

Tips For Parents

• If the blocks tumble and your baby cries, do not interfere. Encourage them to try again. It will give them the confidence they can do it on their own.
• Don’t try to correct what they build. Let them get creative and learn from their mistakes.
• If they want you to play along, ask them for ideas and let them guide you to build. It helps in improving communication skills.

5. Play With The Ball

Balls are one of the favorite toys for all babies at this stage. They love the colors, and the way the ball moves or bounces. For a baby who has just begun to move, reaching the ball can be a very engaging activity. Due to its shape, the ball tends to keep moving every time your baby touches it. Babies find this very exciting.

What You Will Need?

• Balls in different sizes and colors
• Your baby and some open space

Benefits of Play With The Ball Activity

Skill Development	Benefits
Improves Grip	Holding the ball firmly in their hands helps improve the baby’s grip and control of their fingers. The fingers get stronger and wrist mobility also improves. A ball can be slippery if it’s not made from fabric. Such balls can be very exciting and challenging for a baby.
Development Of Hand-Eye Coordination	Typical play with a ball involves throwing or chasing it. Such activities can improve your baby’s hand-eye coordination. Your baby will move to reach and pick a ball that they can see from a distance. It also teaches them objects can move and that they need to move faster or put in more effort to reach such objects.

a) Improves Grip

Holding the ball firmly in their hands helps improve the baby’s grip and control of their fingers. The fingers get stronger and wrist mobility also improves. A ball can be slippery if it’s not made from fabric. Such balls can be very exciting and challenging for a baby.

b) Development Of Hand-Eye Coordination

Typical play with a ball involves throwing or chasing it. Such activities can improve your baby’s hand-eye coordination. Your baby will move to reach and pick a ball that they can see from a distance. It also teaches them objects can move and that they need to move faster or put in more effort to reach such objects.

Tips For Parents

• While colorful fabric-covered balls can be safe, they don’t roll. A baby on the move will prefer balls that can roll easily
• Invest in colorful but light plastic balls. Your baby will lift it over their head and try to throw it. dropping it on themselves can hurt them.

6. Pull Toys Along

Babies love their toys. They love to pretend to play too. Once they start moving, they will drag their toys along. Pull-along toys come with wheels and offer the right companion for babies who want to move.

What You Will Need

• Your baby, some colorful pull-along toys, and some space

Benefits of Pulling Toys Along

Skill Development	Benefits
Teaches Speed And Distance	Babies will first drag the toy too fast, causing it to topple or come and hit their feet. Over time, your baby will learn to adjust the pressure and speed with which they pull or move.
Improves Mobility	With a toy dragging behind them, babies love to move more and even faster. It improves their mobility and balance. They use all their limbs, thus improving their gross motor skills.

a) Teaches Speed And Distance

Babies will first drag the toy too fast, causing it to topple or come and hit their feet. Over time, your baby will learn to adjust the pressure and speed with which they pull or move.

b) Improves Mobility

With a toy dragging behind them, babies love to move more and even faster. It improves their mobility and balance. They use all their limbs, thus improving their gross motor skills.

Tips For Parents

• Buy colorful pull-along toys. Some come with colorful balls inside or even music and light.
• Ensure these toys are not too heavy as hitting against their feet while pulling can hurt your baby.
• If your baby is unable to hold the rope and crawl, make a loop or tie it lightly to your baby’s wrist.

Babies learn fast and remember for longer when they do something practically. When they perform activities with their own hands and body, they learn faster. Their brain makes an association that it remembers for a long time. With fun activities, it is easy to help your baby learn about and explore their abilities.