I would agree that talking about everything that happens is one of the best things you can do. As far as the kitchen is concerned, I have one cabinet that I put a lot of random stuff in that is Hattie's safe cupboard to explore-wooden spoons, a cracked ice cube tray, plastic leftover containers. Stuff we don't use regularly and that is safe, so she can go to town while I get a couple of things accomplished.
PPs have lots of great ideas! A responsive loving parent is pretty much all your LO needs right now. The single best thing you can do for your child's education is to read out loud in huge amounts, include material that is above (way above) their current level. Try to get classics. Books on CD/tape to play in the car (check out the library) are great, too. Limit TV time. Spend at least an hour outside (not necessarily all at once) every day. Talk a lot and explain what you are doing. Try and involve your LO as much as you can, like others have mentioned.
One booK I like "Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready."
PPs have lots of great ideas! A responsive loving parent is pretty much all your LO needs right now. The single best thing you can do for your child's education is to read out loud in huge amounts, include material that is above (way above) their current level. Try to get classics. Books on CD/tape to play in the car (check out the library) are great, too. Limit TV time. Spend at least an hour outside (not necessarily all at once) every day. Talk a lot and explain what you are doing. Try and involve your LO as much as you can, like others have mentioned.
One booK I like "Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready."
Amen!
Thanks for pointing out even reading material that is way above current level. Great for complex language exposure, and great for your own sanity (I mean, how many times can one read Pat the Bunny before going nuts!).
DS was still nursing very regularly till 18 months, so our bedtime routine was to nurse before bed while DH read a novel out loud. We read all the Chronicles of Narnia this way. Ended up being a very soothing time for all of us.
I think every child and parent is differnet and the best way is just to BE with them- which is what you are doing! And figure it out as you go. I don't think you need to be specifically teaching them anything other than what comes naturally to you as life is so new to them still and everything is learning. How many months old is your 1 yr old? 1 year old is also so different from the beginning to the older part of it. When ds was early one, 12-18 months or so- we would just go to the library and grocery store and walk around and see people and that was enough- and of course stay home a lot and hang out. After about 18 months (he is now 23 months ) or maybe after 21 months or so he just needed to be in more places where he could explore and exercise and be with other children- so I started making the effort to take him to play places and toddler gym type of places- even though it means more driving and going out of my local area about 20 minutes to get to some of those places. But that was only because I could tell he waa getting physically and emotionally restlesss with the same ole. So I think the child can show you if you need to change it up. And also- regarding walking- my ds didn't walk till 19 months and now he is running around fine with all the other toddlers :)
But I think just being with them and loving and being present is the best thing- there is no secret teaching that you are missing- I think everyone is just figuring it out as we go and also differnet kids like different things.
For example my ds has no interest in art- I give him crayons or art supplies and he just throws them or puts them in containers! I have no art inclination myself so it makes sense I guess- but ds has his own things he does like.
One booK I like "Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready."
i just found this book, it's available for free as a pdf via ERIC at http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=ED332802
;) thanks for all the great recommendations! as the mother of a 10 month old girl, i gotta say her favorite thing to do is go outside. we walk around the city for at least an hour every day and she loves people-watching from her ergo so so much.
I wanted to add- if you can find a "music togeher" class near you- we started going to one once a week and ds and I love it. they are all over the country.
I am a firm believer in learning through play and everyday life as all a child needs for the first several years in terms of "education". I am not a fan of classes that tell me firmly what to do or fast-paced enviornments like a local "gym" (I will leave unnamed) where if a child doesn't play with something for 3 min they put it away and put out something else--my kid needs time to settle in and discover for himself. Not all classes are like that, but I am leery of the ones that are.
Things we do...
Great post everyone! My son just turned 1. He started daycare at 10 months so I don't find myself trying to find things to do since we only get 3 full days together and 2 are with my husband.
I'd love to get DS involved in house chores but I'm not sure how. Some of your children sound so cooperative. My friend also said her son sat in the sink while she made dinner. Well I must have a different type of baby because I doubt he'd stay long on the counter. He doesn't sit still for very long!!! He's very mobile, crawling, pulling himself up on things, pushing things, playing with his toys and taking the occasional steps. I understand Mariacm how you feel about trying to keep DS out of trouble. We're very slowly baby-proofing. Often if I try to get something done (chore, get myself ready), he creates another chore for me by emptying a cupboard, drawer, bookshelf! So we aren't really able to do chores unless we're 2 and one can be with him. Anyone have any suggestions for me?
Even though it's cold out I would still get outside, I live in Vermont and I would go crazy if I didn't take my daughter outside a lot. We usually walk about a mile to the train station so she can watch the train, on warmer days we go sledding, go to the park and swing in the swings or go down the slide, or she just crawls around in the snow. Even when it's very cold, like 5 degrees Fahrenheit, I still bundle her up in her baby carrier and wear a big coat that I wrap around her.
Also,I just wanted to say that not walking at one is no big deal, lots of babies don't walk until even 15 months, babies walk at different ages and it usually has nothing to do with how smart they are. Also, babies who are bilingual often take longer to start talking/talking clearly as they have to sort out 2 different languages, but growing up with 2 languages it supposed to be really good brain development (you probably know that all ready).
in regards to your 1 yr old walking, it is nothing to worry about. There are no adults still crawling around, even if you did nothing to tech him, he would still work it out for himself. But things you can do to encourage him and make into a game are: teach co ordination - we have 2 steps out the back going into the yard and we taught our daughter at 9 months how to go up and down. when she approached steps by crawling we said turn around and pphysically picked her up and turned her around, guiding one foot day, then the next, then her hands, they really enjoy learning by you doing it with them.
when ever you put your boy down after holding him, always stand him onto his feet and hold his hand for a sec before letting him go to the ground, he will start to realise that you are ment to be on your feet. When ever going from one room to the next let him walk! dont carry him. it will take a while to get around and do things, but it uses up a few mins of the day, so why not. if your little man is cruising (walking but always holding onto things) we have just discovered that our daughter loves to push the shopping trolley around the supermarket! she stands at my feet and hold onto the back of the trolley and pushes while i guide it around all the shoppers. and it tired her out! great! Hope these ideas help. it feels like it is just never going to happen, but they all get there in the end. Good luck
in regards to your 1 yr old walking, it is nothing to worry about. There are no adults still crawling around, even if you did nothing to tech him, he would still work it out for himself. But things you can do to encourage him and make into a game are: teach co ordination - we have 2 steps out the back going into the yard and we taught our daughter at 9 months how to go up and down. when she approached steps by crawling we said turn around and pphysically picked her up and turned her around, guiding one foot day, then the next, then her hands, they really enjoy learning by you doing it with them.
when ever you put your boy down after holding him, always stand him onto his feet and hold his hand for a sec before letting him go to the ground, he will start to realise that you are ment to be on your feet. When ever going from one room to the next let him walk! dont carry him. it will take a while to get around and do things, but it uses up a few mins of the day, so why not. if your little man is cruising (walking but always holding onto things) we have just discovered that our daughter loves to push the shopping trolley around the supermarket! she stands at my feet and hold onto the back of the trolley and pushes while i guide it around all the shoppers. and it tired her out! great! Hope these ideas help. it feels like it is just never going to happen, but they all get there in the end. Good luck
I have a 5 yo, a 3 yo and a 1 yo.. My mothering has definitely changed a lot from my first to my third, I allow my third a LOT more freedom than my first. I was always scared with my first she was going to get hurt but now I realized that kids are smarter than we give them credit for 
Things my kids do/did from 1-2:
help with dishes/kitchen chores.. Im totally comfortable with them standing next to me while I wash dishes or helping me unload a dishwasher. The only time one of them has come close to falling I was right there to catch them. To me its safer than letting them crawl around/walk around while I did the dishes.
Anything that required dumping or stiring they helped with
If I was kneeding dough on the counter they can sit next to the dough and "help" me kneed.
By 18 months they could all use a dull knife to cut veggies/fruits.. Now at 3 and 5 my older two can use sharp knifes under my supervision.
Playing outside in the rain (properly dressed, of course, and only if there was no thunderstorms)
Playing in the mud puddles
picking flowers
bird "watching" (or in their case bird chasing 
)
Reading a TON of books
My middle LOVED story time at the library at that age, my oldest not so much
They all loved/love building towers, especially if they could knock them down afterwards 
A lot of song singing.. a lot of finger play
playdough and cookie cutters
fingerpaint, easel painting, "drawing" (I use the term loosely 
), anything else involving creating things
Alot of free play, they still get a TON of free play.. Hey! You are only a kid once! 
I keep a low shelf full of cans for them to stack and unstack
Dress up, my oldest thought it was great fun to dress up in my clothing and her daddy's uniforms.
A bowl with rice, a measuring cup and a couple of empty bowls.. This kept them occupied for a while
Anything that I was doing around the house they were allowed to do along side me.. Laundry, picking up, taking care of pets, cleaning out the car etc.
Im sure there is more but I have kids jumping on me trying to get my attention.
Follow Mothering