Indoor Activities for a 14-Month-Old

What a 14-month-old is usually ready for

At around 14 months, many children are pulling up, cruising along furniture or taking first steps, but the range is wide. They often enjoy dropping and fetching things, banging, filling and emptying containers, and watching what you do. Language is usually at the babble and first-words stage.

Activities at this age are about exploring: touching, mouthing, dropping, pulling and repeating. Short sessions of a few minutes, with a lot of repetition, are normal.

Safety checklist before you start

A 14-month-old still mouths nearly everything. Check these points before any activity:

Stay within arm’s reach and supervise closely at all times.
Remove small parts. Anything that fits through a toilet paper tube may be a choking hazard. That includes pom-poms, buttons, coins, small beads, dried beans and loose parts that can come off toys.
Skip button batteries and small magnets. Both can cause serious internal injury if swallowed. Keep remote controls, key fobs and magnetic toys out of reach.
Avoid water beads entirely. They are very hard to see once they swell and can be dangerous if swallowed.
Plastic bags and balloons can block the airway, and some children have latex allergies. Keep them away from children this age.
Watch for cords and strings. Keep ribbons, blind cords and long scarf pieces short and supervised.
Check toy ages. If a label says 3+ or has a small-parts warning, set it aside for now.
Use water with care. Never leave a young child alone near water, including a shallow tub.

Sensory play

Water painting: Tape paper or card to a table or tray. Give your child a large soft brush and a cup of water, and watch the paper change colour. Hold the cup so it does not tip.
Sealed sensory bottles: Fill a clear plastic bottle with water and a small amount of large, safe items like a few big plastic shapes or a little glitter-free colouring. Glue and tape the cap on firmly and check it often. Stop if any part loosens.
Sensory bags: Tape a thick, double-bagged freezer bag filled with plain water to a surface for squishing. Tape every edge, supervise the whole time, and discard it if it tears. Bags filled with gel or paint are not for this age.
Scarf play: Pull a lightweight scarf through a hole in a tissue box. Supervise, as long scarves can wrap around the neck.
Dry bath: Fill a clean, dry tub with soft items such as stuffed animals and let your child explore it with you in the tub or beside it.

Posting, dropping and pulling games

Putting things in and taking them out is a favourite at this age.

Big-piece posting: Cut a hole in a sturdy box lid and let your child drop in large items like cardboard tubes or large wooden blocks. Avoid small items such as pom-poms.
Paper towel roll drop: Hold a cardboard tube upright and drop a larger ball through it.
Tissue box pull: Fill an empty tissue box with soft cloths or lightweight scarves, and watch your child pull them out.
Tape rescue: Use painter’s tape to hold large soft toys to the floor and let your child peel it off. Supervise so the tape does not go in their mouth.
Basket filling: Fill a basket with a few safe household items, such as wooden spoons and plastic cups, and let them take things in and out. The same idea is covered in more detail in infant treasure basket ideas, including a full safety checklist.

Movement: cushions, balls and push toys

Cushion climb: Put sofa cushions on the floor to crawl and climb over. Sit close and keep them low.
Ball roll: Sit on the floor and roll a soft, large ball back and forth.
Push toys: A sturdy push toy can help a child who is cruising. Make sure it is stable and on a non-slip floor. The AAP does not recommend sit-in baby walkers, because children can fall down stairs in them and can reach hot items such as pot handles and hot drinks.
Tunnel: A cardboard box open at both ends makes a simple tunnel to crawl through.

Skip the laundry basket rides that some sites suggest: pushing a toddler in a basket can cause tipping, falls and injury.

Music, books and talking together

Bowl drum: Turn a plastic bowl upside down and give your child a wooden spoon.
Songs and finger rhymes: “Pat-a-cake” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider” are easy to do anywhere.
Board books: Choose sturdy books with photos or bright pictures (our best board books for 1-2 year olds has suggestions). Name what you see and pause so your child can respond.
Narration: Talk through what you are doing together, such as “We are washing your hands.” This helps build language.

Pretend and everyday play

At this age, simple imitation is the start of pretend play.

Give your child a baby doll or soft toy to hug and “feed” with a play spoon.
Offer a toy phone or a clean, empty plastic container to talk into.
Let them “help” by holding unbreakable items while you do chores.

Ideas to adjust or skip at this age

Some popular lists include ideas that may need changes for a 14-month-old:

Magnets: Skip them unless they are very large and sealed in a toy designed for toddlers.
Egg or balloon scavenger hunts: Plastic eggs can break into small pieces and balloons pose a choking risk. Use soft balls or stuffed animals.
Q-tips and straws: Not suitable, as they are thin and can hurt the mouth or throat.
Pom-pom drops: Use big soft balls or cloths instead.
Edible-looking small items: Rice, beans and pasta bins can be a choking risk at this age.

What to do with a 1.5-year-old indoors

A child nearing 18 months often walks more, climbs on low furniture, and likes carrying things around. Many of the ideas above still work, and you can add simple stacking, large chunky puzzles and more pretend play. For the next stage, see our ideas for a 19-month-old and our big list of indoor activities for 2 year olds.

Developmental differences and when to talk to a pediatrician

Children develop at different speeds, and one 14-month-old may walk while another is still crawling. This article cannot tell you whether your child is on track. If you are worried, the best step is to talk to your pediatrician or health visitor. It can help to mention things like:

Not yet pulling up, crawling, or moving around in any way
Not using any gestures, such as waving or pointing
Not responding to their name or to familiar voices
Not showing interest in people or in back-and-forth play
Losing skills they previously had

Bring up any concern early, even if you are unsure. Your doctor can check your child and tell you if more support is useful.

FAQ

How do I entertain a 14-month-old indoors?

Offer short, simple activities that use everyday safe items, such as posting large objects, water painting, singing and rolling a ball. Rotate the activities and keep the sessions brief.

How long should an activity last?

Often only a few minutes. Follow your child’s cues and move on when they lose interest.

Are screens needed for rainy days?

No. Many families find that a rotation of simple activities, together with time to rest, works well. Speak with your pediatrician about screen guidance for your child’s age.

What if my child only wants to throw things?

Throwing is a common way to explore at this age. Offer soft balls and a target such as a basket, and calmly put away items you do not want thrown.