Look for something that lets 1-year-olds do what they want instead of following specific instructions. In toys, look for a variety of textures they can explore with their hands, says Marie Conti, Director of Regional Community Relations for American Montessori Society and the former head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.ĭevelopment experts agree open-ended toys are best.

“It’s a very active time,” says Tovah Klein, Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York City, and the author of “ How Toddlers Thrive.” What do 1-year-olds like to play with?įrom their first birthday onward, one-year-olds are moving on from baby toys and practicing speaking and recognizing rhymes, so they’re primed for books that teach words or engage them with lifting flaps. That’s because favorite activities at age 1 include pushing and pulling, putting things together and taking them apart, and - yes - moving things in and out of boxes. Finding unique presents for kids can feel like a challenge, but getting a meaningful gift for a 1-year-old might be easier than you think: It’s that age when the box really can be more exciting than the toy inside.

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