Music Activities for 1 Year Olds

Finding the right music activities for 1 year olds means matching the activity to their developmental stage. At 12-24 months, kids are working on walking and balance, simple cause and effect, and music activities can support all of these areas.

Music Activities Ideas for 1 Year Olds

Here are our top picks, adapted for the very simple with large areas level appropriate for this age group:

Sound Matching

Fill containers with different items and match them by sound. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Sing-Along Time

Learn and sing nursery rhymes, folk songs, or action songs together. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

DIY Rain Stick

Create a rain stick from a cardboard tube, rice, and nails or toothpicks. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Rhythm Clapping

Clap along to songs and practice copying rhythm patterns. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Dance Party

Put on favorite songs and dance freely or follow choreography. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Freeze Dance

Dance when music plays and freeze like a statue when it stops. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Tips for Parents of 1 Year Olds

• Praise effort over results to build confidence and a growth mindset.
• Rotate activities regularly to prevent boredom and stimulate new skills.
• Take photos of finished work to create a portfolio of their progress.
• Make it social by doing the activity alongside your child.
• Keep sessions to about 5-10 minutes to match their natural attention span.

How to Get Started

1. Choose an activity from the ideas above that matches your child’s interests.
2. Gather materials listed in the activity description.
3. Set up a workspace that’s comfortable and easy to clean.
4. Guide your child through the activity, offering help when needed.
5. Display or save their work to encourage pride in their accomplishments.