Activities for a 16-month-old baby can also involve learning how to hold a crayon, scribble, and throw tantrums, apart from giving a warm cuddle. Introducing them to activities is guaranteed to fascinate them and capture their attention. Around this age, toddlers become more active to crawl and rage to discover new things.
A mother and blogger from New Zealand shares some of the activities she has used to engage her 16-month-old daughter, whom she refers to as S. She says, “S is now 16 months old and I am constantly thinking of new activities to set up for her. Most of these are easy and cheap to make and offer great learning opportunities for our young ones. S and her dad play Car Tracker Racer together, and they love racing the cars down the track. Basket of farm animals is another activity where we look at each animal, talk about their body shape, name them, and we learn what sound they make. S shows so much interest in getting into my makeup bag to open and close makeup containers. So, opening and closing lids is another activity where I have a basket of empty containers for her to explore. This keeps her engaged for a long time (i).’’
In this post, we list some more entertaining learning activities for 16-month-old to strengthen the bond with learning and keep their minds occupied. Sit with them and help them do the activities so your children are encouraged towards learning.
15+ Games And Activities For 16-Month-Old Baby
The following games and activities stimulate the baby’s physical and mental skills, and they will be able to socialize – all while having fun.
1. Pass the ball
You will need:
- You, your partner, and the baby
How to:
Sit equidistant from one another and roll a small ball towards the baby. Once he catches it, ask him to roll it to your partner who passes the ball back to you. Repeat the same cycle and prompt the baby in case he is confused.
Skill developed:Hand-eye coordination, object tracking skills
2. Walk the maze
You will need:
Carton boxes as tall as the baby
How to:
Infants learn to walk a few steps without support at the age of 12 months. Here is the game to nurture their walking skills at 16 months (1). Unfold the carton boxes and flatten them out. Place them on the floor like a maze, with an entry and exit point. Guide the baby through the maze by giving him cues and encourage and appreciate him once he walks out of the box. This game makes a fantastic indoor activity for a 16-month-old, and stimulates his thinking.
Skills developed: Vision-movement coordination, basic problem-solving and decision-making skills
3. Catch the floating balls
You will need:
- Small colorful plastic ballsBasket-like bucket
How to:
Put a few colorful plastic balls into the baby’s bathing tub. Give the baby a bucket, and ask him to fish out all the floating balls with the bucket. If he seems confused, show him how to do it. Alternatively, you could also fill a bucket with plastic balls and push it to the bottom of the tub and when the baby is ready for the activity, pull out the bucket. All the balls will rush to the surface, making the baby squeal with happiness.
Skills developed: Hand-object movement coordination, fine motor skillsiXThe ability to make movements using the small muscles of the hands and wrists.
4. Bubble catching:
You will need:
• Soapy waterBubble maker
How to:
Make some soapy water at home or get a ready-made one. Using a loop or bubble-making gun, blow out one bubble at a time while your partner prompts the baby to look at the bubbles. Blow out a few more bubbles in the air and let the baby track them. This exercises his vision to its full potential.
Skills developed: Object tracking, overall skills of vision
5. Sorting the clothes
You will need:
- Baby clothes
- Three to four laundry baskets
How to:
Place the baby’s clothes on the bed and make the baby sit with the laundry baskets. Assign each basket to a type of cloth such as for jackets, socks, pants, etc., by putting the first cloth in the basket yourself. Then hand a cloth to the baby by calling aloud its name (“This is a sock”). Hold the baby’s hand and put the cloth in the correct basket. If the baby seems confused, make him identify the right basket to place the cloth. Repeat this until the baby gets a hang of it. It is an excellent learning activity for a 16-month-old baby.
Skills developed:Object-noun associationiXThe ability of a child to connect objects with related words., memory and cognitive skills
6. The ice slips
You will need:
- Ice cubesChopping board
- Bowl
How to:
Place the chopping board at an inclined angle and put an ice cube atop the board. Slowly let go the ice cube and watch as the baby watches the ice cube in fascination. Now, prompt the baby to do the same. You could freeze a few fruit puree cubes to make the activity colorful.
Skills developed: Tracking moving objects, vision-muscle coordination
7. One, two, three
You will need:
- You and your baby
How to:
This is a good time to introduce your baby to numbers. Make him sit in front of you and start counting. Every time you say a number, indicate it with your fingers. So when you say “one”, show him one finger, when you say “two” show him two, and so on. Ask your baby to repeat the numbers to help him remember the sound. Gestures play a significant role in helping a 16-month-old learn new words, and thus finger counting is a good way to teach numbers (2).
Skills developed: Memory skills, basic number-quantity associationiXThe ability to connect a numeral to the associated number of objects.
8. Bubble wrap smash:
You will need:
- Bubble wrap sheet
How to:
People enjoy bursting bubble wrap sheets. And it makes a fantastic prop for a 16-month-old’s activity. Place a few bubble wrap sheets on a hard surface and, step on the sheet and burst some bubbles as the little one watches. Then prompt your baby to do the same and have some fun!
Skills developed: Cause and effect, Tactile sensation developmentiXThe ability to use the sense of touch to understand and learn about objects.
9. Paper folding
You will need:
- Small sheets of colored paper
How to:
Take a colored paper and give another to your baby. Fold the paper and ask your baby to follow you. Keep the folding simple so that he can replicate it easily. Your partner can help the baby by holding his hand and showing him the correct way of folding the paper. Your 16-month-old is going to be adept at using his fingers, and this activity helps develop those skills (3).
Skills developed: Fine motor skills, basic instruction obedience
10. Cereal container
You will need:
- An empty bowl
- Cereal bowl
How to:
Place the cereal bowl in front of the baby and put a handful of cereal into the empty bowl. Do it a couple of times while the baby observes and then tell the baby to do the same. Guide the baby if he spills the cereal outside the bowl. After a few rounds, you can empty the bowl and repeat the process.
Skills developed: Hand agility, fine motor skills
11. Find me if you can
You will need:
- You, your baby and your partner
How to:
This is a version of hide and seek but the hiding spots keep changing. Your partner hides in some place and calls out for the baby. Before you and your baby get there, he sneaks out to another hiding spot. Your curious baby would be confused to hear his dad call him from so many places.
Skills developed:Sound-location coordinationiXThe ability to connect a sound to its source location., hearing skills
12. Touch your nose
You will need:
- Your partner and the baby
How to:
Your partner sits with the baby opposite you. State the instruction “Touch your nose”, and put your finger on the nose while your partner does the same. If the baby does not copy the action, your partner can gently hold the baby’s finger and place it on the nose. Repeat the activity by naming different body parts. Give the instructions without touching the part yourself just to see if the baby remembers it. Once the baby is adept at playing the game, you can play the game with questions like “Where is the nose?”, to observe if the baby can associate a part of the body with its name.
Skills developed: Object-noun-place coordination and understanding
13. Drawing time
You will need:
- Non-toxic, baby-friendly crayons
How to:
Babies love scribbling at the age of 16 months (4), and drawing is a great way to channelize the baby’s creativity. Buy a set of crayons that are specially made for older infants and toddlers. Draw a simple shape on the paper and ask your baby to copy it. His drawing could be shabby, but appreciate him for the efforts.
Skills developed: Introduction to art, basic pencil gripping skills, hand-eye coordination
14. Stack the cups
You will need:
- Paper cups
How to:
Give a couple of cups to your baby and show him how to stack them. Once the baby gets the hang of it, hand him one cup after the other, and let him pile them up. Let the baby hold the stacked cups as it will strengthen his grip. Once stacked, let the baby remove each cup at a time and hand it over to you.
Skills developed: Nimbleness with fingers, overall fine motor skills
15. Music time
You will need:
- Smalls drums meant for babies
How to:
The little one loves banging and hitting objects at this age, and you can get him a toy drumset. The baby can hold the drumsticks and play the drums while you and your partner can mimic the rattle. It is going to be noisy initially! However, maintain a rhythm in moving the rattles, so your baby will know when he needs to hit the drum.
16. Bean bag toss
You will need:
- Soft bean bags or fabric pouches
- Hula hoops
- A safe play area
How to:
Set the hula hoops on the ground at a fair distance from your child, and show them how to pick up a bean bag and toss it gently toward one of the targets. Encourage them to watch as it lands in or near the target. When your child successfully tosses a bean bag into a target, celebrate their achievement by encouraging words, clapoing, or smiling to show them they did a great job.
Skills developed: Hand-eye coordination, sensory exploration
These activities can be real fun for babies, but there could be a few things you must watch out for.
5 Tips For Parents Of 16-Month-Old
Following are ways to have more fun with your 16-month-old:
- Be patient when introducing an activity: A baby may not immediately grasp the game or may learn only a bit of it. In any case, be patient since babies take some time to understand and imitate a new concept.
- Skip an activity if a baby dislikes it: Does he become irritable every time you play a particular game? This could mean that he does not have a good taste for the activity. Try another one and never force the baby.
- Have an activity schedule: Play a different game every day and give breaks between activities. That will ensure the baby does not get bored but develops an interest towards each activity.
- Be interactive: Talk to your baby, give him instructions, and when he gets anything right appreciate. It is essential for the parents to communicate with the baby.
- Baby proof the house: Baby proof your home to mitigate the risk of accidental injury. Keep away sharp objects and electrical appliances
Activities for 16-month old babies should aim to develop their gross and fine motor skills. You may teach them to hold crayons, pencils, or other objects in the right way. Walking the maze, catching the floating balls, bubble catching, smashing the bubble wrap, etc., are interesting activities for 16-month-olds. You may also teach them basic numbers from this age. Introducing some music toys or making them listen while you sing can also be ideal at this age. However, never force a baby to do something they dislike. You may also introduce different activities to avoid boredom.
Key Pointers
- Engage toddlers in learning games and activities to fuel their curiosity and interest.
- Develop cognitive and motor skills with activities like Catch the floating balls, Walk the maze, Pass the ball, and Bubble catching.
- Use household items to make learning fun with activities like Sorting the clothes, Cereal container, and Stack the cups.
- Introduce music, drawing, and numbers to babies with activities like Music time, Drawing time, and One, two, three, respectively.
- Make learning enjoyable for both baby and parents by being patient, following an activity schedule, and ensuring the house is baby-proofed to prevent accidental injuries.
This video features fun and interactive activities for children aged 12 to 18 months. Explore fine motor and sensory skills that will keep your tiny bundle of joy occupied.
