Steps&Play: Supporting Your Baby’s Development 10–12 Months

By 10-12 months, your child is likely to be sitting steadily, which is a good sign of development. This means they can see their surroundings much better, and their hands are becoming more coordinated. At this stage, they can already play with a wide range of toys and try out new ones. They can stack cubes, build towers, or even play with clay. It is also likely that they are crawling or creeping around, eager to explore everything. Create a safe space where they are free to move and discover, as this will strengthen their muscles and improve coordination. Playing together is a love language for children. During play, the activity itself is what's important, not just the end result. The tasks in the videos, such as finding objects and discovering hiding places, help develop their problem solving skills and memory.

Place small toys or safe household items in a box, with the lid loosely on top so your child can easily remove it. Let them unpack the items, and always name each object as you find it to reinforce both their passive and active vocabulary. You can ask them to take specific items out of the box, name them, and then put them back in, naming them again. As they get the hang of it, you can add more variety by filling the box with only animals or vehicles, for example. At the end of the game, encourage them to put the items back in the box. This not only signals the end of the game but also introduces a sense of order. This activity helps develop thinking, attention, memory, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination, while also offering the joy of exploration.

Tie a small bell or another sound-making object, like a set of keys, to a string. Make sure it's not too small and always keep an eye on it, as it shouldn’t be left unattended. Let them discover it on their own, then show them how to make it chime. Drop the bell once while holding the end of the string and say, "Oops, look, it’s falling!" to see their reaction. The string is also a great way to practice pinching. Just make sure they don’t start chewing on the key or hit themselves with it.

Hold an object behind your back, making sure your child can see what you're doing. Then, encourage them to look for it. When they find it, celebrate together! If they lose interest after a while, try hiding toys in other ways, like covering them with a scarf. This activity helps build visual attention, memory, an understanding of object permanence, and cause-and-effect thinking.

Give your child two medium-sized toys that you know they'll enjoy or find interesting. Let them explore and play with the toys—likely holding one in each hand. Then, offer a third toy you think will catch their attention. Watch how they respond. Do they put one toy down to take the new one? Do they shift one toy to the other hand to try holding two in one hand while reaching for the third? Whatever they do, they're practicing problem-solving and flexible thinking. Just be careful not to overwhelm them with too many toys at once, as that can make it harder for them to focus on any of them.

Once your child is moving confidently and independently, you can introduce hide-and-seek. At first, they might hide in plain sight and will delight in you pretending not to see them. Over time, they'll learn to hide in more concealed spots and will also enjoy searching for you. Always show your excitement when you're reunited—give them a big hug and maybe a kiss! This game helps them manage feelings of separation and fosters an understanding of seeing the world from someone else's perspective.

Place a few toys in a box—not too many, as less is more when introducing the concepts of "in" and "out." Narrate what you’re doing: "Let’s see what’s inside the box! Inside, we have the red ball and the blue ball. Now, look! The red ball is outside, and the blue ball is still inside." Always describe what you’re doing to help them connect language with actions. Understanding "inside" and "outside" is important for many daily situations, and this activity helps develop spatial awareness, fine motor skills, situational understanding, and cause-and-effect thinking.

Place soft items like pom-poms inside a handheld whisk. Sit comfortably in a safe spot and give the whisk to your child, inviting them to figure out how to take out what's inside. At first, they might simply explore it—shaking, banging, or making noise with it—and that's perfectly fine! These actions are part of how they learn and interact with their environment. Allow them plenty of time to explore on their own, and when they’re ready, gently demonstrate how to remove the items. This simple activity helps foster problem-solving, curiosity, and fine motor skills in a playful and engaging way.

Take out the shape sorter and choose just the circle, triangle, and square. Children are often fascinated by the shape sorter and enjoy exploring it, sometimes just for the fun of putting the shapes in and taking them out. At this stage, focusing on the circle is enough, but some children may already be curious enough to try and recognize where the other shapes go. Show them where the circle, triangle, and square fit, but keep it light and playful. Take the shapes out and put them back several times, without forcing any learning. Eventually, they’ll catch on—especially if the activity is enjoyable for both of you. This simple game is a great way to develop spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and visual perception.

Create a magic box by adding an opening at the top, one at the bottom, and a sloping tunnel system made from paper towel rolls between them. This activity works well when your child is becoming more curious about different types of toys and is able to handle small objects. Choose toys that are small enough so they won’t get stuck in the tunnel. Drop the toys into the top opening and watch as they appear at the bottom. Celebrate together when the toy comes out of the magic box! This fun activity helps reinforce object permanence—teaching your child that things still exist even when they can’t see them.

Set up a simple, safe obstacle course using items you have around the house. Keep it easy at first—just create a path with low furniture or cushions to add some height and make it more exciting. At this age, they’re probably already climbing regularly, and if they trip or stumble, they’ll quickly adjust and keep going. Stay nearby to supervise and make sure they’re climbing safely. Offer encouragement through play. This activity helps with motor coordination, strengthens muscles, and improves balance.

If you have a big box at home, cut one or two openings big enough for your child to safely climb into or through. If that’s not possible, you can cover chairs with blankets or create a little hideaway under a table. This can be a really fun game, especially since it combines hiding, sharing a secret space, or—if you’re not climbing in with them—the joy of finding each other. For the first few times, climb in together. If you can’t fit, stay nearby so they can hear you, and when they come out, greet them with excitement! This activity helps strengthen motor coordination and spatial awareness, while also offering a great way to ease separation anxiety.

Create an obstacle course that includes a tunnel to climb through. As you both get more confident, make the route more complex with blankets, pillows, a climbing tunnel, a box, or even a little fort. At each station, add something fun—like hiding toys or giving a hug or a kiss. You’ll both have a blast! This is a great way to develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination through climbing, while also creating a fun opportunity to play together.

Teach your child how to climb up and down larger pieces of furniture. This will not only help them move more skillfully and safely around your home, but it will also give them their first experience with heights in a secure environment. It’s a great way to help them manage any fears they may have about heights. As they practice, their motor coordination, spatial awareness, and confidence will grow. They’ll also feel reassured knowing that you are with them, supporting and helping them along the way.

Place a toy on the sofa or other low furniture, somewhere your child can access by reaching up and holding on. While this task might seem simple, it’s actually quite challenging for them. They need to shift their position, change their perspective, and find their balance. Different muscle groups are engaged as they stand, requiring coordination. It’s amazing how much effort goes into this simple action! Be sure to praise your child when they successfully reach the toy, as this encourages their hard work and curiosity.

Show your child an interesting object from the side or slightly behind them, making sure they have to turn their head to see it properly. This activity helps develop their musculoskeletal system, motor coordination, and balance. Once they get the hang of it, have them sit on your lap facing you. Say a nursery rhyme or song, then have someone call their name from the other side or behind them.

The large exercise ball is a great tool for helping your child develop balance while supporting the growth of their nervous system, motor coordination, and musculoskeletal system. Sit them on the ball facing you and help keep them steady. Say a nursery rhyme or song to make the experience fun and engaging. After playing this a few times and if they enjoy it, you can gently tilt them slightly backward while still holding them securely so they don't fall. Make sure the movement is smooth and not sudden. This exercise also strengthens their trust, and provides a fun shared experience between you both. If they don’t really enjoy this part, don't worry—it's perfectly fine. You can try again later when they’re a bit older and have a better sense of balance.

Pretend to be bears and take a few steps—or even a longer trip—around the house while growling like a bear. Once your child is crawling confidently and standing with ease, this game introduces a new position and perspective. It’s a fun and engaging activity, and many young children start to show a sense of humor at this age already. You can make it even more exciting by adding a little story or role-play: place toys around the house as "stations" for the bears. At each stop, the bears can smell flowers, meet other animals, or have little adventures. This activity strengthens the musculoskeletal system, improves motor coordination and balance, and helps develop spatial awareness—all while being lots of fun!

Start a game of finding bigger and smaller objects in your surroundings. Begin at home, then try it outdoors or other places like while waiting at the doctor’s office, etc. Name an object and ask your child to find it and show it to you. For example, "Where is the flower?" You can tailor the game to a theme, like body parts: "Where is your nose? Where is my ear?" As your child becomes more confident, you can add hints: "Where is the red bag? Where is the barking dog?" This activity helps develop focused attention, critical thinking, and language skills, especially by building their passive vocabulary. It’s also a fun and engaging way to explore together!

Thread a large, smooth bead onto a shoelace, thicker string, or something similar that’s soft but sturdy. Alternatively, if you have an abacus at home, you can use that. Encourage your child to move the bead from one side to the other. At first, hold the string or abacus steady and help them use a pincer grip to move the bead. As they get more comfortable with the game, let them try holding the string or abacus themselves. You can make it more fun by pretending the bead is food for a toy animal on one side. This activity helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sequencing, spatial awareness, and focused attention.

Use a long, thick, soft string for this simple and engaging game. Sit down with your child and show them how to pull the string toward themselves. Once they’ve done it a few times, encourage them to use a pincer grip to pull the string. You can also turn this into a fun activity by attaching the string to a rolling toy, letting them pull it behind them as they climb or move around. Always supervise closely to ensure the string doesn’t create a safety hazard. This activity is excellent for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, attention, and spatial awareness.

Sit behind your child and hold a ball together. Throwing the ball can be a lot of fun, but it might take some practice to get the hang of it. Gently guide their hands to help them make flexible, confident movements as they throw. Teach patience along the way. You can make the game more exciting with fun rhymes about the ball or by aiming at a target. Once they’re comfortable and enjoying the game, sit facing each other and take turns tossing the ball back and forth. Ball games are a fantastic way to build both gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness.

Build a small tower with a few wooden blocks and let your child knock it down—it’s so much fun! This is also the perfect age to start exploring building. First, ask them to hand you the blocks, then encourage them to stack the blocks themselves. They might take their time, but even stacking just two blocks is a great start. What matters most is that they experience building on their own. At this stage, children are learning to reach for objects with precision, plan their movements, and release blocks carefully. This activity is excellent for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.

In addition to building with blocks, ring stacker toys are great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They can be used in a variety of ways. Start by holding the rod horizontally and showing how to string the rings. It’s okay if your child can’t do it yet— fine motor coordination with the rings isn’t easy! You can guide their hand to help. You might also begin by having them remove the rings, giving them a feel for the shape and properties. With practice, they’ll eventually succeed, and it will bring them great joy. Once they understand the concepts of small and big, you can change up the order of the rings. For now, stick to using "small" and "big," as it’s too early to introduce terms like "smallest" or "largest."

Prepare the ring stacker toy with the rings already stacked on it. Ask your child to remove the rings. This can be challenging since they need to pull them upward while keeping the rings from moving in other directions. Once they’re comfortable with this, encourage them to try putting the rings back on. It’s perfectly fine for them to use two hands for the larger hoops. As they play, you can name the colors of the rings. They don’t need to repeat or know these words yet, but hearing them will help build their passive vocabulary and understanding of language. This activity supports the development of fine motor skills, coordination, and critical thinking.

Your child can paint using their fingers, hands, a small sponge, or a thick brush. In other instances, you can explore playing with different liquids, like painting with yogurt on a dark plate. This activity not only enhances fine motor skills but also introduces new tactile experiences. Painting and experimenting with liquid materials can begin at this stage in a simple, exploratory way. At this point, just leaving trails of paint is enough—there’s no need to aim for creating something specific. The focus is on enjoying the process and becoming familiar with the textures and sensations. Meanwhile, their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and tactile perception are developing naturally.

Work together with the playdough—knead it, press it with your fingers and palms, and pinch off small pieces. Explore the material by making palm prints, holes, or little pinches. Many parents enjoy this activity as it brings back fond memories from preschool. There's no need to wait; you can start now, and it's a fun experience for both of you. At this stage, there's no need to create figures or detailed shapes. The focus is on enjoying the tactile experience and having fun. This playdough activity is excellent for developing fine motor skills and tactile awareness.

Show your child how to fit the stacking cups together upside down and build a cool tower. There are many ways to play with these cups, and one of the easiest is to build a pyramid-like tower. If you have two sets, you can make the tower even taller. Also, demonstrate how to take it apart and rebuild it independently. It’s okay if the cups fall off sometimes—it’s all part of the learning process. If the rattling sound bothers them, try playing on the carpet. This activity helps develop hand-eye coordination, thinking, and focused attention.

Leave a mark by scribbling on a large piece of butcher paper with a palm-grasp crayon or thick pencil. If your child has difficulty holding the tool, guide their hand and help them feel the movement. Use big, sweeping strokes and alternate colors. Let them freely explore the basics of drawing—there’s no need to teach, give assignments, or have them copy anything at this stage. They don’t need to create shapes or forms yet, as it’s not time for structured drawing tasks. The goal of this activity is to develop graphomotor skills while having fun and fostering creativity.

Move together while listening to music or singing. You can dance by hugging, picking them up, holding hands, or whatever feels right. Step, twirl, kick—whatever your child enjoys most. If you're listening to a familiar nursery rhyme, sing along with them. Make dancing and listening to music a regular activity. This game helps develop auditory perception and attention, supports listening to and understanding of speech, and is also a wonderful bonding experience, fostering connection and closeness.

Look for larger boardbooks that are suitable for your child’s age. For each picture, say a few words, like "Hello, puppy!" or "Meow-meow," and "The dog says: woof-woof." At this stage, looking at books isn’t about following a story, but about sharing the experience, helping your child learn to love books, and expanding their knowledge. Cuddling up to read is wonderful, but also creates opportunities for them to see how you articulate sounds and words. Make it a daily habit to pull out books, talk about the pictures, and explore them together. Look at the same books often, as once your child is familiar with the pictures, they can tell you about them, and you can always add new details. Consider going to the library to discover new books—many libraries have excellent children's sections with up-to-date literature, games, activities, and opportunities to make new friends.

Put some toys on the carpet and sit opposite from your child or side by side with them. Ask them to give you something nearby, and when they do, thank them. Continue asking for and saying thank you for each toy, and if it becomes too easy, challenge them by asking for two toys at once to help develop their memory and attention. This activity is a great way to teach manners, rules, and the words that go with them, laying the foundation for future learning.

Say nursery rhymes or songs that name body parts while touching and caressing them. These rhymes or songs are helpful in many ways: they improve speech and vocabulary, enhance rhythm and sequencing, and teach the names of body parts, which helps develop a child's bodily peception and self-awareness. The physical touch, hugs, and kisses create a loving and comforting experience. You can include these rhymes or songs during bath time, diaper changes, or as part of your daily routine. You can find more suggestions for rhymes and songs in our Songs and Nursery Rhymes recommendations.

Once your child can crawl, you can make the peek-a-boo game even more fun by covering them with a sheet and pretending you can't find them. Playfully express some "anxiety" by saying, "Oh, where is my precious baby? They were just here a moment ago, where have they gone? I wish they would come back to me, I love them so much!" Then, when your little one reappears, greet them with a big, joyful hug. You can also create a tunnel with the blanket so they can crawl through it to reach you. This kind of playful interaction can help your child release emotional tensions related to their birth, providing a safe and joyful way to bond and create positive memories.

Play the game "Who's coming to my house...?" by holding out your hand and waiting for your child to come to you. Over time, your child will start to understand and use more gestures, which is a great sign that they are developing a need to communicate, even if it isn't always with words yet. It's important to reinforce these gestures, helping them express themselves in different ways. You can support this by using simple words to accompany the gestures, and by adding new songs or games that create shared experiences. Always make sure to pair your gestures with speech to further enhance their communication development.

Try playing with opening and closing things like a cupboard, a box, or even a book. You can also use your hands or arms, opening and closing them. When something’s open, you can “run” toward it, then close it again as you give a hug or a gesture. This is a great way to introduce the idea of “open” and “close,” and it’s not only fun but helps build language skills too. It’s a nice way to bond, create emotional connections, and support your child’s thinking and attention. Plus, it’s a great game you can play over and over.

Prepare a few different toys or items and ask, “Do you want this?” or “I’ll give you something.” It may seem simple, but there’s a lot happening beyond just language skills. This game teaches the joy of giving and receiving, which are key social behaviors and part of communication. It’s also about choice, reciprocity, and listening to each other. Play with different objects in various situations, using gestures and short, simple sentences. It helps your child understand communication and builds social skills in a fun, interactive way.

Set up some interesting, safe toys or objects around your home for your child to explore. If they try to take something that's not a toy, gently say, “No, no, that’s not a toy. Please put it back.” Setting boundaries is a key part of parenting, and while it can be challenging, it teaches your child about rules, limits, and helps guide their attention. It also helps you become more confident in your role as a parent, especially when you need to say “no” to something that might be unsafe. Use simple, firm gestures—not yelling—and stay consistent. If there’s tension, help your child relax and stay calm.

Set up some interesting toys and safe objects at home for your child to explore. Let them observe and show curiosity about them. If they try to pick up something that's not a toy, gently say, "No, no, that’s not a toy, please put it back." Saying "no" can feel difficult, especially with smaller things, but it’s really important. It teaches your child about boundaries and helps guide their attention. It also helps you become more confident in your parenting role. When you need to say no to something dangerous, you'll be better prepared and understand their reaction. For now, it’s a harmless game where you’re helping them learn. Use clear gestures, stay calm, and keep your approach firm but gentle. Most importantly, stay consistent. Sit with your child during these moments and be there to support them through the process.

Hide a toy in front of your child, just out of sight but close by, like under something or behind a small object. Then, with an excited tone and a gesture, ask, "Where did the car go?" You can pretend to look in a few places as if you're unsure, but if your child points to it right away, that’s great too! Celebrate the moment with joy: "Yes, it’s there! Good job, you found the car!" This game helps develop attention and memory, strengthens the concept of object permanence, and—when played in a fun, light-hearted way—creates a positive, bonding experience.

Imitate the sounds of different animals and wait for your child to join in. Keep the sounds simple and easy to follow. Start with 4 or 5 different animal sounds and gradually add more over time. You can use plushies, wooden animals, finger puppets, or even pretend to be a teddy bear, dog, or cat yourself. This is a great way to start role-playing and helps develop listening skills, attention, and communication. You can even make the game more interactive by having an "animal dialogue" or adding characteristics to the sounds, like a growling bear that’s big and brown. Show how the bear crawls around. While your child might not say all these things yet, you’re expanding their knowledge and offering them more ways to engage in the game. At this stage, many children begin repeating sounds, and some may even start using real words. Both are great! Just be sure your child isn’t using a pacifier during the day, as this will help them develop expressive speech and healthy articulation muscles.

When your child namess something, praise them and repeat what they said. You can also add to it to help support their speech development. For example, if they say "teddy" as "te" you can respond with, "Yes, that's a teddy. A teddy bear!" Then, say it a little slower, breaking it down into syllables. It's important to praise them not only when they say the word fully and correctly but also when they say part of it, use a similar word, or create a unique expression. At this age, speech development is just starting, so they'll communicate with a variety of vocalizations. Some children might express themselves with first syllables or short words, which is perfectly normal! Just be sure they're not using a pacifier during the day, to help with articulation and the development of their speech.

Reinforce your child's facial expressions and gestures by also using a lively voice and gestures during play. Praise them even when they point at something, and expand on their thoughts by modeling speech for them. Non-verbal communication, such as gestures and facial expressions, is just as important as spoken words in a conversation. When looking for objects or pictures, express the question and point to the object yourself: "Where did the bear go? Oh, where is that bear? Yes, you're so smart! There it is! That's where the bear is hiding!" This helps them connect gestures and speech in a fun, interactive way.

Look at yourselves and each other in the mirror. Make sure the child doesn't have a pacifier in their mouth. If they try to touch the other baby in the mirror, let them, but gently guide their hand and say: "Look, this is you, this is me." Show them different facial expressions like joy, surprise, and sadness. Give them time to observe what they see before moving on. They may try to imitate some of the expressions. Add a few words, like "Wow, how interesting!" when showing an amazed face. End the game with a positive emotion, like happiness. This is a great way to build your relationship, explore emotions, and indirectly support the development of articulation muscles.

You can play a game of "throw a kiss" in front of the mirror or with each other. Show your child how to do it by making facial expressions and gestures. You can throw kisses or give the little one kisses on their head or hands. Smile and say, "I love you, I'll send you a kiss." This helps your child learn to express love and positive emotions. How ever, if they don't give kisses themselves or seem hesitant, don't worry. They may not be in the mood, or simply not enjoy it yet.

Gently stroke and caress a baby doll or, if they enjoy it, even your pet. Showing love, affection, and reassurance through these gestures is a wonderful way to bond with your child during your time together. Simple role-playing is starting to develop at this stage, and these social-emotional games are an important part of it. It’s also great for both girls and boys to have a doll, as it can play a key role in many future role-playing scenarios. If they don't have one, a larger plushie works just as well. What matters most is that your child sees and hears how to express their emotions, making them an integral part of daily life.

Offer a variety of options and ask what they’d like to play with. Once they choose, make sure they have the chance to engage fully with it. Join in their play and get involved too. It’s really important to give them the space to express their own will. They should feel that their choices matter, and that things can unfold the way they want. This helps build their self-confidence, trust in themselves, and trust in you as a parent. Working together this way is enjoyable for both of you and strengthens your bond.

Help them develop independence by starting with everyday tasks like eating and getting dressed. At mealtime, offer them a spoon and give them the opportunity to try using it. Be patient and allow enough time for them to experiment. It may not be easy at first, but with time, they’ll get better. In the beginning, they might only dip the spoon into the food and swallow it, but as their fine motor skills and coordination improve, they’ll be able to use the spoon more effectively. Watching them gain confidence as they master these tasks will be incredibly rewarding for both of you.

Play with the bath sponge, wash their hands, feet, and neck. Bath time is fun for many reasons: one of them is the joy of taking steps toward independence. By being involved in the washing process, they can learn about the boundaries and sensations of their own body in a semi-playful way. Let them first explore and try out the sponge, fill it, squeeze it into water, or into a small bucket. From there, pour it into the tub or onto their own feet. If they initially resist, you can pour it onto your arm or a toy. Use simple rhymes or songs while doing it.

When cleaning, give them a dust cloth and show them how to use it. Getting involved in the cleaning helps them take part in the household chores. Kids are usually eager to help, especially with household tools, which is why they often get toy cleaning sets as gifts. But they might lose interest in those toys over time or miss out on the real joy of helping. It’s better to get them involved with the actual cleaning—helping them wipe the furniture for a little while. If there’s just a small bit to clean, you can wipe down one or two things together. Just make sure you do it with them so you can keep an eye on them and make sure it’s safe and easy.

Clean up together and let them take the lead sometimes too. At this age, one of their favorite activities is putting things away. Opening and taking things out of a cabinet can be even more interesting than any toy. If possible, give them the chance to do this at home. Set up a small cupboard, drawer, or box where they can put things. It doesn’t have to be toys—maybe a sock drawer or a towel drawer. It’s helpful to set the ground rule that the activity always ends with putting everything away. This helps them get used to order, a safe environment, and independence. They’ll feel proud of putting things away neatly, which will boost their confidence.

Clean up their room together at the end of playtime and every night before bath. This isn’t just about teaching a love for tidiness and setting boundaries—it’s also emotionally important. Tidying up marks the end of the day, a farewell to the activities, and creates a mini ritual that prepares them for the night. It’s part of the natural rhythm of life and transitions them to a calmer state, ready for sleep. A tidy room and cleaning up toys have symbolic meaning—they bring a sense of calm and can help ease feelings around sleep and bedtime.

Blow bubbles, show them how, and let them give it a try—even if it means getting their clothes or the floor a little wet. Blowing bubbles is so much fun! It is also great for sensory development, coordination, and strengthening the articulation muscles. If they’re not into it or find the slower blowing tricky, try blowing a little foam puff off their arm during bath time, or blow a strip of paper or a small ribbon on a stick. You can blow the bubbles for them for a while too. This activity isn’t just entertaining—it also teaches them how to control air and helps develop blowing skills.

Place medium-sized plastic toys in a bowl or sink filled with water and encourage them to pick them up. If they prefer, you can introduce a tool to help, and offer some guidance at first. Let them splash and explore. It’s a good idea to play in the bathroom or outside to keep things easily manageable. This activity is a great way to build tactile awareness and hand-eye coordination. If they enjoy it, you can later adapt the game to include sorting by color or category. It’s a fun way for them to explore textures and practice fine motor and problem-solving skills.

Play in the sand box as much as you can on nice days. Playing in the sand isn’t just great for sensory development—it’s also a fun outdoor and social activity. Join in the play. Try squeezing sand into different shapes and buckets with different levels of moisture. Don’t worry about making elaborate creations; instead, let them explore, experiment, and get to know the texture of the sand. For indoor fun, you can use kinetic sand, which brings the joy of sand play inside.

Use a sturdy ziploc bag that you can fill with paint and seal tightly to prevent any spills. Add a few different colors, seal the bag, and secure it to the floor. Show your child how to play by pressing or squeezing the bag to mix the paints. It's exciting for them to see the colors blend while keeping their hands clean. You can create multiple bags with different colors and sizes. This activity is fantastic for building hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and visual attention.

For this activity, use a shoebox with holes cut into the top. Make the holes big enough for a craft stick (popsicle stick) to fit through—some can be larger to make it easier, while others can be snug for more of a challenge. Give your child the box and some craft sticks, and encourage them to drop the sticks through the holes. You can use colorful sticks or decorate the box with paint or colored paper to make it more engaging. This game helps develop focus, perseverance, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills. The precise movements required are great practice for skills like pencil gripping in the future.

A balance board can be a versatile tool. Encourage your child to sit on it and gently rock back and forth. While doing this, sing a song or tell a story to make it fun and engaging. If they seem unsteady, let them lean on you or hold their hand or torso to provide support while rocking minimally. If they enjoy the movement, you can hand them a ball to hold. Once they’re more stable, they can try standing up on the balance board, while you continue to hold their hand or torso for balance. Experiment with different motions, but always pay attention to their reactions—keep it fun without causing fear, and offer just enough challenge to help develop their balance skills.