STEM Activities for 1 Year Olds

Finding the right stem 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 stem activities can support all of these areas.

STEM 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:

Musical Instruments

Guitars, drums, pianos, and kids playing music together. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Dinosaur Adventures

Prehistoric dinosaurs from friendly T-Rex to gentle Brontosaurus in their habitats. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Vehicle Parade

Cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, and boats in action scenes. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Garden & Flowers

Beautiful gardens with flowers, butterflies, bees, and watering cans. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Mandala Patterns

Geometric and nature-inspired mandala designs for focused coloring. For 1 year olds, keep the complexity very simple with large areas and expect about 5-10 minutes of focused engagement.

Community Helpers

Firefighters, doctors, teachers, and mail carriers doing their jobs. 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.