Introducing innovative learning activities for 13-month-old babies can enhance their abilities and enable overall development. Most babies begin to walk with support, start eating solid food and get their first teeth by the time they are 13 months. As their movement increases, it becomes easier to explore their surroundings. This development makes them curious and indicates that they are ready to learn new things. You can utilize this opportunity to introduce new learning activities as part of their daily education. Dive into this post for a list of activities that will be beneficial for a 13-month-old baby.
Learning Activities For 13-Month-Old Baby
1. Peek-a-boo under the cover
This is one of the best activities for a 13 month old baby. It will be your toddler’s very first dose of playing hide and seek. Your toddler will love finding you, or an object, or even hiding and being ‘found out’ by you.
You need:
- Any sheet, blanket or a big cloth or towel your baby can use for hiding.Seriously, you know how to do it. It can even be fun for adults.
How to:
- Start by clearing up space. Remove all toys and any other objects that might cause distraction.
- It will also help to prevent your toddler from tripping over and getting hurt.
- Take a sheet and make sure your toddler can see you as you slowly start covering yourself.
- For the first few times, you can simply hold up the sheet and hide behind it, if not under.
- Ask your toddler ‘Where is mamma?’
- Your toddler will try searching for you by exploring around the sheets. You can help by taking out your hand and guiding where to find. You could also peep out a little and smile at your toddler, and then hide again.
- Slowly, as your toddler understands the game, you can help your toddler hide too.
The activity will teach your toddler that objects remain in one place. It also teaches them that just because something is covered, does not mean it is gone.
2. Climbing the pillow mountain
Your toddler will love climbing over objects and overcoming various ‘hurdles.’
You need:
- Any safe objects on which your toddler can climb and bounce – huge pillows and cushions, a small bean bag, big cardboard box, plastic storage containers (make sure the edges are not harsh and your toddler can easily get in and get out of them.
How to:
- Clear up the area and remove any other objects on which your toddler might trip or can get hurt.
- Place the containers around the room in an upside down position near a low couch. It will help your toddler climb.
- Place the cushions around so that your toddler can bounce and jump too.
- You can also place a cardboard box sideways with the flaps open. Your toddler may want to crawl and sit inside.
This movement activity will help to develop your toddler’s balancing skills, gross motor skills, and problem-solving.
3. Reading time
At this age, your toddler will love exploring new books.
You need:
- Any good colorful books with large pictures.
How to:
- Sit down with your toddler in a cozy and quiet place. Remove all distractions as much as possible.
- Open the book and point at familiar objects. Say the word out loud. Encourage your toddler to read by pointing to new pictures and saying the word out loud.
- Help your toddler relate things in the book to actual things around. Point to a baby and say ‘baby.’ Then touch your toddler and say again ‘baby.’
The activity will help your toddler in Speech Development and verbal skills. It will also help in developing attention and an understanding of the world around us. If you have an overly active toddler, you may want to choose reading time after meals or before bed.
4. Shake it baby
After playing with rattles, your baby will love this homemade version.
You need:
- Two empty toilet paper rolls
- Some colorful magazine pages
- Scissors
- Tape
- Rice shaped cereal
How to:
- Seal the end of the tubes so that you can fill them up with the cereal.
- Using the magazine paper, cut two circles bigger than the end of the toilet paper roll.
- Place a circle over one end of the toilet paper roll tube and fold it down.
- Fasten to the tube using tape and wrapping it around the edge of the circle. Fill the tube with cereal.
- Cut two more circles and tape them to the ends that are not covered.
- Play some musical instruments, songs, or try singing to encourage your toddler to shake the new rattle to the beat.
The activity will help your toddler understand rhythm, develop fine motor skills and also help motor skills.
5. Toss the ball
Let your toddler play this fun tossing game.
You need:
- An empty cardboard box
- Old paper to make balls
How to:
- Open the cardboard box properly so that your toddler can toss the balls.
- Let your toddler stand or sit at a distance and show how to toss.
Another ball game for 13 months old is Push balls. Christie, a mother of two, makes her kids play the game. She says, “There is a fantastic one by Sapienza that I have in my classroom and it is honestly one of the children’s favorite activities for years. I tried to find one similar locally and settled on the Melissa and Doug 4 ball tower and took away the hammer. I wanted the boys to learn to exert effort with the strength of their own hand and showed them how to push the balls through (i).”
6. Sorting colors
Color sorting stands out as a widely favored activity for young children.
You need:
- Colored objects or toys (such as building blocks, toy cars, or softballs) in various colors.
- Small containers or bowls in matching colors.
How to:
- To play a color sorting activity with toddlers, gather colored toys and matching containers.
- Introduce colors, demonstrate sorting, and encourage participation.
- Let toddlers explore, using simple language and offering praise.
- Create variations for added fun and repeat regularly to reinforce color recognition and sorting skills.
Sorting by colors is a crucial cognitive skill, teaching children to recognize similarities and differences while learning how to categorize objects.
By 13 months, babies get exposure to various foods and are eager to explore their surroundings. Their curiosity helps them learn anything quickly. Introducing these learning activities to a 13-month-old baby will help them develop various cognitive and motor skills and make for some good indoor time. You may include physical activities, such as climbing a pillow mountain or tossing the ball, and reading or storytelling activities using attractive picture books. They help babies develop coordination and movement and provide a fun-filled opportunity to bond with your child.
Key Pointers
- Simple activities such as climbing a pillow mountain can enhance physical and mental development in 13-month-olds.
- Colorful books with large pictures or music helps your baby develop responses to their surroundings.
- Scroll down for other easy learning activities for your baby.
