How to Encourage Imaginative Play Before Age 1
Imaginative play isn’t just for toddlers—your baby is already a tiny explorer, ready to discover, experiment, and imagine from day one. With the right encouragement and toys, you can help your little one develop creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills before their first birthday.
Here’s how—and which Inklings Baby products can make it extra fun.
1. Make Their World Sensory-Rich
Babies learn through touch, sight, and sound. Give them a variety of textures, colors, and noises to explore:
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Crinkle & Cuddle Plushies – Soft, colorful plush friends with crinkly ears and textured bodies that stimulate touch and curiosity.
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Rattles – Bright rattles with multiple sounds that teach cause and effect.
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Mirrors – toys that have mirrors included help stimulate visual play and are perfect for little hands.
These sensory experiences help babies notice differences, experiment, and spark early imaginative thinking.
2. Play Along With Them
We have all seen Bluey and how involved the parents are with imaginative play with Bluey and Bingo. Interactive play shows your baby that the world responds to creativity:
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Use Storytime Plush Characters to act out short stories or silly scenarios.
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Mirror your baby’s sounds or gestures—they love seeing their “ideas” reflected back.
Even short bursts of playful interaction help babies understand that imagination is fun and rewarding.
3. Offer Open-Ended Toys
Open-ended toys encourage experimentation and discovery:
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Stack & Nest Blocks – Soft blocks for stacking, knocking down, or pretending to build towers.
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Sensory Balls – With different textures and sounds, perfect for tossing, rolling, or exploring.
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Mini Dolls & Plush Friends – Moveable limbs and soft fabrics let babies invent their own play scenarios.
These toys let babies explore without limits—every squeak, crinkle, or tumble invites creativity.
4. Turn Everyday Moments Into Play
Imaginative play doesn’t need to be scheduled, everyday activities are full of opportunities:
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Pots and spoons become drums.
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Bath time is a splashy ocean adventure.
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Stroller rides are a chance to notice colors, textures, and shapes.
Narrating these moments—“The soft bunny is sleepy!”—helps babies connect words with imagination.
5. Rotate Toys & Follow Their Lead
Babies get bored quickly, so rotate toys and introduce new textures, sounds, or shapes to keep things fresh. Pay attention to what excites them most:
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Loving a Crinkle Plush? Try another soft, textured friend.
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Fascinated by a Rattle? Make simple rhythms together.
Your engagement reinforces that the world is a playful, creative place.
Bottom Line
Encouraging imaginative play before age one sets the stage for lifelong creativity, problem-solving, and emotional growth. With sensory-rich toys, interactive moments, and open-ended exploration, your baby can start imagining, experimenting, and learning—one playful squeak at a time.
Shop the Collection: Explore our Inklings Baby sensory toys and give your little one the gift of playful imagination today.