The best Montessori and learning toys for 1 year olds
At 12 months old, your toddler is more mobile and curious than ever. The best toys support mobility, fine motor skills, language, and independence. See our best Montessori toys for 1-year-olds.
19 - 21 Months
One-year-olds between 19 and 21 months can understand that one item added to another makes two, and that one item taken away or subtracted from two makes one. To support your toddler’s numeracy skills, think about finding things to count together in everyday life. Practice words that describe quantity: more, less, many, and few. Point out simple patterns such as stripes or a checkered floor. For more expert tips and inspiration, sign up for Lovevery’s weekly development emails.
19 - 21 Months
One-year-olds between 19 and 21 months can understand that one item added to another makes two, and that one item taken away or subtracted from two makes one. To support your toddler’s numeracy skills, think about finding things to count together in everyday life. Practice words that describe quantity: more, less, many, and few. Point out simple patterns such as stripes or a checkered floor. For more expert tips and inspiration, sign up for Lovevery’s weekly development emails.
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- 12 - 48 Months
- 4 - 11 years
- 0 - 12 Weeks
- 3 - 4 Months
- 5 - 6 Months
- 7 - 8 Months
- 9 - 10 Months
- 11 - 12 Months
- 13 - 15 Months
- 16 - 18 Months
- 19 - 21 Months
- 22 - 24 Months
- 25 - 27 Months
- 28 - 30 Months
- 31 - 33 Months
- 34 - 36 Months
- 18 - 48 Months+
- 0 - 12 Months
What kind of chores are right for my child?
Children as young as 18 months can start taking on regular household responsibilities. These will be simple and straightforward, like wiping up spills or helping set the table, and will require modeling and patience from you.
Why wooden toys make the best playthings
Wooden toys are a staple of Montessori learning. They're durable, beautiful, and inspire wonder for a child's budding imagination.
Updated Lovevery Play Kits featuring larger, more complex developmental Playthings—plus, a new subscriber-only shop
After play studies, weeks of in-home testing, and thousands of customer surveys, we are excited to announce our updated Play Kits for one-year-olds.
Month 21: Introducing the Montessori Animal Match game to your toddler
Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph and Montessori Expert Jody Malterre demonstrate how the Montessori Animal Match game helps toddlers link 2D images with 3D figurines.
Dirty vs clean: a quick lesson in contrast
Your toddler’s brain loves to grapple with opposites. A great way to involve your toddler in learning about opposites is by exploring the idea of dirty vs clean
Mess-Free water painting
This water painting activity boosts gross and fine motor skills and is incredibly simple. All you need are paint brushes and a bucket of water.
Cap twist-off board
Twisting caps to loosen and tighten them takes concentration and coordination, and can be done over and over again. This activity reuses disposable baby food pouches to allow your child to practice.
Pipe cleaners and Wiffle Balls
"Posting” is a term used to describe fitting objects into an opening of corresponding size. In this activity, colorful, bendable pipe cleaners fit into Wiffle balls for all kinds of posting fun.
Velcro dot craft sticks
This DIY craft activity has can be taken on car trips and stored easily for future use—and it supports multiple developmental skills as well.
Pop-up paper tunnels
In this activity, your child will push toy cars, trains, planes, and other small vehicles through DIY tunnels, creating a world of pretend play to get lost in.
DIY Balloon Tennis
This simple DIY is a great source of entertainment and helps develop gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. All it takes is a paper plate, popsicle sticks, and a balloon.
Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Some of the best craft materials can be found in the recycling bin. Here are 3 crafts you can do with your toddler using toilet paper rolls.
Welcome to The Realist Play Kit for months 19-21
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the Realist Play Kit for months 19 to 11 of your toddler's life.
Month 21: Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere
Giving your toddler opportunities to help with household tasks makes them feel independent and valuable. Try these ways to encourage your child to participate.
Month 20: Picture book project! 🌈 Preserving your toddler’s first words
This DIY project captures your child's first words and builds their vocabulary as their language develops.
Month 20: Kicking, biting, and hitting: understanding and responding to your toddler’s tantrums
Kicking, biting, and hitting are common all with toddlers, and knowing what to do can be hard—especially if you’re in public. Here's what you should know.
Month 20: The toddler game of who, what, where, why, how?
Introducing who, what, where, why, and how in little lessons empowers your toddler to begin explaining what interests them the most.
Month 19: We asked 4 professionals what they wished toddler parents would do more—their answers are here
We asked some of our favorite early childhood, Montessori, and resilience experts to share some advice with us. Here are their top ten tips.
Month 19: The magical teaching powers of words like “humongous”
Learn how to build your child's language skills and comprehension with plenty of rich vocabulary, back-and-forth conversations, narration, and repetition.
Month 20: 8 ways toddlers start to talk between 18 and 24 months
Here are 8 ways your toddler is learning language right now, even if they're not saying much yet.
Month 21: The earlier, the better: math is already developing in your toddler’s brain
Neuroscientist Gillian Starkey shares tips for introducing your toddler to math and why it's beneficial to start now.
Month 21: 5 ways to play the pom pom way
Pom poms are a fun way for your toddler to develop their fine motor skills. Here are some ideas for playin with pom poms at home or on the go.
Month 21: The Montessori activity you already have in your house
Develop your toddler's fine-motor skills and concentration in a fun new way with items you probably already have at home.
Month 19: What should my toddler’s art look like right now?
More than anything, toddler art is a sensory exploration involving fine and gross motor movement. Here are the stages of toddler drawing development.
Month 19: 4 signs toddlers understand language even if they aren’t talking much yet
Your toddler likely understands more than they can say. Here are 4 ways your toddler is communicating without words.
