Free Curriculum · 12–24 Months
Free 1-year-old lesson plans, month by month.
Developmentally appropriate, doable in a real home on a real day — a complete, free, play-based curriculum for ages 12–24 months.
You don’t need a desk or a schedule. You need a loose plan for play.
- A month-by-month plan
- 10+ activities a month
- A parent masterclass each month
- A gentle weekly rhythm
Free · no credit card
No worksheets. No prep marathons. Just a place to begin.
9
Months of content
A full school year of play, September through May.
10+
Activities a month
Hands-on, screen-free, using what you already own.
5–10
Minutes a “lesson”
Several tiny sessions beat one long one at this age.
$0
Always free
No credit card. Come back each month as they grow.
Looking for lesson plans for your 1-year-old that are actually developmentally appropriate — and doable in a real home, on a real day? You’re in the right place. Below is the complete free month-by-month curriculum for ages 12–24 months. But first, let’s clear up what “lesson plans” even means at this age. It’s gentler than you think.
What should a 1-year-old actually be learning?
Here’s the reassuring truth: a 1-year-old’s “curriculum” isn’t letters and numbers on a worksheet. At 12–24 months, your child is doing foundational work across four areas of development — and almost all of it happens through play.
Physical (motor skills). Big-body movement like cruising, walking, climbing, and carrying — plus the small-hand work of pincer grasp, stacking, scooping, and pouring. Every sensory bin and set of measuring cups is “motor development.
Language. The big one for 12–24 months. Your child is soaking up words long before they say them. Songs, nursery rhymes, naming things out loud, reading the same book for the hundredth time — that’s your language curriculum.
Cognitive (thinking). Early problem-solving, cause and effect, object permanence (the reason peekaboo never gets old), sorting, matching, and beginning to understand how the world works.
Social and emotional. Learning to feel safe, to connect, to name big feelings, and to play alongside you. At this age, your warm presence is the lesson.
You don’t need to “teach” all four on purpose. A good lesson plan simply makes sure your week gently touches each one — which is exactly what the curriculum below does for you.
What a “lesson plan” really looks like at this age
If “lesson plan” makes you picture a desk, a schedule, and a toddler who will absolutely not cooperate — let that picture go. A lesson plan for a 1-year-old is just a loose plan for play: a theme for the month, a handful of simple activities, and a gentle rhythm so you’re not standing in the kitchen at 9 a.m. wondering what to do.
A few things make it work in real life. Keep each activity short — five to ten minutes is a full “lesson,” and several tiny sessions beat one long one. Follow your child if they wander off; the lesson worked, they got what they needed. And repeat freely — toddlers learn through repetition, so doing the same activity all week is a feature, not a failure.
Your free curriculum
Calendar play — begin anywhere.
The Home Play Curriculum, month by month. Self-paced — start with the current month, or begin at September and follow the sequence.
The curriculum takes a break over summer — June, July, and August are for free play.
What’s inside, every month
Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
Each month you get
- A short parent masterclass video To guide you and build your confidence.
- 10 hands-on activity ideas Using things you already have at home.
- A storytime or circle-time video To build language and connection.
- A simple weekly schedule Follow it, or use your own flow.
How to use it
A gentle three-day rhythm.
You don’t need something new every day. Three light touchpoints a week covers it beautifully — the rest is ordinary life.
Monday
Sensory + Outdoor
A simple sensory activity plus a little time outside.
Wednesday
Art or Science + Storytime
An art-or-science exploration, then a book together.
Friday
Repeat or Bonus
Repeat a favorite from the week, or try a bonus activity.
Your play mentor
You don’t need to be a teacher. You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect setup. You just need a simple plan and permission to keep it light.
Hi, I’m Alexa — a sensory teacher, homeschool mom, and creator of the play-plan method that’s helped thousands of parents teach their toddlers through play. With 20K+ followers and a feature on PBS Kids South Florida, my mission is simple: show you that teaching at home can be joyful, stress-free, and full of play.
What moms are saying
From the moms already playing.
★★★★★
“We started with the cow lesson, and after only three tries she mimicked ‘MMM.’ Then the songs — I sang them, and when I stopped, she began to hum.”
Sesali · Mom of an 11-month-old
★★★★★
“The activities were a great fit for my 13.5-month-old. She loves music — we sang ‘I am special’ three times in a row. Days later I paused before ‘mommy,’ and of course she said ‘daddy!'”
Kayla C. · Mom of a 13-month-old
When this month isn’t enough
You have this month. My First School has the whole year.
The free plan gives you this month — come back as your baby grows. Or stop downloading one month at a time and open the whole first year, already mapped out.
My First School · Level 1 — the upgrade
- 12 themed units — the whole first year Matched to 12–23 months, already planned.
- 240 daily activities, with scripts Materials you own, and exactly what to say.
- A Monday–Friday rhythm All six skill areas, every week.
- A full-year PDF — yours to keep Instant download, lifetime access, use it again for your next child.
- Bonus: the Play Guide Library No-prep play, sensory recipes, and flop-fixes.
$97
one-time · lifetime access · no subscription
Same play-based heart — just the whole year, done for you.
Ready to play
You can’t mess this up. Just begin.
Start with this month — a few short sessions a week is all it takes to give your 1-year-old a real head start through play.
Free · No credit card · No worksheets