When my 1-year-old son started walking, that’s when I knew hell was about to break loose. Suddenly, I was living with a tiny tornado of energy. If he’s not preparing to walk out of the house, he’s busy throwing clothes and shoes out of their shelves, sneaking into the kitchen uninvited, plotting to bang the TV or pull it off the stand, jumping off furniture no matter how unsafe it looks, or trying to yank chargers from the sockets.
He is a ball of untamed energy. And me? I work from home. So, you can imagine how impossible it feels when my 1-year-old son chooses not to sleep exactly when I need to get something done.
Of course, I could take the easy way out and hand him a smartphone—let him binge on Cocomelon or some random Italian “brain rot” cartoons. But I know better. That’s lazy parenting, and worse, it could hurt his speech development. So no sir, not in my house.
Instead, I had to get creative and look for activities that could keep him busy long enough for me to breathe, maybe catch a quick nap, or at least type one email in peace. Here’s a list of activities that are working for us:
1. Sensory Play
Sensory bins are pure magic for toddlers. I toss in things like plastic animals, oats, or rice and let my 1-year-old son scoop, pour, and scatter to his heart’s delight. It’s messy, yes, but it buys me a few minutes of calm. Sometimes I let him play with frozen peas or corn—tiny fingers love the texture and it’s safe if he decides to sneak one into his mouth.
2. Playing With Food
Forget neat and tidy. Give my 1-year-old son yoghurt, spaghetti “worms,” or mashed potatoes and you’ve just unlocked a full play session. The aftermath? Straight to the bath. But while it lasts, he’s entertained, exploring textures, and I get a breather.
3. Painting and Drawing
Hand paints on paper are an instant hit. I tape down a big sheet to the floor, strip him down to his diaper, and let him go wild. On calmer days, chunky crayons are enough—scribbles that mean nothing to the world but everything to him.
4. Movement Games
He has energy to burn, so I give him safe outlets:
- Pillow mountains to climb.
- A blanket tunnel between chairs.
- Push toys (sometimes just a laundry basket full of clothes).
This way, my 1-year-old son is working out that endless energy without trying to leap from the couch like a stuntman.
5. Everyday Exploration
Toddlers don’t need fancy toys—they want what we use. Pots and pans become drums, plastic containers become towers, and even an empty baby wipes packet can keep him busy (pulling wipes in and out feels like serious work to him).
6. Water Play
A small basin with cups, spoons, and a few floating toys is enough to keep my 1-year-old son focused. Sometimes I give him wet sponges to squeeze, and other times bath toys work just as well outside the bath as they do inside it. Warning: puddles will happen.
7. Quiet Busy Time
When I’m desperate for real work time, I turn to “busy boards” with switches, zips, and Velcro strips. Stacking cups, nesting bowls, or flap books also do the trick. They don’t last forever, but even 10–15 minutes of quiet feels like gold.
Final Thoughts
Parenting a 1-year-old feels like being a referee in a nonstop wrestling match. But with a bit of creativity, I’ve found activities that not only keep my son engaged but also help him learn, explore, and grow. The trick is not giving him everything at once—rotating toys and activities keeps them feeling “new.”
At the end of the day, yes it’s messy, yes it’s loud, but it’s also the kind of chaos I’ll look back on and laugh about. For now though, I’ll take any activity that gives me time to sip my tea before it goes cold.
