Now that baby Autumn has started nursery, she gets lots of different exposure to games and activities. There are the activities we do at home and then when she heads off to nursery for a couple of days per week, they do different games with her. She seems to enjoy the variety of stimulation on offer and is very happy with her toys on the days at home. So based on my experience and time with my little ones, here are some suggestions for games to play with 14 month old babies. Obviously each baby will enjoy different activities and will have different abilities, so you should go at their pace and read their cues, but here are some ideas to get you started. Let’s kick off with games to play with 14 month old.
Games to Play with 14 Month Old
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According to American Toy Store’s experts, as your little one transitions from baby to toddlerhood, their developmental milestones will start to evolve rapidly. At 14 months old, your child is becoming more curious and eager to explore the world around them. Engaging in games and activities tailored to their age and developmental stage is not only a great way to bond but also essential for encouraging their growth and exploration in various areas, such as fine motor skills, language development, and social skills.
Based on my experience raising my two young children, I’ve pulled together a list of 50 exciting games and activities that are perfect for 14-month-old toddlers. These activities are designed to enhance fine motor skills, help develop hand-eye coordination, improve language skills, and encourage gross motor skills. This will also help your child to develop problem-solving skills while providing a sensory-rich experience. So, let’s dive right into the fun and educational world of games for your 14-month-old!
Fine Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination
1. Pom Pom Pick-Up: Scatter colourful pom poms on the floor and encourage your child to pick them up using their little fingers. This game helps develop fine motor skills. If they are particularly good with this, you could also give them a pair of tweezers or small tongs. These are both fun games to play with 14 month old.
2. Stacking Rings: Wooden stacking rings are excellent for improving hand-eye coordination as your child learns to stack them in the right order.
3. Shape Sorter: Introduce a shape sorter toy to help your toddler identify different shapes and develop fine motor skills by fitting the shapes into the corresponding holes. We’ve got lots of toys with shape sorting features on them and they are an absolute winner in our house. When you are shopping for toys like a shape sorter, do your research and invest in good quality Educational and Montessori Toys which can be used in multiple ways.
4. Water Play with Cups: Fill a container with water and provide various-sized cups for your child to pour and transfer water. This aids in hand-eye coordination and understanding volume. If you can find cups with small holes in them, this adds another layer of dimension to the game.
5. Push Toy Fun: A push toy with wheels can help your little one practice walking and enhance their gross motor skills.
6. Exploring Textures: Offer a variety of objects with different textures for your child to touch and feel, such as soft fabrics, rough sandpaper, and smooth plastic. You can collect things whilst you are out and about – shells, pinecones and leaves all have great textures for little ones to explore.
7. Tissue Paper Rip and Crumple: Let your toddler explore tissue paper. They can rip it, crumple it, and experience different textures while improving fine motor skills.
8. Playing with a Wooden Spoon: Provide a wooden spoon and a pot or pan for your child to pretend they are cooking. This encourages creativity and fine motor skills. When they’ve had enough, turn the pot over and use the spoon as a drumstick and they can become a drummer too. Both options are great games to play with 14 month old
9. Finger Paint Fun: Engage your child in finger painting with non-toxic, washable paints. It’s a great way to let them explore colours and textures. Proudly display their work on the wall – this is a great way to encourage them and celebrate their creative talents.
10. Paper Collage: Cut up pieces of paper and let your little artist create a collage by glueing them onto a piece of card. This activity enhances fine motor skills and creativity.
Language Development and Cognitive Skills
11. Reading Time: Reading nursery rhymes and simple stories to your child not only enhances language skills but also strengthens your bond. If there’s a local library, take them with you and let them pick their books.
12. Imitate Sounds: Encourage your toddler to imitate animal sounds or everyday noises like a car engine or a ringing phone.
13. Object Permanence Box: Play peek-a-boo games or use an object permanence box to teach your child that objects still exist even when they are out of sight.
14. New Words with Flashcards: Introduce flashcards with simple words and images to expand your child’s vocabulary. There are so many different styles of flashcards out there. Some of our favourites are the Eric Carle animal cards and the first words flashcards. This is one of my top suggestions of games to play with 14 month old babies.
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15. Simple Instructions: Give your toddler simple instructions like “Give me the ball” or “Clap your hands,” promoting cognitive development and language understanding.
16. First Words Game: Encourage your child to say their first words by pointing to objects and repeating their names.
17. Simple Number Games. In addition to helping your child to say their first words getting them familiar with numbers 1-10 is also a good idea at this age. Use simple and fun activities like flashcards or one of the games among the 40 free maths worksheets from DoodleLearning you can find online for early years.
18. Musical Instruments: Provide musical instruments like shakers, drums, or xylophones for your toddler to explore different sounds and rhythms. One of the best musical sets we bought was the first birthday set. Autumn loves the sound drum. Instruments are one of the best ways to play games to play with 14 month old children.
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19. Rhyme Time: Sing nursery rhymes and songs with rhyming words to support language development. Can’t remember all the words? It doesn’t matter, make them up. Or ask your Alexa/Google to play some and sing along.
20. Quality Time with Siblings: If you have older siblings, encourage them to interact and communicate with the 14-month-old, fostering social development and language skills.
Sensory Play for a Sensory Experience
21. Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins with various materials like rice, cotton wall, or sand. Hide small toys inside for your child to discover through touch. If you are feeling really adventurous, you could use jelly, baked beans or something else as messy.
22. Texture Exploration: Provide objects with different textures, such as soft fabric, a bumpy rubber ball, Play-Doh or a smooth wooden block.
23. Texture Collage: Allow your child to glue different textured materials like fabric, sandpaper, and foil onto a piece of cardboard.
24. Ice Cube Play: Freeze small toys or objects in ice cubes and let your child explore the sensation of melting ice while freeing the toys. This works well with small rubber dinosaurs. Kids love to free them from the ice age!
25. Water Play: Fill a tub with water and let your toddler splash, pour, and play with various water-safe toys. If the weather is nice, make it a small paddling pool, get their swimwear on and have an absolute blast splashing around.
26. Sensory Balls: Soft, spiky, or squishy sensory balls are fantastic for tactile exploration and sensory stimulation.
27. Tummy Time with Different Textures: During tummy time, place a variety of textured materials under your child to engage their senses.
28. Nature Exploration: Take your toddler outside to experience the natural world by touching leaves, grass, and soil.
29. Bubble Play: Blow bubbles and let your child pop them. This activity combines visual and tactile stimulation. Children of all ages are absolutely fascinated by bubbles. If you have older children, you can get them to blow the bubbles for the younger ones.
30. Touch and Feel Books: Invest in touch and feel books that encourage your child to explore different textures through their sense of touch. There will be plenty of these in charity shops or the local library if you don’t want to spend a fortune on these books. Or if you have friends with older children, I’m sure they’ll have a few hanging around.
Social Skills and Interaction
31. Playdates: Arrange playdates with other children to help your toddler develop social skills and learn to interact with peers.
32. Sharing Game: Teach your child the concept of sharing by playing games that involve taking turns or sharing toys with you or other children.
33. Simple Puzzles: Introduce age-appropriate puzzles with large pieces that your toddler can manipulate, promoting problem-solving skills and cooperation. Jigsaws have always been popular in our house. Right from an early age.
34. Group Sing-Along: Gather with other parents and toddlers for a sing-along session with classic nursery rhymes. These are often held in libraries or community centres and are either free or very low cost. They are a great way to socialise.
35. Indoor Picnic: Host an indoor picnic with snacks and toys, encouraging social interaction and imaginative play. Suggest your 14 month old brings a teddy bear and make it a teddy bear picnic.
36. Building Blocks Together: Build structures with building blocks and encourage your toddler to collaborate with you or other children. Duplo and mega blocks are both good choices for this age group.
37. Older Siblings’ Involvement: If you have older children, involve them in activities with the 14-month-old to promote bonding and social development.
38. Classic Games: Play classic games like peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, or hide-and-seek to strengthen your bond and enhance social skills.
39. Creative Playdate: Organise a creative playdate with arts and crafts activities that encourage teamwork and social interaction.
40. “Pass the Toy” Game: Sit in a circle with other children and pass a toy around, promoting social interaction and cooperation. You could even introduce pass the parcel at this age.
Outdoor and Indoor Activities
41. Outdoor Exploration: Take your toddler on outdoor adventures to explore the natural world, whether it’s a park, garden, or beach.
42. Indoor Obstacle Course: Create a simple indoor obstacle course using pillows, cushions, and cardboard boxes for your child to navigate.
43. Toilet Paper Roll Bowling: Set up a bowling game using empty toilet paper rolls as pins and a soft ball for safe indoor fun.
44. Push and Pull Toys: Encourage your child to play with push and pull toys to enhance gross motor skills.
45. Hide-and-Seek with Toys: Hide small toys around the house and play a gentle version of hide-and-seek.
46. Quality Time in the High Chair: Use mealtime as an opportunity for quality interaction, discussing the food, colours, and shapes. You could also introduce new foods.
47. Cardboard Box Creations: Provide cardboard boxes and let your child’s imagination run wild as they transform them into anything they desire.
48. DIY Sensory Bubbles: Mix bubble bath and water to create sensory bubbles for your toddler to pop and play with indoors.
49. Nature Scavenger Hunt: If outdoors, organise a nature scavenger hunt to find leaves, sticks, and rocks.
50. Outdoor Playdate: Arrange playdates with other parents and toddlers at a nearby park, giving your child the chance to interact in an outdoor setting.
Engaging in these 50 games and activities with your 14-month-old will not only provide hours of fun and quality time but will also support their developmental milestones. From fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination to language development and social skills, these games cater to various aspects of your child’s growth. Remember, the best part of playing these games is not just the educational aspect but also the joy and connection you’ll share with your little ones as they explore new things and discover the world around them.
Why Play?
As your child enters the fascinating world of toddlerhood at 14 months old, their growth and development continue to unfold at a remarkable pace. During this crucial stage, engaging in play and activities tailored to their age is not only enjoyable but also an essential part of their learning journey. Playing games and doing activities with your 14-month-old is not just a pastime but a vital aspect of their development.
When you are trying to find the perfect games to enjoy with your 14-year-old, it is important to think about what will engage them, and how they are able to use their motor skills to thrive and develop through leaps. This is something that you need to try to think about when it comes to making this process better, and there are plenty of games you could try with your little one. Whilst they might be a little young for a Miniracing Scalextric guide, they might grow into this in a few years, so it’s certainly something you can keep on standby if it’s a hobby of yours.
Developmental Milestones
At 14 months old, your child is undergoing significant developmental milestones. Their brain is like a sponge, absorbing information and forming connections at an astonishing rate. Playing games and participating in activities helps stimulate various areas of development, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains.
Physical Development
Playing games and engaging in physical activities are excellent ways to promote your toddler’s physical development. Activities like crawling, walking, running, climbing, and exploring their environment help enhance their gross motor skills. Fine motor skills, which involve the coordination of small muscles, can be honed through activities like stacking blocks, playing with small toys, and scribbling with crayons.
Cognitive Skills
Cognitive development is a key aspect of a toddler’s growth. Games and activities that involve problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking contribute significantly to cognitive development. For example, puzzles, shape sorters, and simple games that require following instructions help sharpen cognitive skills.
Language Development
Language acquisition is a fundamental milestone for a 14-month-old. Engaging in activities that encourage communication, such as reading books, singing songs, and engaging in conversation, is crucial for language development. These interactions not only build a foundation for vocabulary but also help your child understand the nuances of language.
Social Skills
Toddlers are learning how to interact with others, and playing games and activities with them provides a safe and supportive environment for social development. Sharing toys, taking turns, and playing with peers or older siblings helps your child learn essential social skills like cooperation, empathy, and communication.
Sensory Stimulation
Sensory play is a vital component of a toddler’s learning journey. Games and activities that engage the senses, such as touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell, offer a sensory-rich experience. This type of play helps your child explore and understand their environment better. Activities involving different textures, sensory bins, and water play, for example, stimulate the senses and foster sensory development.
Emotional Expression
Playing games and participating in activities allow your child to express their emotions healthily. They can experience the joy of achievement when they complete a puzzle or the frustration of not getting their way during playtime. These emotional experiences are essential for emotional development and learning to regulate their feelings.
Bonding and Attachment
Engaging in play and activities with your child creates opportunities for bonding and attachment. Your presence, attention, and involvement in their playtime activities reassure them of your love and support. This strong attachment provides a secure foundation for their emotional well-being and confidence.
Problem-Solving Skills
Many games and activities present challenges that require problem-solving skills. For instance, building with blocks or figuring out how to fit shapes into a sorter encourages your child to think creatively and develop problem-solving strategies. These skills are essential for future academic and life success.
Quality Time
Playing games and participating in activities with your 14-month-old allows you to spend quality time together. In today’s fast-paced world, finding dedicated time for bonding is crucial. It creates lasting memories and strengthens your parent-child relationship.
Learning through Play
It’s often said that play is a child’s work. Indeed, play is the primary mode through which young children learn about the world around them. By engaging in imaginative and creative play, your child explores new ideas, experiments with cause and effect, and gains a deeper understanding of their surroundings.
Promoting Independence
Through play, your child has the opportunity to make choices, try new things, and develop a sense of autonomy. Activities that encourage independent play, such as building with blocks or exploring sensory materials, help your child gain confidence in their abilities.
Setting the Stage for Future Learning
The skills and knowledge your child acquires through play lay the foundation for future learning. Whether it’s the early literacy skills gained through reading books or the problem-solving abilities honed through puzzles, these early experiences contribute to academic success in later years.
Creative Thinking
Play encourages creative thinking and imagination. When your child engages in imaginative play, such as some of these games to play with 14 month old children, like pretending to cook in a toy kitchen or creating stories with dolls, they are developing their creativity and ability to think outside the box.
Preparation for Social Development
Playing with your child at this age helps prepare them for more complex social interactions in the future. They learn how to share, take turns, and follow rules, all of which are crucial skills for navigating social situations as they grow.
Strengthening the Parent-Child Bond
Playing games and doing activities with your 14-month-old strengthens the bond between you and your child. It creates a sense of security and trust, allowing them to explore and learn with confidence.
Preventing Separation Anxiety
Engaging in play and activities with your child can help ease separation anxiety. Knowing that they have your undivided attention during playtime can make transitions, such as going to daycare or spending time with a caregiver, smoother for your child.
Nurturing Curiosity
Toddlers are naturally curious, and play encourages and nurtures this curiosity. By providing age-appropriate toys and activities, like some of these games to play with 14 month old babies, you can satisfy your child’s need to explore and discover the world around them.
Aiding in Sleep
Active play and physical activities can help tire out your toddler, leading to better sleep quality. A well-rested child is more alert and ready to learn during waking hours. I’ve got a couple of posts about sleep if you’ve ever wondered why babies fight sleep or even why babies smile in their sleep.
Setting a Positive Example
By actively engaging in play and activities with your child, you set a positive example of the importance of lifelong learning and spending quality time with loved ones. There are so many games to play with 14 month old children.
Playing games and doing activities with your 14-month-old is not merely a form of entertainment; it is a critical aspect of their development and growth. It fosters physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, laying the foundation for future learning and success. Moreover, it creates lasting bonds and cherished memories that will stay with your child throughout their life. So, whether you’re building with blocks, reading a story, or simply enjoying imaginative play, remember that every moment spent with your child is an investment in their future. Embrace the joy of play and witness the incredible journey of discovery that your 14-month-old is embarking upon.
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