Summer can be both exciting and exhausting for parents, especially with a busy one-year-old in tow. While some families plan big trips, others enjoy simple, local adventures. No matter your approach, it’s important to keep your little one stimulated, engaged, and having fun during these long summer days.
In their book Parenting from the Inside Out, Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., and Mary Hartzell, M.Ed., explain that babies develop implicit memory in their first year. This means they don’t remember specific events, but those early experiences still shape their brain’s development. After their first birthday, babies begin forming explicit memories — so now is when experiences start to “stick.” Maybe hold off on that trip to Disney just yet!
This summer, focus more on simpler things. Summer always invites making special plans and special summer-related activities. Extravagant experiences are great, but they are less about the experience and more about how we experience them, especially for babies. Activities for one-year-olds are about awakening their senses and making them giggle.
Summertime Activities for Your One-Year-Old
We’ve compiled a list of fun, age-appropriate summer activities for your one-year-old. Remember, development varies — what’s perfect for one baby might not fit another just yet. Pick and choose the ideas that work best for you, your baby, and your family!
1. Water Play
Most one-year-olds love water play. Whether they’re sitting or standing, splashing and feeling water on their skin is a joyful sensory experience. The benefit of the summertime is that it doesn’t have to be bath time to enjoy it! Here are some ideas of how a one-year-old can play with water:
- They can sit or stand in a tub or mini pool. You can gently kick their feet in the water or splash them up to their neck, which usually elicits many giggles.
- Water toys that they can stand or sit on and splash around, like a splash pad.
- Sprinkler attachment to a hose to run through (or be carried through).
- Water toys with running water that they can put their hands under.
- Many outdoor parks have sprinklers or splash pads that are fun for one-year-olds. If they are walking, make sure to bring water shoes!
2. Bubbles
Bubbles are fascinating and so much fun for one-year-olds! You can buy a simple wand with bubbles or an automatic bubble machine. Combine bubbles with water play by adding them to your pool or tub of water (you can add shampoo or any soap)!
3. Playground/Park
The playground and/or park are always a lot of fun. Just look for one with a bucket swing and a small age-appropriate slide. It is also fun to bring a picnic lunch or snack, lie down a blanket, and bring some toys or books for your baby to play with under a tree.
4. Backyard Fun
Your backyard can easily be equipped with age-appropriate outdoor toys and outdoor activities that will turn any yard into a toddler haven. Consider installing a small playscape with a swing or slide, or hang a swing from your back patio. Or you could build a canvas tent in the yard for outside play. And you can never go wrong with outdoor push toys like a toy lawnmower!
5. Explore the Neighborhood
Go for walks around your neighborhood or any outdoor area. One-year-olds love people-watching! Take a stroll while pushing your baby in their stroller or, for added fun and visibility, in a small car that they “drive” and that you can push them around in.
6. Music
During the summer, there are often outdoor music festivals and concerts. Babies love music as long as it is not too loud. If your baby is extra sensitive to loud sounds, invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones for kids to still enjoy the sights and sounds while protecting their ears.
7. Make Healthy Treats
Let your little one help you make frozen fruit popsicles! One-year-olds usually love fruit, and you can take advantage of fresh fruit in the summer. Freezing it in the form of a popsicle is fun and healthy to hold and enjoy. If your little one is sensitive to something cold, you can leave it out to defrost a little before giving it to them. You can use either teetherpops or pops in a tray.
8. Take a Field Trip
Take your curious tot to the zoo (petting zoo is extra fun), aquarium, animal sanctuary, or even a pet store. In addition to bigger zoos, many cities have smaller places with animals such as birds, parrots, and butterflies.
9. Indoor Fun
An indoor playground is fun on the hottest days in the summer. Even indoor places made for bigger kids, like the bouncy house playgrounds, often have a small dedicated space for toddlers. Be sure to call and check!
10. Interactive, Educational Play
Children’s museums are great indoor activities and usually have a special section for babies and toddlers. Most, if not all, of the exhibits in children’s museums are highly interactive and fun!
A big trip to Disney might be in your future, but this summer, simple, local activities are often just what your one-year-old needs. Whether you’re splashing in the backyard or exploring a local zoo, your baby will thrive with sensory-rich, playful experiences. Enjoy these sweet summer days — and remember, you’re creating memories they’ll carry with them in ways you might not even see.
Looking for more ways to make the most of this special season? Don’t miss our favorite summer activities for kids, free things to do over summer break, and memorable things to do with your baby before they turn 1. These sweet moments go by fast—enjoy every one of them!
