At one year, your toddler can do a lot more than he/she could just a couple of months ago. Each day they are learning something new, and constantly entering a new stage. They change so much from age 1-2. Toys can be tricky since they can outgrow them each time they move to a new stage of development, so I put this list together to provide a list that my kids have loved throughout their whole first year. (and even beyond!). Make sure you send the list to your family and friends too!
Best Gifts for 1 Year Old Baby/Toddler
(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).
If you’ve dreamed of a peaceful, stress free, holiday season where you actually get to enjoy the magic Christmas, then this planner is for you!! Keep track of your budget, gifts, stocking stuffers, menus, décor ideas and more. This planner includes October, November & December calendars to help break up the stressful planning into manageable chunks.
This planner comes with 52 pages that you can use in whichever way you prefer. If you like a digital experience, then export the download to an app like GoodNotes and plan away. Are you more of a paper and pen kind of person (like me)? Print out the pages and start prepping for the season. There are 2 formats depending on how you would like to keep your pages – 1 is a regular set up 8.5″x11″ page and the other has increased margin space for if you want to hole punch and put into a binder.
No matter which way you use, this planner is guaranteed to provide less stress during the holiday season, and allow you to spend time on what really matters. SHOP NOW!
Know someone who would enjoy this? I’d appreciate if you shared it with them, or even purchased one for them as a gift! You can get ready for Christmas together!
Pages include:
-Cover
-Christmas Countdown
-Countdown to Christmas checklist by week (3 pages)
-Monthly Calendars (Oct – Dec 3 pages)
-Weekly Calendar (print/copy as many times as needed)
-Daily Calendar (for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day – 3 pages)
-Deal Day Lists (October Deal Days, Black Friday & Cyber Monday – 3 pages)
To finish out the summer, we’re doing a make believe theme. This is a little different than the fairy tale theme from last week, as that was more whimsical and princess like while this one I think of more aliens, robots, monsters, pirates etc… They are both make believe, but the different themes kind of evoke a different feeling.
Letter/Sight word hop – write words or letters on paper plates and put them on a path (alien path, pirate path or whatever). have child hop over each one saying the word/letter until the end.
Stuffed animal math – For the younger child, set up 6 stuffed animals then count out 20 pieces of play food – feed the food to the stuffed animals and play. For the older child, set up 6 stuffed animals and give them 6 pieces of play food. Write 6 / 6 on the easel and have them divide up the food between the stuffed animals. Have them tell you how many pieces of food each one got – complete the equation. Then repeat this with 3 stuffed animals, 2 stuffed animals & 1 stuffed animal.
Driving letters/words – With masking tape, make review letters/words. Draw dotted lines on the tape to make it look like a road. Have child drive a ‘space ship’, ‘pirate ship’, or some other fun thing over the masking tape to the treasure.
Robot Mountains – On butchers paper, write #’s 16-20 in a zig zag formation. Draw a mountain to the right of the 20, and a robot to the left of the 16. Draw a similar scene 2 more times so that there are 3 chances for the robot to get to the mountain with slightly different tracing paths (zig zag, squiggly, straight for example). Have child connect the dots to get the robot to the mountain.
Lego division – use lego bricks to help solve word problem equations that you make up (ex. If the pirate had 16 swords to share with his brother and sister, how many would each get? If there are 12 shoes to split between 3 aliens, how many does each get?)
Where is the hidden treasure? – On a piece of paper, write out 5 simple division problems (ie: 4/2, 6/3 etc.. ) After your child is done coloring the map from art today, use post it flags to write the answers to the 5 problems and post them on a map landmark (ie: the ship, cannon etc..). Place one other post it with a random number that is not associated to a division problem on a final unmarked landmark. You now have a map with hidden treasure and a lot of decoys. To find the which landmark really holds the treasure, solve the equations (using unifix or some other manipulative) and take the post it with the answer off the map. The final post it left at the end is where the treasure is really buried.
Candy sensory test – Get a couple of candies and have your child describe what they see, feel, hear, smell and taste for each one. I recommend pop rocks, runts, sweet tarts, m&ms (from the math activity) and something chocolate like 3 musketeers. After sampling for the test, you can eat some during the movie.
Fairy tale’s might mean something different to everyone, but to me it’s a mix between princesses and old classics like Jack & The Beanstalk. You could go the total nursery rhyme route, princess and dragons, fairies or a mix of everything. I chose things that my children are more interested in at the moment, but you could always choose what interests your child.
Just a reminder, the division aspect for my 4/5 year old is just an INTRODUCTION of the CONCEPT!! And as always, anything with an asterisk is explained at the bottom of the post.
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Read the lost sheep
Pick a sheep coloring page, color and cover the sheep’s body in cotton balls
Hide & seek sheep – while your child builds a sheep pen out of magnatiles or blocks, hide a sheep figurine in the room. Have your child find it and return it to the pen.
Hearding sheep – Blow up a few white balloons (sheep) and get a staff (small bat, rolled newspaper etc..). Have your child use the staff to heard the sheep into a pen – this could be under a chair, into the corner of a room, behind the couch, or wherever.
What’s Missing – Put 5 objects on a tray or table and let your child look at them for about 30 seconds. Have them close their eyes and remove an object. When they open, see if they can remember which item is missing. Play again, adding an object every time. Relate to how God knows where everyone is even though there are billions of people.
Fairy wand – cut long rectangle & star from foam sheets. Roll reactance to form a tube. Hot glue star on top. Decorate with gems, sequins etc
Beanstalk letters/sight words – write sight words or letters at the bottom of an egg carton. Write the same sight word or letter on a bean and have them match them up.
Letter Maze – I will use one of the mazes from the source but write the letters M-Q on the correct path for them to follow. I will put other letters on the wrong path and help her do letters M-Q alphabetically to get to the end.
Beanstalk Numbers – On the beanstalk craft, write the numbers 1-15 in the leaves. For younger children, call out a number and have them place a bean on the number you called. For older children have them count out a set number of beans that you tell them (ie. 9) then tell them to place the same amount of beans on a number of leaves (ie. 3 of the leaves). Ask how many beans were able to go on each leaf (in this case 3). Explain how this is a division problem – 9 divided by 3 =3
Beanstalk Craft – On a large sheet of butchers paper, use green dot markers or paint to draw a beanstalk with at least 15 leaves. Glue thinned cotton balls to the top for clouds.
Poison apple letters/sight words/ numbers – Print apples, and write the letters/numbers/words you are practicing on them. Leave the poison apples plain. Mix them all in a pile face down and let your child choose one. If they say the letter/word/number correctly, they can keep it, if not, they put it back. If they pick a poison apple they can pretend to fall into a deep sleep until their parent/caretaker, teacher tickles them awake. Then finish the game until all the cards are gone.
Grow a bean – Soak a few pinto beans overnight, then place them in a Ziplock with a wet paper towel. Tape bag to a sunny window without closing it at the top and watch it grow
Climb the tower – Draw a tower with chalk (like Rapunzel’s tower) with the body of the tower having several jumping boxes (like a straight single hopscotch) I’d do 5 for younger kids and 8-10 for older. In each box write a review letter or sight word. Have the child jump to the first box, saying the letter/word in the box. If they get it right, they jump to the next box doing the same thing. If they get it wrong, they fall off the tower and have to start over. The goal is to make it to the top of the tower to save the princess. You can ‘erase’ or spray the chalk and reorder the letters/words to do the activity over and over.
Alphabet/sight word BINGO – I will draw a simple 2×3 table on paper with 6 review letters, I’ll then pull our letter flash cards randomly and my child will use jewels as BINGO covers. 3 in a row wins. For sight words I will do a 4×5 table with sight words and use my sight word flashcards.
Princess jewel division – Get 3 princess figurines and 6 jewels, ask your child to give each princess the same about of jewels. Ask them how many jewels each princess got. Show them how 6 jewels divided among 3 princesses is 2 so 6/3=2. Tell them that this is a division problem. Can repeat with other equations.
This week we are taking a trip to Africa and going on a safari! (I wish we were really going and not just pretending!) Animal themes always seem to capture my kids attention so I am looking forward to having fun with them. This is what we’ll be doing in keeping on with our theme of the week (you can find a list of our weekly theme and focuses in the freebies section).
Count the number in each row and answer chart questions from this pack – I will also intro the concept of double by asking which row is double the penguin. Then I will show her the 3×2 equation for it
Which are the same? – this is something I threw together for teaching purposes.. I do not have rights to the images
How many cheetah spots? – Laminate and use dry erase marker to draw spots on the cheetahs to solve the equations.
I will use this worksheet to practice the concept of doubling. I will ask her what double or x2 of each would be. I will change the numbers for the giraffes & monkeys to contain 8 & 10 respectively.
This week is ocean week which means sea creatures, beach and sunshine for a fun summer theme! We’re doing a bit of review and reinforcement for my 2 year old, while my 4/5 year old are being introduced to some new concepts – namely, multiplication. Now, when I say we are doing multiplication this week, I don’t really mean that she will be learning her times tables. Instead, I am just INTRODUCING the concepts to her and laying a foundation for when she does actually start to learn multiplication (usually in the second grade).
Remove animal figures from todays sensory bin and hide review letter flash cards in it. Have them find a flash card and tell you the sound. When they get it correct, trade them for a figure. Play with the sensory bin after.
Because Paul and Silas were joyful and obeyed, what did the jailer do?
Paul and Silas felt better when they sang songs to God. Tell me about a time that you felt sad or scared and you sang.
What song do you sing when you are sad or get scared?
Jail Handcuffs and Ball and Chain Craft – Make a paper chain and add a balloon on the end. Place the chain around the child’s ankles. Create another paper chain and use as handcuffs. Discuss how it must have felt to be in jail.
I’ve Got the Joy Song – Even in times of trouble and hardships, if we act as Jesus would, God will be there for us. It’s about what’s in your heart
Letter/Sight word Ocean – Cut out circles or other shapes of colored foam. Use a sharpie to write practice letters/sight words on each piece. Then, put them in the bath, they should float. Call out a letter or sight word and have the child place it on the tub wall. Alternatively, you can have your child ‘fish’ for them and use a net to scoop them up.
Ocean life tic tac toe – Write review letters/sight words on the bottom of 12 cupcake liners and put them in a muffin tin (you can repeat letters/words if you wish). Call out one of the letters/words and have your child put a sea creature figurine on the correct word/letter. When they get 3 in a row, they win!
Hidden letters/sight words – On a piece of paper, use a white crayon to write review letters/sight words. Then have child paint a beach or ocean scene with water colors and when they reveal a letter or word, have them say it.
Ocean ball counting – In a storge bin, baby pool or ball pit (the ocean) put 15 balls (I have ball pit balls so I will use those, but you could use any ball you can find). Also put some sea life creatures to make it more like an ocean. Write the numbers 0-5 on 6 pieces of construction paper and place them around the ‘ocean’. Have your child place the correct amount of balls on each piece of paper.
Ocean ball multiplication – Set up same as ocean ball counting except leave construction paper blank. Ask your child to add X balls onto X amount of papers (ie. On 2 pieces of paper add 4 balls each). Then write out the multiplication problem with them and explain. Repeat until they lose interest.
Clam multiplication – I’ll use 5 clams from the 2 year old math resource. Then I’ll write 2-3 simple multiplication problems on a card for my daughter to solve (ie. 3×2). Explain what the problem is asking (for 3 groups of 2 items). Have your child put 2 poms into 3 egg cartons. Then have them count the total number of poms.
Draw the problem (idea from here) – A girl is going to the beach. She packed 2 bags with 4 toys in each so that she could play on the sand and in the water. How many toys did she bring altogether? Have your child draw a picture of the problem. Then write 4+4 =8 and explain that adding is how you found the number of toys. Then write 2×4=8 and explain that the 2 represents the number of bags and the 4 represents the toys in each while the 8 represents how many toys there are in total. You can point out how there are two 4’s in the equation which your number 2 replaced.
This is the 3rd time I have done this theme now, and my kids have loved it each and every time!!
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Read a changed man
Discussion questions**
Do a maze – it takes some people a while to find the way and they might get lost, but they eventually find their way
Painting in the dark**
Trust snack**
Language (2)
Practice writing letters in sprinkle tray (use finger or cone to write)
Cut out paper balloon shapes, tape on some yarn, write letters you want to practice in the balloon (I wouldn’t do more than 6)
Write ~6 large letters in chalk on the sidewalk about a foot apart and circle each one. Then have the child throw a water balloon at the letter or letter sound that you say
Build a few towers out of legos, blocks or cans. Use post its to stick letters to the towers. Use bean bags to try to knock them down, saying the letter sound as they throw
Paper plate letter clipping**
Language (4)
Dot the sound* Intro sight word DOES – write it in sprinkle tray with finger or cone
Dot the sound Same activity as above, but write sight words instead of letters
Dot the sound Same activity as above but do sight words instead of letters
Dot the sound Same activity as above but do sight words instead of letters
Learn about the circus and discuss how they would travel by train all over the world – can also show some videos of different acts
Learn about a different kind of carnival – Carnival in Rio, Brazil (find on map, show pictures, listen to samba) talk about how this carnival is different than a summer carnival
Popcorn colors to make this a science lesson, I will use yellow, blue & red to learn about color mixing
Discussion Questions
In the beginning of the story did Saul like people who believed in Jesus? (No)
• Where was Saul going to put the people who followed Jesus? (In jail)
• What flashed down onto Saul from heaven? (A bright light)
• What happened to Saul? (He couldn’t see)
• Who was the voice that was talking to Saul? (Jesus)
• What was the man’s name that Jesus sent to Saul to help him? (Ananias)
• When Ananias laid his hands on Saul what happened? (Saul could see)
• After Ananias baptized Saul what did Saul change his name to? (Paul)
• Did Paul start to follow Jesus and tell others about Jesus? (Yes)
• Can we follow Jesus too? (Yes)
Paint in the dark – with only the light of a flashlight, paint a picture. You can use the flashlight as a lantern or tape a paintbrush to the flashlight. This is like how Saul couldn’t see after seeing the bright light.
Trust snack – Put some good snacks in containers that they can’t see through. Ask if they would like to have a snack and if they have guesses to what’s inside. Tell them to trust you that it’s a good snack and give it to them with their eyes closed. Saul couldn’t see, so he had to trust Ananias to help him just like you had to trust me to give you a good snack
Dot the sound – this resource has 6 different options, so I will choose 5 and do one each day
Cotton Candy Craft – Mix equal shaving cream & glue, add food coloring to make puffy paint (pink & blue). Roll paper into a cone and glue to bottom of paper. Use paint to make cotton candy
Bubble art – put an inch of water, 10 drops food coloring, 1T soap mix into a cup. Use a straw to blow bubbles into the cup and let them tower over onto a tray. Pat paper in bubbles to make artwork. (one color per cup)
Duck races – put pool noodle in sensory bin to separate, fill with water. Use squirt guns to get the duck to the other end (our sensory bin is small enough for this, but if you want to use a baby pool or larger bin of some sort, you may want to use a paddle or pool noodle to move the water around the duck to get it to the other side as a water gun might take a long time.
Inflate a balloon – Fill water bottle w/ 1/2c vinegar. Fill deflated balloon half way with baking soda. Put balloon on water bottle, shake it up, watch it inflate
Muffin patterning – Have child roll a big die and count the number. Then place balls of playdo in a muffin tin (or ice cube tray) in alternating colors to make an ABAB pattern of the number rolled. Could use blue and pink for cotton candy or red and yellow for popcorn or any colors they want!
Ticket punching – I got some tickets from dollar tree and drew colored dots in an AB pattern on the edges. Then I’ll have my child punch each color with a hole punch while repeating the pattern
Ticket matching – On tickets from the dollar tree I drew 3-D shapes and will have her match the tickets to the 3D object manipulatives that we have. Once she’s done, she can punch the tickets if she wants to
Shapes in Gymnastics – When I think carnival I also think circus and acrobatics and since my daughter is OBSESSED with gymnastics I thought it might be a fun way to incorporate the 2. So, I will use the physical apparatuses that we have (like the balance beam) to relate them to the geometrical shape (rectangular prism). She can physically count its faces, see it’s shape etc.. We have octagonal mats, and other mats that we can stack to make cubes as well. If you don’t have this equipment and would like to do something else, you could try a mystery bag and put all the 3D objects into a bag and see if they can identify the one they are about to pull out of the bag just by feeling before they look Paper plate letter clipping – On the edge of a paper plate, write in lower case the letters you want to review (I did 8 letters). On clothespins, write the corresponding capital letters. Have child clip the clothespin letter to the paper plate
