For this age group I find the favourite toys for free play are generally mega blocks, pop onz and balls. As they get closer to age 2 then dramatic play is my go to and I have a garage full of totes full of dramatic play collections based on themes. Sometimes they are so simple like for WInter I have a tote full of winter hats and gloves and they love these. In the Summer I have 2 suitcases and each filled with shorts and t-shirts, plastic sunglasses, suntan lotion bottles taped up, we make passports, camera's etc etc. The possibilities are endless and I find that its a good activity for the whole group from age 1+.

Also I can't say enough good things about treasure baskets. These are perfect for babies, but also 1-2 yr olds. I'd make a treasure basket full of everyday items that they may not be exposed to on a regular basis, or of different textures. The textures one is good for them to explore and then lead into a craft with paint to see what pattern they make.

Crafts can be challenging for this age group. Not because they can't make their own version of a ladybug or easter chick, but because I find so many can't tolerate having messy hands lol So, I tend to get them over this initial hurdle so that craft time goes without tears and tantrums. To do this I do malible and sensory play. Sensory trays filled with cornstarch gloop, pudding, rice, sand etc etc. I try to include them in themes also. If the group is working on bugs one week, I would hide plastic bugs in gloop. The other thing to do is a shallow tray of sand or anything that you can leave a mark in and give them toothbrushes to make patterns with. They also love the water table filled with water and any plastic toy along with toothbrushes and they scrub them and clean them and then line them up to dry on a towel.

I find with this activity each child might get something completely different out of it, but it is an all round good activity to satisfy all age groups.