You can plan interesting activities for a 15-month-old baby to enhance their skills and learning abilities. Children start exploring their surroundings and taking pride in their new accomplishments by this age. Most babies also learn to walk and balance themselves because of improved muscle strength (1). The ability of the child to move around gives them the freedom to be independent. They can hold objects, drink out of a cup, stack bigger blocks, and make a mess out of things. Children could speak a few words at this age but can comprehend and follow instructions (2). They show an eagerness to solve problems and love indulging in imaginative play. It is the phase when you should let them enjoy their playtime and have fun. Here are some exciting activities for 15-month babies that will keep them entertained and amused.
Milestones Of 15-Month Old Baby
Understanding your baby’s development makes your job of picking the right activity easy! Here’s what a 15-month-old babies can do by now (1) (3). Physical Development: Now that they are walking (even though their steps are not firm), they try different movements such as running with a wide based stance and outstretched arms. climbing, especially stairs with assistance, and jumping. The toddler tends to pull and push things, picks up objects from a standing position, and refines grasp. Language And Cognitive Development: A 15-month toddler can attempt to speak three to five words. They can understand simple commands like ‘pick the shoes.’ They can eat using their fingers and recognize themselves in the mirror. The little one can communicate by pulling you, pointing at something, or by other means. Likes to watch and then imitate activities. At this age, they prefer adults rather than other children. Imagination: The toddler’s imagination levels also continue to develop. The little one enjoys looking for hidden objects, correctly points at one or more body parts, and shows improvement in their concentration levels.
13 Activities For 15-Month-Old Baby
1. Laundry Basket Fun
What do you need: laundry basket, plastic containers, lids, and empty cereal boxes. You could add more things that the toddler can pick up easily without hurting themselves. How to play: Put objects that your baby will love to get their hands on, in the laundry basket. Your baby will love to take out the contents from the laundry basket and put them back in. They could also put themselves into the basket instead of the objects. They imagine the purpose of those objects and try to figure out how to use them. The toddler may follow your instructions like ‘come out of it’ or ‘get into it’. You may also let the baby throw balls or bean bags’ small objects into the laundry basket, as this improves hand-eye coordination. Let them stand away from the basket and practice this target throwing activity. This activity allows them to develop spatial orientation as well and is important for the development of fine motor coordination. Skills developed: gross motor skills, imaginary skills, balancing skills, and language skills.
2. Finger Paints
What do you need: non-toxic finger paints, paper, tray How to play: Let the baby play with colors on the tray. The paints used should be safe if the baby attempts to taste them. You may try making edible paints with fruits or vegetables like carrot puree for orange paint, strawberry or beetroot puree for red paint, and broccoli puree for green paint. Touching different colors with different textures would enhance your toddler’s senses, and a mix of those colors would enhance their sense of sight (4). Talk to the little one about the texture and color as they play. If they get bored, offer a piece of paper, and you will be surprised to see the excited and creative baby. Skills developed: sensory, cognitive, and art skills
3. Toss The Ball
What do you need: large beach ball How to play: If you prefer a fun outdoor activity for your 15-month-old, get a large beach ball and head to some grassy place. Roll the ball, and your toddler would love to chase it. They may throw the ball and watch where it falls. If there is a gentle slope, toss the ball up the hill and teach the toddler to catch it. They may not catch it perfectly, but they will have a great time! Skills developed: physical, motor and cognitive skills
4. Fun Scarf Dance
What do you need: different music, brightly colored scarves, napkins, or handkerchiefs How to play: Have some free space in the room and turn on the music. Your toddler will be up and moving to the music and may even pull you along. Try waving and shaking scarves to the music and let them imitate you. You may also try playing peekaboo in the middle. Place the scarf on your head and allow them to grab it. Let them put it on their head and pull it off. Keep changing the music all through. Be with them throughout, and do not leave them with the scarf. Skills developed: gross motor skills, language, rhythm, social play
5. Doodle Bug Fun
What do you need: crayons, thick paper sheets, plaster How to play: Your little one’s chaotic, beautiful scribbles are the first steps on the road to creativity. Tape thick sheets of paper on the floor and allow your little one to doodle. Give them a few crayons of primary colors and name the color as they pick each one. Do not forget to show your appreciation – shower them with praises and display their art. They would love it! Skills developed: drawing, fine motor control, color identification
6. Rainbow Fish Handprint Cards
What do you need: painting apron, different colored paints, paint palette, black felt pen, card How to play: This is a lovely activity that can be treasured for years and can be a good birthday gift for the toddler’s dad or mom. Put the apron on, pour the paint into the palette, and allow your baby to dip their hands into it. Help them make a hand-print on the card. Next, remove the card and allow it to dry. Now let your toddler mess up with the paints on the extra card. Once the paint dries, draw around it with a black pen. It would look fabulous. Skills developed: color identification, cognitive skills, art skills, sensory skills
7. Dough Play
What do you need: play dough, apron How to play: Playdough could be fun for babies as it is a new concept for them. It’s a sensory material that can have a distinctive smell. Set up a table with a clump of play dough. Your baby would love to squeeze it and mold it with their little hands. Toddlers tend to show a lot of concentration when at it. As they play with the dough, you may attempt to add more action words to their vocabulary like ‘twist’, ‘pull’, ‘push’, and so on. Skills developed: sensory and cognitive skills
8. Enjoy Simple Catchy Rhymes
What do you need: yourself, your toddler How to play: Rhymes and childhood go hand in hand. They have fascinated both kids and parents equally for generations together. Rhymes drastically help your baby develop their language skills in a fun way (5). Sit together and sing the rhymes. You could enact as you sing! Your little one would enjoy looking at you and might even try to imitate you. Traditional lyrics are great but don’t miss the fun factor. Skills developed: cognitive skills, sense of humor, language skills
9. Book Reading
What do you need: Books with interesting pictures, stories, or textures How to play: At 15 months, your baby will develop an interest in a variety of picture books, books with different textures, or storybooks. Try reading out while they are playing and not necessarily when they are sitting on your laps. Let your kid explore the pictures and pages all by themselves. You may find them patting the pictures in the book, which you could name for them. Skills developed: language skills, cognitive skills, sensory skills
10. Imaginary Food Play
What do you need: small cereal, plastic/non-breakable containers How to play: Put some edible items like rice Krispies into a container and demonstrate ways to transfer them into the other tubs. They would love to transfer the contents and may find innovative ways to do so. They might even change the quantity they are moving from one tub to another. This activity improves your baby’s pincer grip. You may also play a mealtime game by giving a spoon and bowl to your little explorer while they pretend to eat with the spoon. Do not be surprised if they feed you too! It would be one of the funniest games for a 15-month-old baby. Skills developed: fine motor skill, concentration, hand-eye coordination
11. Fun time With Activity Walker Toy
What do you need: Activity Walker Toy How to play: Your little explorer may be walking by now, but they may have to practice more balancing and walking. Encourage them to bring a new toy towards you by pushing it. It gives the toddler confidence to walk until they can balance more securely. Point out how the speed and sound of the toy can be changed. Give them commands like ‘push slowly’, ‘come forward’, etc. Skills developed: Physical and cognitive skills
12. Blowing Bubbles
What do you need: Bubble blowing toy How to play: Blowing and playing with bubbles is always one such fun thing to do with a 15-month-old! The activity helps the baby concentrate and communicate. Besides, it strengthens their muscles and gross motor skills when they crawl, walk, and run after the bubbles. It builds curiosity as the little explorer gets fascinated when the bubbles float and burst. The entire family can get involved in bubble blowing to lighten up the mood. Skills developed: Sensory and cognitive skills
13. Catch Me If You Can!
What do you need: you and your toddler How to play: This simple play idea for a 15-month-old requires no preparation at all. Your little one will have a lot of fun! Play ‘chase’ with your toddler around the house, in a garden, or in any area that is safe to play. Keep your chase in line with the running skills of your little one. Have fun! Skills developed: Physical and Imaginary skills These activities would allow your baby to reach milestones quicker and strengthen the already initiated ones. Make their fascinating world more interesting!
11 More Tips for Parents
Being a parent for this age is a balancing act. It is essential to give your child the freedom to explore safely. Below are more useful tips to follow during your baby’s activity time (6) (7).
