BusyBeesGames to play with a 1 year old at home
BusyBees has seven games that start at age 1: Where Is Teddy?, Knock-Down Tower, Bowls and Spoons Band, Treasure Basket, Knee Bounce Songs, Mirror Faces and Fill and Tip. Six take about five minutes and Treasure Basket about ten. All of them are played down on the floor, together with you.
- 7 games
- From age 1
- 5 to 10 minutes each
- 2 written out in full
Pick one for right now
| Game | From age | Minutes | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
 Where Is Teddy? | 1 | 5 | One soft toy, A cushion |
 Knock-Down Tower | 1 | 5 | Empty cardboard boxes or big plastic tubs |
 Bowls and Spoons Band | 1 | 5 | Plastic bowls or tubs, Two wooden spoons |
 Treasure Basket | 1 | 10 | A basket or open box, 5 or 6 big, safe things: a wooden spoon, a flannel, a plastic cup, a soft toy |
 Knee Bounce Songs | 1 | 5 | Your lap, A song you know |
 Mirror Faces | 1 | 5 | A mirror fixed to a wall or a wardrobe door |
 Fill and Tip | 1 | 5 | A washing basket or open box, 5 or 6 soft toys |
The 7 games
Game 1 of 7
Where Is Teddy?
Hide a soft toy behind a cushion and find it together, again and again. Little ones love knowing what comes next.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Calm
- No prep
You need
- One soft toy
- A cushion
Keep an eye on
Pick a soft toy with stitched eyes and nothing that can come off. The cushion stays flat on the floor.
With you
Play together the whole time.
The steps for Where Is Teddy?, with a picture for each, are in the BusyBees app.
Game 2 of 7
Knock-Down Tower
You build a tower of empty boxes and your child knocks it down. The crash is the whole point.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Active
- No prep
You need
- Empty cardboard boxes or big plastic tubs
Keep an eye on
Use only light, empty boxes and tubs bigger than your fist, and build on the floor well away from furniture.
With you
Play together the whole time.
Game 3 of 7
Bowls and Spoons Band
Turn plastic bowls upside down and drum along while you sing. It is noisy, and that is the fun of it.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Creative
- No prep
You need
- Plastic bowls or tubs
- Two wooden spoons
Keep an eye on
Stay sitting down to drum, and take the spoon back before your child gets up to walk.
With you
Play together the whole time.
The steps for Bowls and Spoons Band, with a picture for each, are in the BusyBees app.
Game 4 of 7
Treasure Basket
Fill a basket with safe, everyday things that feel different, and let your child explore them one by one.
- From age 1
- 10 min
- Indoors
- Calm
- 5 min prep
You need
- A basket or open box
- 5 or 6 big, safe things: a wooden spoon, a flannel, a plastic cup, a soft toy
Keep an eye on
Check each thing first: bigger than your fist, clean, and with nothing that can snap or come off.
With you
Play together the whole time. Step 1 is a grown-up's job.
Game 5 of 7
Knee Bounce Songs
Sit your child on your knees and bounce gently in time to a song. Slow, then faster, then a little dip at the end.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Active
- No prep
You need
- Your lap
- A song you know
Keep an eye on
Keep both hands round their middle the whole time, and keep the bounces and the dip small.
With you
Play together the whole time.
The steps for Knee Bounce Songs, with a picture for each, are in the BusyBees app.
Game 6 of 7
Mirror Faces
Sit in front of a mirror together and wave, pull faces and point. Simple, and it holds their attention.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Calm
- No prep
You need
- A mirror fixed to a wall or a wardrobe door
Keep an eye on
Use only a mirror fixed firmly to the wall or a wardrobe door, never a loose or hand-held one.
With you
Play together the whole time.
The steps for Mirror Faces, with a picture for each, are in the BusyBees app.
Game 7 of 7
Fill and Tip
Soft toys go into the basket, then get tipped out again. Putting in and taking out is serious work at this age.
- From age 1
- 5 min
- Indoors
- Thinking
- No prep
You need
- A washing basket or open box
- 5 or 6 soft toys
Keep an eye on
Choose soft toys bigger than your fist, with stitched eyes and no loose parts, and keep the basket on the floor.
With you
Play together the whole time.
The steps for Fill and Tip, with a picture for each, are in the BusyBees app.
Questions parents ask
How do I entertain my 1 year old at home?
With a short game you play together. Hide a soft toy behind a cushion (Where Is Teddy?), build a tower of empty boxes for them to push over (Knock-Down Tower), or sit in front of a fixed mirror and wave (Mirror Faces).
What are some indoor games for a 1 year old?
All seven are indoor games. They use a soft toy, a cushion, empty boxes, plastic bowls, wooden spoons, a washing basket and a mirror fixed to the wall.
How do I keep my 1 year old busy?
Not by leaving them to it. Every one of these games is marked "Play together the whole time" in the app. What they give you is a few minutes of playing together, and seven to choose from.
How long will a game last at this age?
About five minutes for six of them, and about ten for Treasure Basket. That is the length the app gives. Your child may be done sooner.
What this guide does not do
This guide covers games that start at age 1. Read each game's "Keep an eye on" note before you start. They are about size (bigger than your fist), loose parts, and keeping things on the floor.
A grown-up is always responsible for safety and supervises play. The age on each game is where it starts in the app, and a game marked for age 3 is never offered for a 2 year old.