7 Montessori Activities for 12 Month Olds Who Pull Everything Out
Pulling everything out can feel endless at 12 months.
You put the clothes away, and they pull them out. You fill the basket, and they empty it. You organize the shelf, and suddenly every object is on the floor while your child looks deeply satisfied with the work they have done.
It can be annoying, but it also makes sense. Pulling objects out is a clear action with a visible result. The container changes. The pile changes. Their hands made something happen.
The goal is to give that urge a safe setup where pulling things out is allowed and where putting them back becomes part of the same loop. Montessori at this age can be very simple: safe container, safe objects, clear reset, repeat.
Turn pulling out into a safe loop
Use big, soft, lightweight objects and containers that do not pinch, tip dangerously, or break. Let your child empty first, then model one simple way to put the pieces back without turning it into a cleanup battle.
1. Wipes Container Cloth Pull
Use an empty wipes container with the lid removed or propped open, then stuff it with large washcloths. Pull the first cloth out slowly, hand it to your child, and let them keep going. When the container is empty, put the cloths back in together and offer the same setup again.
Why it works: This gives them the pulling action they want with soft, safe materials. The container adds just enough resistance to make the work interesting.
Stay close if your child mouths fabric or tries to push the container over. Keep the cloths large and avoid scarves, ribbons, or anything long.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
2. Sock Drawer Basket
Fill a shallow basket with a few clean socks and place it near your child. Let them pull the socks out, spread them around, and hand them back to you. Then place one sock in the basket and invite them to copy you, even if they immediately dump it again.
Why it works: Socks are safe, soft, and easy to reset. The activity mirrors the drawer-emptying behavior without giving access to an actual drawer full of clothes.
Use a small number of socks. A full basket can become too much and makes the cleanup feel like a separate problem.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
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3. Soft Toy Rescue Box
Put three large soft toys in a small cardboard box and leave the top open. Let your child pull one toy out at a time. After all the toys are out, put them back slowly while naming each one, then let your child rescue them again.
Why it works: Pulling toys from a box gives a clear beginning and finish. The rescue idea adds a tiny story without making the activity too complicated.
Check the box for tape, staples, and loose cardboard bits before using it. Replace it once it starts tearing.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
4. Laundry Pull And Drop
Place three washcloths or baby shirts in a shallow laundry basket. Let your child pull one out and drop it beside the basket. Then show them how to put one item back. The activity can switch between emptying and filling several times.
Why it works: Laundry is a real household material, and it gives your child a safe way to practice pulling, dropping, and returning objects. The soft pieces are easy for small hands to manage.
Keep the basket shallow and do not let your child climb inside. Stay nearby if clothes go into the mouth.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
5. Board Book Pull Shelf
Put three board books in a basket or on a very low safe shelf. Let your child pull one book out, open it, close it, and put it on the floor. Then help them place the book back before they take out the next one.
Why it works: Books give the pulling-out action more purpose because they can be opened and explored after they come out. The basket keeps the job from becoming a whole-room book dump.
Use sturdy board books only. Paper pages are too easy to rip at this age.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
6. Cup Pull From Bowl
Place three large plastic cups inside a wide plastic bowl. Let your child pull one cup out, hold it, tap it, and place it back. If they dump the whole bowl, reset with the same three cups instead of adding more.
Why it works: The cups are easy to grip and the bowl gives a clear container. Pulling, dumping, and replacing all fit the same simple movement pattern.
Use a bowl that will not break, and stay close if your child tries to climb into it or stand on it.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
7. Texture Pull Basket
Fill a small basket with three large safe textures, such as a washcloth, soft ball, and silicone cup. Let your child pull each one out and explore it. Put the items back one at a time when the basket is empty, then offer the same basket again.
Why it works: Different textures make the pulling more interesting without adding unsafe tiny pieces. The repeated basket reset helps them connect emptying with putting back.
Use washable items that are too large to swallow. Stay close because texture exploration at 12 months often includes the mouth.
Keep the setup small on purpose. At 12 months, fewer pieces usually creates more focus, and it also gives the activity a clear finish instead of turning the whole room into cleanup.
The Bottom Line
Pulling everything out is not automatically bad behavior at 12 months.
It is often how your child learns what containers do, how objects move, and what changes when they use their hands. The house still needs boundaries, but the urge itself can be used.
A wipes container with cloths, a basket of socks, a box of soft toys, or a few board books gives that pulling energy somewhere safe to go. When the pieces are large, soft, and easy to reset, the activity becomes manageable for you and satisfying for them.
Emptying can become the start of order, not only the start of mess.
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One mom told us: "I needed 30 minutes to finish something for work. The generator suggested 'Dry Pouring' - two pitchers and some dried beans. My 2-year-old poured beans back and forth between those pitchers for 45 minutes. By the end she wasn't spilling anymore. She was learning to control her movements, focus her attention, all while I hit my deadline. This isn't just keeping them busy - they're actually developing skills.
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