Materials:
Muffin tin
Ball pit balls
Small blanket or scarf
Directions: This is a great activity for 12-month-olds or slightly older. You can pick up a bag of balls at Walmart or from Amazon relatively inexpensively. They’re lightweight and the right size for toddlers to grasp easily.
I put the balls in a small tote bag. Then I set the muffin tin in front of Baby T, took a ball from the bag, and put it in the tin. He immediately picked up my ball and mouthed it. Then he went for what was in my bag, still holding the ball from the tin. I let him get a ball and then emptied the tote bag in front of him. He reached for a ball and put it in the tin when I asked him if he could. He kept the first ball, taking a few seconds to mouth it again while using his other hand to put another ball in the tin. I used the blanket to throw over the tin. He was surprised for a moment, but then pulled it off to reveal the balls. He was happy to add more balls to the tin for a couple of minutes and had equal enjoyment dumping the tin out and doing it again!
You could extend this activity for an older child by lining up a couple of baskets to throw the balls into. Or you might make a simple ramp to roll the balls down. And it doesn’t hurt to introduce color names by saying “Oh, you’ve got a blue ball!”
Try making your own ball pit by adding them to your Pack ‘n Play. It probably takes 100+ balls to cover the bottom of it. You can also enjoy them in the bathtub!