Activities for a One Year Old?

Try Gymboree - there are several locations in SF. They organize fun 'classes' for different age groups. It's really loads of fun, babies can play with other babies and you can meet other moms.

How about making some playdough together, and then playing with it? A friend of mine who was a teacher for years gave me a playdough recipe that is fantastic (the texture is almost silky, my kids LOVE this stuff and it doesn't dry out easily). Here's the recipe:

Cooked Playdough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water with food coloring
4 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients in a heavy pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a ball. Knead until smooth.

This is the bay area of California. When is it too cold to be outside? Never. Put on an extra layer and get outside if she loves to play at the park or go for walks. Heck, we even go to the park in the rain. Put on some rain boots and a slicker and off we go. It makes the slide a whole lot more fun. :)

My daughter loved to climb in, out, and on things. I gave her boxes (sometimes cardboard and other times plastic bins (as I emptied them from our move). She would crawl in and out. Tip them over. She would pull her blankie inside and lay down (never actually go to sleep). She loved the boxes.

She's 7 and still loves boxes. Now she colors and cuts them up to make space ships, tree forts (cuts out leaf shapes and lays them on the ground, and puts strips of gray construction paper down too (sidewalks).

Boxes are the best.
Stephanie

I rented toys, new ones delivered each month. I can't remember the name of the CO. but I saw it on Oprah.
I'm sure if you go to "rented toys" it will be revealed.
Also A deck of cards can amuse for quite a while as each card is perused.

Why does everyone seem to think it is to cold to be outside with small children? In northern Europe they bundle up their small kids and put their babies outside for naps! In fact my 6 month old daughter fell asleep on her walk on saturday and when we got home I left her outside in her snow suit and a blanket while I did some yard work she slept for 2 hours, far longer than she does normally in the house! We just got back from spending Christmas in europe with our California baby who is used to a milder climate and we bundled her up and went off hiking all over and she was just fine. Going out in the cold and even rain just makes having a nice bath when you get home even more fun.

We got my littlest a Baby Tad and a pots and pan set from Fisher Price that sang as she stacked them. Both these toys were really great to amuse her and educational. She also just loved to play with her play jewelry and these plastic bins we had for her toys. She would empty them out and refill them, somtimes with herself.

Dear A R,
I don't know where you are located, but I can tell you that where I'm at, it gets WAY too cold to be out for any length of time. If not for the kids, for me!
When my kids were really little, we would go visit my mom or some friends that had kids. Or have them over.
It can make for a nice day indoors. My kids also loved the simplest things to play with like boxes or plastic bowls with lids and measuring cups, things like that. My son had a little wooden wagon that had blocks in it that he could pull around the house. He spent hours spilling the blocks and putting them back and dragging them around the house. By little wagon, I mean little...it was flat and he pulled it along with a cord.
My daughter had an Ernie doll (Bert and Ernie). It was bigger than she was. She is 22 and we still have it. She loved that thing. She would drag him around and pretend to feed him or brush his hair. When my son was your daughter's age, he was fascinated with keys. We had a small metal lock box and we would give him a ring of keys and he would sit and try every one until he got the right one. I always stashed something different in it for him. Either that, or we locked our home office door and gave him the keys. He was in full sight, mind you, but he would stand and try every key. What really made us chuckle was how very patient he was about it. He was in his own little world, and he had keys. He even had his own set of keys (that didn't fit anything), but he had his keys wherever we went. We'd get him out of his carseat and say, "You got your keys?" He'd say yes and we were good to go. My kids also loved wooden puzzles.
Interactive play time is so precious, but I think kids need to be able to play on their own too. Giving them something to figure out how to open/close/lock/unlock or put together gets their little brains exercised.

First, try taking some of her toys and putting them away and then rotate the toys she has available. After a week of not seeing a particular toy, it's like new! Also, a short walk each day, say right before nap time helps a great deal. Just a little fresh air even for a short time helps.

Hi there,
I have the same thing with my one year old. She is very energetic and it's too cold to take long walks most days. I have this thing called the "Merry Muscles jumper". It has to be drilled REALLY WELL into a ceiling beam or doorway to be sturdy and safe. My daughter loooves it and she will bounce for a very long time while listening to her favorite tunes. She expends energy and builds muscle in her legs, and is very happy and excited. Also, there are these videos, "Your Child Can Read". They are a little expensive, but worth it. I have a little DVD player, and I set it up in front of her while she bounces. I don't like TV, but I do not mind this because it is educational, and she is learning vocabulary from it. Also gives me a moment to fold laundry, etc...

Make a list of songs, games (peek a boo, hide and seek toddler style, this little piggy) and toys she likes to play with so that when you are in the moment you can reference it. It can be hard to think of ideas on the fly. If you need ideas do an internet search or join some newsletters geared towards little ones. I have signed up online with the companies of the products that we use. Most of them have online newsletters and also send coupons. Here are some of things my son and I do around the house. Sing: old macdonald --animal noises are fun, the chorus for Wheels on the bus, and head, shoulders, knees and toes Special Toys: Toys that need your supervision or guidance can be taken down during those times Magnets: on the frig, dishwasher and cookie sheets, my son loves his animal magnets Containers: beat on them for music, put things in them that can be taken back out. Including my son in my daily chores is a big help and fun for him. As soon as he could stand he would stand up using the dishwasher door to prop him. He would bounce, hit the door and put spoons in the baskets. He is now loves to put the silverware away in the drawer, one at a time! Mirrors, knocking down things and books are very high on his list of favorites. Don't get wrapped up in making big play. It is the little stuff like taking out the mixing bowls that is a blast for that age group. Enjoy! Oh, and your local library probably has some activity books you can check out for play ideas.

Coloring, water colors, painting, reading,clay,glue,art from recycle items, singing, being goofy, making stories up,going to the library for story time, meeting moms, checking out the city community center or church mom's group, making a mommmy and me group withyour friends.
the list is endless and it all ends so very fast, remember to enjoy it most..

Dear AR,
What makes you think she's "bored"?
My daughter is now 16 months and I don't think she knows what that is, but I'm also careful not to entertain her all the time.
I personally think it's extreemly important for kids to be able to play on their own - to use their imagination. I agree with Brandy below, simple toys and games are most effective, One favorite is an empty box big enough for her to climb in and out.
Also the days I spend some time on the floor with her (even if I'm only showing interested in what she is doing,) are the days she does the very best; she is best behaved and seemingly happiest. (I heard somewhere - if you take the time to get down on the floor with your toddler when they are little, then when they are teenagers, they will be more likely to take the time to sit down and talk with you and involve you in thier life.)
Another idea is play date/groups, they burn off lots of energy at these and they do WONDERS for naptime. These are commonly anywhere from once a month to once a week, depending on the group. MOPS is great for organized events once a week, and at least two times a month there is something fun for you to do as well while she plays with other kids. There is another group called MOMS that is mostly just weekly playdates. You can Google either of those to find a group in your area.
Best wishes!

Hi A.R.

I have a 1 year old, a 2 year old, and a 3 year old....They keep each other pretty much entertained, but I also plan fun little crafts with them. We made snowflakes from white papers and hung them up, we made animals from empty toilet-paper rolls and paer towel rolls. Also: we are members of a mom's club, and have playgroups with them. They are always totally happy playing with other toys than they see during the week.

Good luck! And the most important thing: HAVE FUN!!!!!

rotating the toys helps us. i put something away for a while and bring it out again. crayons, playdough, water colors etc. i also discovered my 16 month old really enjoys laundry and blankets in particular. if i fold a load, she will unfold and play with everything for at least 30 minutes. yes, it's more work but she has fun! also, even though it's cold add an extra layer and get a little walk in everyday. it's good to get them outside to explore. good luck!