20 fun, silly, development-boosting games to play with your baby

Approved by the Medical Advisory Board Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D.

Last updated: May 2006

By Joyce Lollar

• Birth to 3 months

• 4 to 6 months

• 7 to 9 months

• 10 to 12 months

When we first brought our baby home, we were stricken with terror. Would the baby suddenly

stop breathing? What if she choked? Did the other people on the road always drive this

dangerously?

As the days wore on, the fear ebbed. Okay, we could keep the baby alive. But what were we

supposed to do with her? She stared into space, showing no particular interest in our efforts to

sing or dangle toys in front of her face. "Look, baby, look at the monkey!" Nope. Just vacant

stares, and then some crying to liven things up.

Now that we both know a lot more about babies — or at least our baby — we know not to

expect a lot of interaction from a newborn. But that doesn't mean playing with your brand-

new baby isn't important.

From day one, your baby's interested in what's going on around him. Deep in his head, there's

a lot going on. Connections are being made and information is being sorted and categorized.

Playing games helps fit the puzzle pieces together — as your baby grows, play is crucial for

his social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Play also brings you and your

baby closer and makes your time together that much more enjoyable. Remember: The more

your baby laughs, the less he cries!

A few notes for the novice baby-entertainer: Repetition is important. Many games won't work

the first time you play them, but if you keep up your efforts your kid will eventually start

cracking up the minute you reach for a particular toy.

Your baby's attention span will vary a lot, depending on his age, his temperament, and his

mood. Sometimes he'll enjoy a game for as long as 20 minutes, but more often you'll need to

modify the game every five minutes or so. You'll know your baby's loving your antics when

he's turning toward you, smiling, or laughing. But if he squirms away from you, looks away,

or cries, it's time to change the activity.

Some babies are easily overstimulated. If yours starts to cry during playtime, don't despair.

Switch to calmer activities like cuddling, looking at picture books, singing soft songs, or

nursing.

Keep in mind that not every baby will catch on to every game that's supposedly perfect for his

age range. Don't allow this to freak you out, as in: Oh no, Noah's not reaching out for objects

yet — there's something wrong with him! There's probably nothing at all wrong. Your baby

may be a little slower than the mythical "average" baby in this way, but he's probably ahead in

another way. Of course, if you suspect your child has a developmental delay, talk to his doctor.

Birth to 3 months

To the outside observer, a newborn basically seems like a pooping ball of protoplasm. Your

baby will mostly just lie there, except when he's crying. So how can you connect with him

and have fun?

Your best chance of doing this is to engage your baby's senses: touch, sight (remember, your

baby is still very nearsighted), smell, and hearing. (Let's leave taste out for now.) By the end

of his first three months, your baby may reach out and try to grab things and will be fascinated

by sounds, smells, and patterns.

Note: It may take your newborn several seconds to respond to you or he may not respond

much at all. Be patient — you may need to keep trying or wait a while for him to enter an

alert, responsive state.

Dance, Dance Revolution In the afternoons when my baby got grumpy, nothing worked as well as dancing with her. I'd

put on some music — she preferred soulful tunes from Stevie Wonder and James Brown —

and either put her in the sling or hold her in my arms.

At first she preferred soft swaying. Later on she liked me to swing her in the air or bump her

up and down rather rudely. (Just be sure to offer neck support and don't shake your baby.)

When your arms get tired, put your baby down and keep up the dance.

Silly exaggerated movements like jazz hands or shaking your butt are particularly funny to

babies. Close the drapes so the neighbors won't see.

Let's Look at Stuff Most of your early playtime will be spent showing your baby stuff. Any object in the house

that won't poison, electrocute, or otherwise hurt him is fair game. Babies love egg beaters,

spoons, wire whisks, spatulas, books and magazines with pictures, bottles of shampoo or

conditioner (don't leave your baby alone with these!), record albums, colorful fabrics or

clothes, fruits and vegetables, and so on.

Keep a little stash of objects beside you and sit with your baby. When the moment's right,

whip something out like a magician. "Look, Kyle, Daddy's bicycle bell." Hold the object still

about a foot from his face and stare at it yourself. Hey, now that you look at it, that bicycle

bell is kind of interesting. Congratulations! You're thinking like a baby!

Oh, and don't expect babies to really "get" books at this age. You'll know they're enjoying

them by their way of getting still and watchful when you bring a favorite book out.

Babies don't tend to sit through a whole story, though, and when they're a few months older

they'll grab the books from you and close them. This is all developmental stuff. Babies love

looking at books and cuddling close to you, but they usually don't care about the plot.

Journey Into Mom's Closet You haven't spent a lifetime accumulating a closetful of bright, slinky, tactile clothing for

nothing. Dig into your closet and show your baby your cashmere sweater, your cottony-soft

favorite jeans, your brilliant plaid skirt. Run soft or silky fabrics over his face, hands, and feet.

Lay fuzzy stuff down on the floor and put your baby on top of it.

In a few months, your baby will want to run his hands over anything beaded, embroidered, or

otherwise embellished. But for now, he may just be content to gaze in wonder.

Hey! What's Over My Head? You'll be amazed at how much fun you can have with the simplest stuff around your house.

Here are three ideas to start you off:

Tie or tape some ribbons, fabric, or other interesting streamers onto a wooden spoon and

dangle them gently over and in front of your baby's face.

Take a floaty scarf and fling it into the air, letting it settle on your baby's head.

Tie a toy to an elastic string (like the kind used for cat toys) and bounce it up and down in

front of your baby's face, saying "Boing! Boing!" every time it descends.

Remember, never leave your baby alone with strings or ribbons that could encircle his neck or

that he could get into his mouth.

The Diva Within You may have a terrible voice — but your kid doesn't know it! Now's the time to sing at

volume 10, so set free that opera voice inside you.

Your baby may like absolutely anything you sing, but there are some classics you should

know. "Itsy Bitsy Spider" was the only song that made my baby stop crying when she was on

a jag. And most kids like any song with movements — "The Wheels on the Bus," "Row, Row,

Row Your Boat," "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," and "Patty-Cake," to name a few. (If

you don't remember the words to a favorite song, try an Internet search. )

You may feel silly at first, but as your child gets into it, so will you. Try adding your baby's

name to the song: "Old Mac Ethan had a farm," "Kate is my sunshine, my only sunshine," and

so on. Try songs with silly sounds or animal noises in them, like "Witch Doctor" or "How

Much Is That Doggie in the Window?"

Try singing a song in a low growly voice and then in a high squeaky voice, to see which gets

the most reaction. Try singing the song breathily into your baby's ear, or use a hand puppet (or

a napkin or sock willing to play the part of a hand puppet). And get used to singing, because

this could begin to eat up a significant portion of your day.

4 to 6 months

At this age, your baby will become a lot more physical, learning how to roll over and even sit

up. She can now hold, handle, and mouth objects, and she'll spend a good part of her busy

days doing so (meaning extra vigilance is needed on your part).

Games can get more physical now. Your baby might enjoy knee rides or tickle games. She's

also more responsive to you, making noises and meeting your eyes.

Smell the Spice Rack You're in the kitchen, trying to throw some kind of dinner together when your baby starts

wailing. Take her over to the spice rack and introduce her to the intoxicating scent of

cinnamon. Rub some on your hand and put it up to your baby's nose. (Don't let it get in her

eyes or mouth.)

If she likes it, try others: Vanilla, peppermint, cumin, cloves, nutmeg, and many other herbs

and spices have intriguing fragrances that your baby might love. Other household goods are

fragrant, too: Dad's shaving lotion, Mom's hand cream. Sniff out everything yummy — just be

careful not to let your baby eat it!

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere There's something magical about bubbles, and at this point your baby can see far enough

away to focus on them. Blow bubbles when she's getting fussy waiting for the bus and watch

the tears dry up. Blow bubbles in the park to attract older kids who'll caper nearby and

entertain your baby in the process. Blow bubbles in the bathtub or out on the porch when it's

late afternoon and your baby is cranky. Bubbles are unbelievably cheap, easily transportable,

and endlessly fascinating for babies.

I'm Gonna Get You! Your baby is old enough to have a sense of anticipation now. And no baby can resist your

coming at her mock-menacingly with a threat of hugs, kisses, or tickles. Here's what you

could say: "Hey, Andrea! I see you over there sitting up! Well, that just makes you closer to

my lips and I'm going to come over there and kiss you! I'm going to steal a kiss, baby! I'm

coming! I'm coming! I...gotcha!" Then cover your baby in smooches.

In our house we threaten to eat the baby and punctuate our advances with lip chomps on her

fat little feet. A delicacy! When your baby's older you can modify this game to include a

chase around the house — this works wonderfully as a way to get your child out the door

when you're in a rush.

This Little Piggy Touch your baby's toes in turn, starting with the big toe. Say, "This little piggy went to market,

this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none. And

this little piggy went wee-wee-wee all the way home."

As you say that last part, run your fingers up your baby's belly. This game is useful for putting

on socks and shoes or distracting your baby during diaper changes. You can also play this

game in the bathtub with a squirt bottle targeting your baby's toes.

Tummy Time By now, your doctor's probably nagging you to get your baby on her tummy, and your baby

may be protesting vociferously.

Get down on the floor with your baby. Look her in the eye as you lie on your own belly. Lay

your baby down on a towel and use it to gently roll her from side to side. Try saying, "Oops-

a-daisy, Oops-a-daisy" as you roll her.

Fly, Baby, Fly! Now that your baby can hold her head up, it's time to hoist her into the air. You can play that

she's a rocket ship, flying her over you and making realistic rocket noises (dads are great at

this). You can play that your baby is in an elevator, which advances up floor by floor before

sinking quickly to the bottom (my husband likes to bump noses with our baby and say

"Ding!" at this point). Or pretend that your baby's doing a helicopter traffic report.

7 to 9 months

Your baby's becoming an expert at sitting and may soon be crawling as well. Encourage these

physical feats by celebrating each new milestone: "Joshua, you sat up! Amazing baby!"

Include a big hand for the little fella.

The ability to transfer objects from hand to hand and the fabled pincer grasp are part of your

baby's increasing hand control (which means you'll be forced to carry a container of O-shaped

cereal with you at all times for the next year).

Your baby also begins to understand that when an object disappears, it hasn't fallen off the

edge of the earth. This discovery makes games like peek-a-boo a favorite.

Touch It, Hold It, Bang It If your baby has one object, he'll bang it on the table. If he has two objects, he'll bang them

together, hold them up to the light, squint at them, bang them separately on the table, hit the

table with both at the same time, see if the object sounds different when hit using the left hand

rather than the right hand, and on and on.

Help him out by handing over objects that make interesting sounds: hollow containers, metal

spoons, bells.

Pay attention to tactile sensations as well: Your baby will be fascinated by a greeting card

laced with glitter or the slickness of Mom's enameled jewelry box. A baby with strands of

cooked spaghetti to play with wouldn't notice if a bomb went off.

I Can Control the World Babies love cause and effect at this age, as in: I do this, the light comes on. I do that, the light

goes off. Showing your baby how to work light switches, remote controls, cell phones, and

more will thrill him — but can make life more difficult for you when he insists on being held

up to work the lights yet again.

Instead, you may want to offer a toy phone or remote to satisfy his craving for control, or a

jack-in-the-box to provide a thrillingly surprising result. Or, let him manage his environment

by filling a low-lying cabinet or drawer with safe objects and letting your baby rummage

around. Make sure there are no sharp edges or other dangers (dressers with drawers pulled out

can turn over on a child) and then let your baby go to town.

Obstacle Course If your baby's crawling, scooting, or walking, he may enjoy the challenge of having to move

over things. (This is great for developing his motor skills, too.) Pillows, phone books, tired

parents, and laundry make good obstacles. Sleeping cats do not make good obstacles.

So Many Variations on Peek-a-boo The classic: Hold up a towel between your face and your baby's and ask, "Where's Sam?

There's Sam!" over and over again. You can vary this game in a million ways. Hide behind a

door and make your baby push it open to see you. Hide behind a chair and pop out first from

above then from the sides. Go behind a corner with another person and alternate who jumps

out and yells "Boo!"

Keep a selection of hats behind the couch and pop up wearing a different one each time. This

game will make your baby laugh like the main character in Reefer Madness. A surefire laugh-

getter is to put a hat on your head, hiding your eyes, and let your baby take it off, saying

"Oh!" in surprise each time he does it. (This will also guarantee that you'll never wear a hat in

peace again.)

Roll Play Babies are fascinated by balls and how they move. You'll get a big laugh by juggling or

tossing balls up in the air and letting them hit the floor while you make a silly sound effect:

"Whoops!" Roll a soft ball toward your baby and watch him grab and squeeze it. Eventually,

with encouragement, he'll roll the ball back toward you. And someday he'll be able to kick

and toss the ball or drop it into a big bowl or bucket. For now, bounce and roll.

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10 to 12 months

Developmentally, your infant has suddenly morphed into an almost-toddler. Games that allow

her to practice gross (not as in "eww, gross!") motor skills such as standing, pulling up, and

climbing are important for her now. Your baby will also like to work on her fine motor skills

by fiddling with the tag on your shirt or the pages of a book — and your breasts if she's still

nursing.

Rearrange and Re-rearrange Your baby is figuring out the connections between objects in the world. She'll love to stack

and arrange objects, as well as fill and empty them.

Give your baby a box that's easy to open (like a shoe box) and show her how to put things

inside and take them out. At our house, this game quickly evolves into "Take everything out

of Mommy's purse and fling it wildly around the living room," which is why I no longer carry

change or pens.

Another way to play this game: Get a bunch of cups (maybe even stackable measuring cups

— ooh, two toys in one!) and show your baby how to pour water, sand, or cornmeal from one

to the other, or into a larger container.

The Endless Cruise Once your baby is up on her feet, you can encourage cruising by placing a favorite toy at the

far end of the couch or over on the coffee table. Try imitating your baby by putting one of

your toys, such as your cell phone, a distance away and cruising on your knees toward it.

Your baby may find this amusing and come over to join you.

Encourage your baby to push an object around the room. Push toys and large empty boxes

work well. Avoid folding chairs, which can fold up unexpectedly.

Top That, Kid Babies this age love to imitate. Encourage this behavior by making a ridiculous noise and then

nodding at your baby to go ahead and try a noise. She may imitate you or make her own noise,

which you can imitate. Or you can make up a new noise of your own.

Eventually you'll have created something that sounds like a techno song. Get up and dance to

it! You can also play this game with faces or movements — our kid likes to make the Nixon

"V" sign and wave her hands around angrily. When we do it back, her expression is of

someone witnessing magic.

The Bath Is Fun No longer is your baby content to sit in the tub and be washed. Older babies want to stand up,

splash, grab your hair, pat the shower curtain, and so on. (Note: Never leave a baby

unattended in the bath, not even for a second.)

Encourage the craziness by bringing in lots of toys. Plenty of stuff around the house can be

endlessly filled, drained, poured from or into, and floated. Pile up some plastic cups, yogurt

containers, funnels, and squeeze bottles, and bring them into the bath along with any of your

baby's plastic toys.

Poke holes in the top of a plastic bottle with a flat cap to make a homemade watering can. Let

your baby feel the sensation of the water dripping onto her and show her how to cut off the

flow by pressing with her hands. Use your homemade toy to give her rubber ducky a shower.

At the end of the bath, drain the toys in a plastic colander or a net bag suction-cupped to the

side of the tub. Now you're clean. Wasn't that fun?

Joyce|Lollar is mom to toddler Violet and writes the Tending Violet journal on BabyCenter.

Home > Baby > Development

Play: Why it's so important

Approved by the Medical Advisory Board Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D.

Last updated: April 2006

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

• Is play necessary for development?

• What types of play are best for my child?

• What are the best toys for my child?

• How can I make the most of my child's playtime?

• Related Links

Is play necessary for development?

Absolutely. Play is crucial for your child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

It's your child's way of learning about his body and the world, and he'll use all five senses to

do it, especially in the first year. What does this feel like when I touch it? What does this

sound like when I squeeze it? What will happen if I push this or pull that? Crawl over there?

Pull myself up on this? Exploration is the heart of play, and in your child's mind any

experiment counts, even hurling a bowl of cereal off the highchair tray. Development experts

are fond of saying that play is the work of children (and cleaning up after play seems to be the

work of parents).

As your child moves into the toddler years, his play will become more imaginative and

complex. Through play, he'll exercise key skills and qualities, such as independence,

creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. It can also be an important place to explore feelings

and values and develop social skills. Long before your child feels comfortable sharing his

favorite toy with his sister, he may offer it to a doll. His first spontaneous "please" and "thank

you" may slip out at an imaginary tea party. And what parent can resist wasting a perfectly

good bandage the first time her child says his teddy got hurt?

What types of play are best for my child?

It depends on the stage of development. Since play is the tool your child uses to learn about

the world, the skills he's working on right now are your biggest clues to choosing the best

activities. For instance, if your 3-month-old is learning how to grab objects, let him play with

large soft toys. If at 12 months he's exploring cause and effect, play a simple version of hide-

and-seek under tables and chairs.

Here are some guidelines for the types of play your child may be most interested in at

different stages, according to Catherine Marchant, a play therapist at Wheelock College in

Boston:

Social play Interacting with you and others is important throughout the first year. Infants like to smile,

look, and laugh. Older babies enjoy games such as peekaboo and itsy-bitsy spider.

Object play Touching, banging, mouthing, throwing, pushing, and otherwise experimenting with things is

fascinating for the 4- to 10-month-old set.

Functional and representional play Pretending to use familiar objects in an appropriate way — pushing a toy lawn mower over

the grass, or calling Grandma with a hairbrush, for instance — is the height of fun for 12- to

21-month-olds as their imaginations begin to blossom.

Early symbolic play This type of play, common around the age of 2, creates something out of nothing. Your child

might play with a shoebox as if it were a school bus, complete with motor noises, for example,

or pretend to eat a plastic ring, insisting it's a doughnut.

Role play Around 30 to 36 months your little actor will begin taking on new roles. Playing doctor,

teacher, or mommy is common now.

What are the best toys for my child?

Let age be your guide. For instance, 2-month-olds will delight in mobiles that move with the

breeze, while 15-month-olds need a little more excitement — think pretend cooking in a play

kitchen. To get specific suggestions for toys that will make your child's eyes light up and grab

his attention, choose his age below:

Newborn to 2 months

3 to 6 months

7 to 9 months

10 to 12 months

13 to 18 months

19 to 24 months

25 to 30 months

31 to 36 months

How can I make the most of my child's playtime?

Try these suggestions:

Think of playtime as more than toy time. Playing is really any enjoyable activity that

involves people, objects, or movement. Everything from blowing bubbles at each other to

singing songs to splashing in the tub to chasing each other around the room qualifies. If

you've ever seen a 12-month old enthralled with a cardboard box, you understand how wide

the parameters are.

Get down on the floor with your baby. You are the ultimate plaything, and any activity will

seem more fun if your baby can share it with you. Talk to your baby while you play and you'll

help boost his language skills.

Introduce play activities when your baby is happy and rested, suggests Marilyn Segal, a

developmental psychologist and author of the Your Child at Play series.

Stop when your child's had enough. Children have different thresholds for stimulation.

When yours seems bored, fussy, or tired, it's time for a break.

Give your child a chance to play alone and with others. Both types of play are beneficial.

Let your child choose activities and control the direction of his play. You can suggest new

things or present new options, but your child should be the boss. After all, play is about fun,

and if there's one thing your child is an expert at already, it's having a good time.

Toys for newborns

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

In her first months, before she learns to grasp objects or sit up, your baby will most appreciate

things she can look at and listen to. Her vision will be fuzzy at first and she'll fix on things

that are about eight to 14 inches from her eyes. She's drawn to the human face — and can

recognize yours at about 1 month — but she will also enjoy large pictures of faces.

High-contrast patterns and bright colors captivate her because they're the easiest for her to see.

She's already learned to appreciate sounds and soft music. (Find out the lyrics to all your

favorite lullabies.) Objects that move slowly and produce a gentle sound are far more

interesting to her than those that are fixed and silent.

Hand-held toys: Her nearsightedness makes her appreciate anything you can move into her

line of sight. She won't be able to hold toys for a while, but she'll demonstrate her preferences

by batting at the ones she likes.

Tape player or music box: Music is one of the best ways to entertain and soothe your infant.

Play a variety of music — nothing too raucous — and see how she responds. For more ideas,

see our musical recommendations for this age group.

Mobile: A mobile can add a new dimension to a baby's horizontal view of life. Look for ones

with high-contrast colors and patterns. Many babies are particularly fond of mobiles that play

music. Attach the mobile to the crib rail. Infants this age look to the right 80 percent of the

time, so a toy hung overhead or on the left will be of limited value now. For safety's sake,

keep the mobile out of your baby's reach.

Unbreakable mirror: Although they won't realize it's themselves they're seeing at this stage,

babies find their own reflection fascinating. And by 3 months old, yours may have struck up a

relationship with hers, and begun smiling at it. Look for a mirror you can fasten to the side of

the crib or hang near a changing table.

Soft books with high-contrast patterns: Soft books with easy-to-see patterns or decorations

are designed just for babies. Lie down next to her so she can watch you turn the pages as you

read aloud to her — even at this age it pays off. For more ideas, see our recommended books

for newborns.

Sensory toys: A soft toy that trills or tweets when pressed will please a baby for months to

come. The accidental squeaks will also help her become aware of what her hand is doing.

Sock and wrist rattles: Attach a soft rattle to your baby's wrist or ankle, or warm her feet

with socks that have built-in rattles to provide long moments of entertainment as she

experiments with new sounds she can make herself.

Wind chimes: Babies love soft music, so hang a set of these in a place where she can watch it

move and listen to the sound. If the chime is over her crib, your baby may fall into the habit of

watching it for a few minutes before drifting to sleep. Hold her up once in a while so she can

sound the chimes herself, too.

Toys for 3- to 6-month-olds

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

As he enters this stage, a baby discovers how much fun his own hands can be now that they're

no longer clenched in a fist. He can suck his fingers, and use them to grasp a toy that has been

placed in his hands. He has begun to reach for toys. He soon learns to pass a toy back and

forth between his hands and rotate his wrist to inspect it from all sides, usually before popping

it into his mouth.

Make sure that all toys are safe for chewing — check labels! And never attach a toy to a crib

or playpen with elastic, which could end up strangling or entrapping your baby. By 6 months

your baby can probably sit up, giving him a new perspective on life and making him the

center of his own clanging, colorful, ever-changing world.

Activity center: This is basically a rack that comes with dangling toys and / or from which

you can hang toys of your own choosing. It's only for a baby who is still horizontal, but it can

make life more interesting while he is. Your baby can bat at the toys, pull them, spin them,

and rattle them. He'll probably begin to lose interest in his activity center once he reaches 5

months or so and can push up on his hands and knees.

Lightweight rattles: Babies love making noise. Give him a rattle and watch him shake it up.

Put on music with a strong beat so he can accompany it — babies this age generally love

music and are just learning to appreciate rhythm. Some rattles are clear, letting your baby in

on what's making all that cool noise.

Activity bars: These are bars hung with dangling, squeaky, tuggable plastic toys that fit

across an infant seat, car seat, or stroller. This means that on long car trips or stroller rides,

your baby can divert himself by exploring all the interesting noisy, grippable objects in front

of him.

Soft stuffed animals: This is the age at which many children begin forming an attachment to

a plush animal. Key criteria include soft and cuddly. You don't want anything with wire ears

or tail that could poke through the fabric and hurt your child. You do want dolls and animals

with stitched-on features. Soft toys with plastic eyes and mouth are potential choking hazards.

Also off-limits are features such as bells, buttons, ribbons, and yarn that your baby can yank

off and stuff into his mouth.

Squeaky rubber toys: Anything a baby can grip and squeak is usually popular with this age

group. These toys are perfect for the tub. Expect to hear these squeaks — and your baby's

happy squeals — often.

Board books: Reading to a child at any age will pay off. (For more, take our reading quiz.)

And board books can withstand mouthing, drooling, and most other forms of baby love.

Listening to your voice helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of language. And

varying the pitch of your voice using accents, singing, and vocalizing will make reading

together much more interesting to your child. For our list of recommended books for babies

this age, click here.

Colorful teething rings: There's nothing like gnawing on a soft plastic ring when your gums

are sore. Store teethers in the refrigerator to provide cold relief when your baby needs it.

Avoid putting them in the freezer. Neither the teether nor your baby's mouth is designed to

withstand freezing temperatures.

Activity quilts and playmats: These quilts can smooth a journey with your baby, whether

you're going across the street or across the country. Spread one on the floor and your baby has

a clean, familiar surface to play on wherever you go. Hooks sewn along the side mean you

can attach his favorite toys and bring them, too.

Toys for 6- to 9-month-olds

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

Your baby's play is becoming much more vigorous. When she picks up a spoon now she

bangs it against pots and pans, and she furiously rattles the bunch of keys she finds. She can

now grab two toys at once and slam them together. But her movements are also becoming

more precise; thanks to her growing dexterity, she can pick a raisin off the floor.

She is becoming aware that objects still exist even when she can no longer see or feel them.

This means she'll miss a favorite stuffed animal if she can't see it, and try to search for it. It

also means you can begin playing hide-and-seek games with objects. Hide her teddy bear

while she's looking, and she'll find it right away — and be very proud she did.

This is the age at which most babies go mobile. From sitting, it's a short developmental step to

scooting around on her stomach, to rocking back and forth on her hands and knees, and then

to crawling. By the time she's 8 months old she may be pulling herself up to a standing

position and climbing your stairs. The following toys can help her explore her quickly

developing senses.

Busy board: Many babies adore these activity boards that can be attached to a crib rail. They

come with parts that move and spin, giving your baby a place to practice coordinating her

hands with sensory experiences. She's also getting the idea that you can make things happen

to objects — so poking, twisting, squeezing, shaking, dropping, and opening things will

fascinate her.

Soft dolls or stuffed animals: Babies this age often develop an attachment to a "lovey," or

favorite toy or blanket. And pediatricians encourage this connection, saying a familiar object

can ease transitions later on. Still, some dolls and stuffed animals make more suitable loveys

than others. Avoid ones with ribbons, plastic eyes, yarn, or anything that can be pulled off and

put into your child's mouth. And don't get dolls so big they're hard for your baby to pick up

and explore.

Balls: Balls are fun for just about any age. Lightweight fabric balls suit this particular crowd

well. Roll one back and forth between the two of you on the floor, or when she's older, toss it

across the room so can can crawl after it.

Household items: Look no farther than your kitchen cabinet for some of your baby's favorite

items. A plastic bowl, some measuring cups, and wooden spoons will entertain your baby for

a long time. Open the cupboard while you're preparing a meal and your baby will pull out a

few utensils of her own and whip up something alongside you.

Wood or soft blocks: Show your baby how to stack a few blocks, and then knock them down.

Pile them into containers for her — and dump them out. She'll get the idea. Stacking blocks

and filling and dumping games are wildly popular in this age group.

Moving toys: As your baby begins to crawl and move around, she'll be more interested in

toys that do the same. Find some sturdy cars she can push around the rug. Or toys that pop up

when your baby pushes just the right spot.

Books: This is the age at which reading becomes more interactive and fun for both of you.

(Find out more about reading to your child.) Cloth or board books work well now. After you

read the book, you can pass it to her so she can take a turn flipping the pages and "reading" to

you. For more ideas, see our recommended books for babies.

Toys for 9- to 12-month-olds

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

By the time babies are 9 or 10 months old, they're usually able make their way around the

room in some fashion — creeping, crawling, or cruising (walking with the furniture's

assistance). By 12 months, many babies have risen to their feet and can stand and even walk.

Your baby has started using objects as tools, pushing a ball with a stick or chasing the carrots

around his plate with a spoon. He's also more interested in interactive games. Tickle him and

let him tickle you back. Talk on the phone and then pass it off to him so he can babble, then

hand it back to you for another round.

His problem-solving skills are improving and now he'll take the lid off a clear container to get

the toy he sees inside rather than trying to reach through it. And he's beginning to understand

words and recognize the names of familiar objects.

On all fours or on two feet, giddy with the freedom of movement and mobility, a baby at this

age will want move, grab, and get to whatever used to be out of reach.

Push toys: Push toys give your toddler a chance to exercise his new walking skills. Choose a

push toy, like a wagon, that is heavily weighted so your baby can lean into it, and take a lap or

two around the living room. (Most babies this age are still too young for pull toys, which are

better for slightly advanced walkers who can look behind them as they move forward.)

Newfound mobility is a heady experience. But even after the novelty of walking wears off,

your baby will enjoy pushing and pulling toys for months to come.

Shape sorters: Trying to figure out why the square block won't go through the round opening

is a nice challenge for early problem-solvers. This is one of those toys that fascinate, and only

occasionally frustrate, babies this age.

Balls: He's encountered them before, but balls get even more thrilling when you assume a

standing position and can actually bounce them off the floor.

Toy telephone: Babies love to imitate their parents. Even if he can't say much yet, a baby will

try to communicate by holding the receiver and pushing buttons. The more realistic the phone,

the better.

Books: At this age, children are particularly intrigued by books with flaps that open, textures

that can be rubbed, and bunnies that need patting. For more ideas, see our recommended

books for babies.

Blocks: Blocks give him the chance to practice the art of stacking. He can probably stack

three or four at this point, so the subsequent crash is gratifying.

Pail and shovel: These tools come in handy when your baby's all-time favorite activity is

filling and dumping, filling and dumping. Take these along to the sandbox, or out to the park

and your baby will stay contented and busy for some time.

Toys for children 12 to 18 months old

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

Your toddler is really taking off these days — and as you chase her little body down the street,

you may miss the days before she learned to use her legs so well. "Active" is an apt way to

describe her now, and she likes any toy or game that allows her to throw her whole self into it

— balls, swings, and tiny climbing sets, to name a few.

Her hands are becoming more coordinated, too, and she can now use toy sorters more

efficiently, build even greater block towers, and scribble a drawing. Her play involves lots of

experimentation, like "What happens if I drop this ball?" or "What happens if pull this lever?"

She's very interested in the consequences of her actions, and because her memory isn't well

developed she won't tire of repetition. Toddlers also like to try out what they see adults doing,

so look for toys that imitate daily life.

Large building bricks: These light cardboard bricks are big enough to stack up into a fort or

wall, or any other way your toddler wants. But the most satisfying part of the process

continues to be the finale — when the walls come tumbling down.

Push and pull toys: Heavily weighted push toys can give your beginner something to lean

into as she motors around your home. Wagons can be ideal. Pull toys are for slightly

advanced walkers who can look behind them as they move forward. Give them something to

look at: Pull toys that flap, bobble, squeak, or in any other way make a scene are favorites. To

find out more about walking and your toddler, click here.

Sorting and nesting toys: Toddlers love to sort, stack, unsort, unstack, and basically

reorganize their lives. Sorting and nesting toys are great fun for those who are trying out their

early problem-solving skills.

Climbing gym: A tiny gym can give your toddler a safe place to climb, hide, slide, and

practice all her emerging motor skills — over and over again. But these sets can also be

pricey and are quickly outgrown.

Balls: Any ball that's easy to grasp will be a hit with this group — underinflated beach balls,

vinyl balls, cloth balls. Stay away from foam balls that could end up as a mouthful. This is the

age at which you can introduce your child to "catch." Start slowly — she'll begin to get the

back-and-forth rhythm with some practice.

Washable crayons and paper: Let the scribbling begin! Hand your toddler no more than a

couple of crayons at a time — you don't want to overwhelm her — and tape the paper to the

floor so she can make her mark without dragging the paper along with her.

Ride-on vehicles: This mode of self-locomotion may be even more popular than walking.

Many small ride-on toys have models with handles for an adult to push when the child gets

tired. Avoid the electronic versions — they're expensive and take away from the fun of

getting around under your own power.

Tool bench or toy kitchen: Junior fix-it kids or aspiring chefs will get hours of play out of

plastic or wooden models scaled to their size. Sets like these give a child a chance to emulate

the things he sees adults doing, and they'll continue to hold his interest for several months as

his play gets more sophisticated.

Picture books: Your toddler will enjoy more advanced picture books showing familiar

objects and activities. She may also start to take pride in her own library and the chance to

pick out a favorite for you to read. For more ideas, see our recommended books for toddlers.

Toys for children 18 to 24 months old

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

Your toddler is becoming more excited about independence but is constantly being reminded

of her own limits. So while she insists on doing something "Myself!" one moment, the next

might find her turning to you for help.

The way she learns what she can do is by getting her hands into everything. She fiddles with

knobs, opens and shuts doors, flips light switches on and off — it's enough to drive any parent

nuts. Toys with interlocking parts — pop-up toys, nesting toys, sorting toys, trucks with doors

that open and shut, play kitchens with knobs and doors — can create endless opportunities for

your child to explore, and push, her limits while keeping her away from the light switch.

At this age, children learn best from unstructured play, so just make the toys available and off

she'll go.

Plastic tea set or playhouse: Your child will get a kick out of play eating and drinking. And

in general, scaled-down toys, from rakes, push brooms, and shopping carts to miniature

kitchens, give her a chance to do one of the things she loves best — mimic what she sees the

adults around her do and organize her world to her own satisfaction.

Large and small blocks: Working with blocks lets your toddler build her handling skills by

grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Large cardboard bricks easily add up to toddler-size forts and

hiding spaces. Small wooden ones can be sorted and organized into any number of original

designs.

Toy instruments: Children generally love music and the chance to create their own sound, no

matter how cacophonous. Give her a toy guitar to strum or a keyboard to bang on and she'll

treat you to many original compositions. Make sure whatever instrument you find has a

volume dial you can turn down so that you — and your neighbors — can tolerate those early

tunes.

Puzzles: Puzzles are a good way to give your young child little victories — the simple

satisfaction of putting something exactly in place is a marvelous thing. Choose puzzles that

have very few pieces and are made of thick, easy-to-manipulate blocks of wood.

Illustrated books and cassette tapes: While recorded stories are no substitute for reading to

your child, many toddlers do enjoy the novelty of hearing a voice come out of a machine and

can appreciate that the voice is new and different. The regular patter of nursery rhymes is

particularly pleasing to a toddler's ear. For more ideas, see our recommended books and music

for this age.

Train sets: Your toddler can use her new dexterity to link the cars and run the whole train

around the house. She'll love seeing how it can take corners, and the difference between

running it over a carpet and across a bare floor.

Washable crayons and paper: Your child is becoming more interested in making her own

mark — on floors, walls, furniture. Clear a space for her to work, give her a big sheet of paper

(tape it to the table) and a couple of crayons (you don't want to overwhelm her), and she'll get

the idea that art has its place. Hang up whatever she makes for you. (See our article on writing

and your toddler.)

Toys for children 24 to 30 months old

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

Your child is now 2, and has become even more, uh, assertive. But his defiance really results

from the tug-of-war between his desire for independence and his continuing need for help.

What he's doing — again and again — is testing his limits.

Along with independence come expanded language skills. He can now speak in short

sentences and has become more purposeful, telling you what he needs or wants. He is also

beginning to understand abstract concepts. He can ask for more milk, and inquire about

whether he can go to bed later. But he still doesn't understand what next month or next year

means.

He can form images in his mind, and organize his toys by size, or color, or shape. His

memory is improving and he may be able to tell you at the end of the day what he had for

lunch. A minority of 2-year-olds also know their colors and letters, and can count to 10.

Toddlers are spirited folk, so look for toys and activities that give yours a way to channel his

energy. Also look for toys that challenge his developing mind.

Ride-on toys: Your child will still love wheeled toys he can push himself along on such as

tricycles and wagons — pedaling is probably more than he can handle. Look for ride-on toys

that are well balanced. Cargo holds that allow your child to pack and unpack for his trips are a

nice feature.

Balls: Balls continue to be a favorite, but even more so now that your toddler can target his

throws. A few kids this age even make the occasional catch. Set up a couple of wastebaskets

as "hoops" and the two of you can have a rousing game of basketball. Or establish two goal

lines and introduce your child to a drastically simplified version of soccer.

Art supplies: Invite your child to be creative. Set up an area in your home where it's okay for

him to be messy. You can prompt his artistry by asking your toddler to draw certain things:

the sky, or grass, or even what the sound of rain looks like. When you're feeling brave — or

maybe the word is energetic — bring out tempera paints and some broad brushes and watch

how these additions charge up the creative process.

Percussive instruments: This is the age when music inspires dancing, clapping, spinning,

hopping, even shouting — so why not add to the cacophony by handing over a tambourine, or

drum, or rhythm sticks? Experiment with different genres of music and invite your child to

conduct or beat out an accompaniment.

Dress-up clothes: Pretend play starts to take off about now. Designate a drawer or a box for

dress-up clothes and stuff it with an assortment of shirts, skirts, hats, high-heel shoes,

whatever might inspire some imaginative romps. If nothing else, it's a great excuse to put stuff

on and take it off — an exercise 2-year-olds seem to love.

Child-size household equipment: Toys for dramatic play need to be realistic. So buy a set of

toy dishes, pots and pans, and plastic food. Set up a small table and chairs where your child

can host tea and dinner parties. Acquire a small broom, or even a little vacuum cleaner, to

make cleanup fun.

Construction toys: Your child may become interested in new construction possibilities.

Consider giant Lego blocks or play sets with pieces that can be linked or snapped together.

Your child can create buses, trains, or entire farms, complete with furnished houses.

Puzzles and manipulatives: Your child's new dexterity has opened up many new play

possibilities. He can more easily organize cups so that one nestles inside another, assemble

four- or five-piece puzzles, use a set of plastic keys to open doors in a plastic house, and dress

and undress a doll outfitted with laces, snaps, and buckles.

Toys for children 30 to 36 months old

By the BabyCenter editorial staff

By the time your child reaches his third birthday, he'll be ready for more challenging toys.

After all, if he can put on his own T-shirt, wash and dry his own hands, and brush his own

teeth (read more on self-care), he can certainly manage blocks and even simple memory or

board games. Most 3-year-olds can also draw a vertical line, which means now's the perfect

time to open a display gallery on the refrigerator.

At this age your child is a confident walker, runner, and jumper, and is likely able to balance

on one foot for a second or more. That means it's time to let him play with scaled-down sports

equipment. He may want to include other children in his games, and he'll really begin to

notice and focus on other kids, which allows him to play more structured games.

As he gets older, your toddler will become increasingly imaginative. He's no longer

concerned just with his physical effect on the world and will start developing his own story

lines, characters, plots, and adventures. Giving him clothes and props for pretend play —

something as simple as a cardboard box can be a wagon, a spaceship, a fort, and so on — will

help encourage this area of his development.

Puzzles: Toddlers are developing their problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination at

this age, and nothing tests their new abilities better than basic jigsaw puzzles. Look for ones

with large pieces and a simple, easily recognizable picture. Some simpler ones come with

trays that the pieces fit into.

Beginning board or memory games: Your toddler's brain development will benefit from

learning how to play a simple board game such as Chutes and Ladders or a card game like I

Spy or Memory. Particularly with memory games, he'll have fun trying to match things that

are alike, and is likely to squeal in delight whenever he's successful.

Kid-size dishes, pots, and pans: Children this age love to pretend and play imaginary games,

and one of the things they like best is to imitate Mom and Dad. A kitchen set gives them

license to mix up all kinds of imaginary concoctions. Throw in a few empty sample-size food

containers (tiny mustard jars, mini-jam pots, etc.) and your child could become the next

Jacques Pepin.

Construction sets: Most toddlers this age are masters at stacking several blocks, but that

doesn't mean the game loses its appeal. They especially enjoy blocks that lock together, such

as Legos or Duplos, because they can use their budding imagination — and hand-eye

coordination — to build higher, more complex towers. Natural wood or colored blocks are

also perennial favorites.

Art supplies: Your child will be ready and willing to experiment with art supplies, and it's

your job to make sure he has the necessary tools of the trade. Invest in an art kit — look for

one with a variety of art supplies — or assemble one yourself by gathering your own

materials a little at a time and stashing them in a plastic lunchbox. Kids this age like crayons,

watercolors, clay, collage basics like magazines and newspapers, construction paper, and

tempera and finger paints. Just make sure everything is washable and nontoxic.

Outdoor equipment: As your child really starts to grow into his physical skills, he'll love

toys that let him test his newfound abilities. Swings and sports equipment such as plastic balls

and bats, miniature basketballs and hoops, soft soccer balls, and play golf sets are perfect toys

for this age group.

Books: Your toddler's language skills and vocabulary are getting more sophisticated, so it's

more important than ever to surround him with age-appropriate books. Children this age are

starting to follow narratives and can understand more complicated words and stories — for

example, try such classics as The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper, or Madeline, by

Ludwig Bemelmans.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_lets-play-finger-puppets-facing-off_1498333.bc

Looking for good ways to keep your baby entertained? We've selected two activities a week

that provide opportunities for bonding and fun — and help your baby build important skills.

Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for one week's

activities, don't worry. Just try them again in a few weeks.

Newborn

• Finger Puppets & Facing Off

Finger Puppet Parade

You may have noticed that your newborn's vision is a bit limited; she seems unaware of things

that are far away, but bring something right into her line of vision (between 8 and 15 inches

from her face is ideal) and suddenly she's all eyes. This is a survival skill; babies come into

the world equipped to find food, and this is the distance between her face and yours when

you're nursing! Explore your baby's developing visual skills with a simple game of finger

puppets.

Skills developed: visual stimulation, interactivity

What you'll need: a set of simple finger puppets — you can make your own out of

construction paper and felt-tip pens.

Lie your baby on her back or put her in a reclining bouncy seat. (If you can remember to bring

the puppets, this activity also works well when she's in her stroller and you're stuck in line at

the grocery store.) Using a set of finger puppets, either store-bought or homemade (see

instructions below), put a finger puppet on the pointer finger of each hand. Bring your fingers

slowly into your baby's line of sight and wait until she focuses on the faces. Then, speaking

slowly, introduce each puppet to her. Something simple like "Hello, I'm Clover the cow" will

do. As each puppet speaks, bend your finger forward so the puppet bows to your baby. Wait a

moment, as if your baby were answering, then continue conducting a one-sided conversation

between her and each puppet. Finally, have the puppets form a parade, bobbing up and down,

out of your baby's sight.

To make paper finger puppets: Use stiff paper, such as colored construction paper. Cut out

small rectangles and make simple cylinders the size of your fingertips, taping, gluing, or

stapling the paper together around your finger. Paste on ears, whiskers, or hats, depending on

which animal or character you want to create. A man in a top hat is fairly simple, as is a cat

with pointy ears. Finally, draw faces with felt pen, keeping the features fairly plain: Babies

react most directly and dramatically to simple, graphic faces.

Facing Off

Nature has primed babies to focus on faces from the moment they're born, and there's nothing

as riveting to a baby as an expressive set of eyes, nose, and mouth. In fact, studies have shown

that babies recognize and remember faces better than adults do. (They'll focus longer on a

standardized representation of a human face than on any other shape, which is why so many

baby toys have simple faces on them.)

Skills developed: visual recognition

What you'll need: a hand mirror and a flexible face

Make a game of your baby's fascination with faces by putting on a few of your own. Sit down

next to him when he's propped in a car seat, bouncy seat, or stroller or lying on his back on

the floor. If he's in a stroller or seat, position yourself at eye level; if he's on the floor, bend

over or lie down next to him so that you're at least somewhat face to face.

Start by slowing changing your expression, going from a smile to a surprised look to a sad or

pouty expression. Then move through the expressions again with a pause in between each one,

and wait to see if your baby tries to mimic you. Use a hand mirror to show him his own

expression, describing it as you do: "Oh, don't you look surprised! Look what a happy baby!"

Or make one of your own faces in the mirror, tilting it so he can see both you and the mirror

image.

.• What a Sensation & Gentle Rubdown

What a Sensation

There's a reason newborns reach out and grab for things: They want to be active participants

in their world. It's not enough for you to show her things — your baby wants to experience

everything up close and personal, and she does that through all five senses, particularly the

sense of touch. Encourage her curiosity and tactile talents with this soothing touch-fest.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination, touch sensitivity

What you'll need: a variety of soft-textured items, such as a silk scarf, a clean feather duster

or boa, a piece of satin or velvet, and something furry like a stuffed animal

Collect an assortment of soft, touchable household objects. With your baby lying on her back

on a blanket or on the changing table, take off her shirt, and give her tummy a sampling of the

different textures. One at a time, brush each item ever so gently across her skin, describing the

sensation as you go. "Feel the silky scarf? It's very slippery. Feel the lamb? It's fuzzy, isn't it?"

If she tries to grab the items, go ahead and let her hold them, or (if you're sure they're clean

and don't pose a choking concern) even put them in her mouth.

Gentle Rubdown

It's never too soon to give a baby his first brush with the healing power of human contact.

Your baby was born with a fully developed sense of touch, and it's one of the primary ways he

experiences the outside world.

Skills developed: sensory stimulation

What you'll need: some nice-smelling massage oil such as sweet almond oil, or plain

vegetable oil

Let your baby roll around naked on a layer of cloth diapers or a plush bath towel (if it's cool in

the room, leave his T-shirt on). Warm a dime-size squirt of oil in your hands by rubbing it

between your palms, then very gently rub it into his skin, starting with his soft little feet.

Rotate each toe, then use your thumbs to press the soles. Work your way up the legs,

squeezing his calves and thighs gently as if you were molding clay. (The first few times it's

probably best just to do his feet and legs until he gets used to the sensation.) For the chest and

tummy, place both hands flat against the center of your baby's body, then spread them to the

sides, as if flattening the pages of a book. With your hands still flat, use your fingertips to

stroke outward in small circles. Keep rubbing for as long as he seems to be enjoying it; stop as

soon as he starts to get restless.

• Happy Talk & Dinosaur Dance

Happy Talk

It will be quite awhile before she says her first word, but that doesn't mean your baby isn't

starting to get the hang of language. All those funny sounds she makes, from gurgles to coos,

are early attempts to communicate. And the more responsive you are, the more encouraged

she'll be to carry her end of the "conversation."

Skills developed: readiness for speech

What you'll need: nothing but an imaginative selection of sounds

Make your baby's natural attempts at call-and-response into a game. Start by helping her

figure out all the fun sounds she can make with her mouth. Wait for her to make one of her

characteristic baby noises, such as "goo," a raspberry, or a tongue-click, then imitate it back to

her. You might also try making a series of rhythmic tongue clicks, and see if she responds to

the different beats. Then show her some of the things you can do: Make an exaggerated

smacking kiss, pop your finger out of the side of your mouth, or make a b-b-b noise by

blowing air out of your mouth while wiggling your finger on your lips. Wait to see if your

baby tries to make a similar type of sound back to you — she might surprise you!

Dinosaur Dance

Babies are born with a fully developed sense of touch. Here's a fun way to stimulate his

sensitive skin while demonstrating cause and effect.

Skills developed: touch, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Ever play that game of making your hand into a dinosaur by lifting your middle finger to

resemble a head and "walking" the other four fingers along? Next time your baby is lying

down for a diaper change with his shirt up and tummy exposed, put your "hand-o-saur" where

he can see it (on his chest or by his side, depending on his position) and walk the creature

lightly over his skin, swaying its "head" from side to side and tickling him with its "feet."

Then say, "Here comes a dinosaur, walking from your toes to your nose," and start the hand

dinosaur walking slowly up your baby's leg to his tummy. Continue from there, building in

lots of anticipation.

1 month old

• Tube Talk & Common Scents

Tube Talk

Long before your baby can communicate much himself, he's developing an ear for speech,

and anytime you talk to him, you're nurturing his urge for words. A perfect chat time is when

he's up on the changing table — not only is he a captive audience, but your face is close to his

level. A game of "telephone" using a cardboard tube will keep him intrigued and provide a

calm point of focus as well.

Skills developed: auditory

What you'll need: a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels or toilet paper

Bring along the cardboard tube to the next diaper change. Announce, "I'm going to tell you a

secret," then put it next to one of your baby's ears and whisper something short and simple —

"I love you" is always a good start. Move the tube over to your baby's other ear and add

another "secret." Just discovering that he can hear independently out of each ear will keep him

entranced through a number of diaperings.

Common Scents

Newborns are notorious for their keenly sensitive noses: Research has shown that babies can

recognize the scent of their own mother's breast milk within the first week of life. To test out

your baby's acute sense of smell, try setting up a homemade scent session.

Skills developed: olfactory

What you'll need: jars of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla; perfumes or sachets; a ripe banana; a

slice of orange or lemon

Sit down with your baby in your lap (use a receiving blanket to snuggle him if he's a wriggler)

and jars of the various fragrant ingredients on a table or stool in front of you. Pass each item

under his nose, watching his face to see his expression. He may open his eyes wide, startle, or

even smile. In the case of the citrus (a smell babies generally don't like), he may frown or turn

away. Try this activity every few weeks as your baby gets older and see how his reactions

change.

• Flower Power & Copy Cat

Flower Power

With each passing day, your baby is becoming more aware of the world around her, and with

awareness comes curiosity. One way she attunes herself to her surroundings is through her

nose — that sharp sense of smell babies are born with. An afternoon among the flowers is a

delightfully fragrant way to nurture her nosy nature.

Skills developed: olfactory

What you'll need: some blooming flowers

For your baby's first experience with aromatherapy, take her to a location — outdoors, a plant

nursery, a florist — where you can find fragrant flowers such as lavender, daffodils, freesias,

or roses. Hold her up with her face close to a fresh, newly opened bloom and watch her

expression of astonished pleasure as she catches the sweet smell. Be careful, though: Not only

do roses have sharp thorns, but some plants, such as lily of the valley, foxgloves, and

rhododendrons, contain toxins that could make your baby sick if she ate them. So if she has

reached the grabbing stage, hold her hands gently to prevent any touch- or taste-tests.

Copy Cat

Even from the first weeks, your baby is learning to recognize and imitate people. Make it a

two-way interaction with this simple mirror game.

Skills developed: visual, social, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a full-length or large mirror

Stand in front of a full-length or other large mirror, holding your baby in front of you facing

forward. (If you don't have a big enough mirror at home, a department store mirror or

reflective shop window will work.) Make simple movements such as raising your arm, tilting

your head, or touching your nose, all the while talking and pointing out to your baby what you

are doing. When he makes a movement, such as wiggling an arm or kicking a leg, make the

same one yourself so he sees both of your actions in the mirror and realizes that you are

copying him. The older your baby, the more playful this pastime becomes, until you are

teasing each other with actions to mimic.

• Super Saver & Easy Sledding

Super Saver

They may seem like recycling fodder to you, but the grocery store inserts that come in the

newspaper are great fun for babies, who love to look at pictures of food. And identifying

familiar foods is a great way for your baby to begin associating words with objects.

Skills developed: visual, verbal

What you'll need: supermarket flyers from the local paper

Sit with your baby in your lap and look through the pages, pointing out and naming the fruits,

vegetables, and other foods pictured. Even though she can't respond yet, tell her which ones

you like. Later, when she's napping, cut out a stack of pictures and paste them on a big piece

of posterboard or cardboard for her to look at. Or slide them into a photo album or glue them

onto construction paper pages to make her very own scrapbook.

Easy Sledding

Crawling may be months away, but playing movement games can ready your little one for

forward motion. Remember the fun of sliding down a grassy hillside on a sheet of cardboard?

You can use a section cut from a cardboard box to give your newborn the same sense of

freedom of movement.

Skills developed: motor

What you'll need: a rectangular piece of thick cardboard (such as from a shipping carton),

approximately the size of your baby

This activity works best on a carpet or rug, but can be enjoyed (more carefully) on a linoleum

or wood floor. Lay the cardboard down on the rug or floor and position your baby tummy

down on top of it, with his arms out in front of him or to the sides. Gently slide the cardboard

forward and back, to give him the sensation of crawling forward. Eventually your baby will

begin using his arms to propel himself forward, helping him develop the coordination he'll

need once he's ready to crawl.

• Pedal Pushing & Cajun Two-Step

Pedal Pushing

Babies love to kick, and there's a reason: They're getting those little legs ready for walking.

Prime your budding biped (and liven up diaper changes) with an impromptu horizontal "spin

class."

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

When your baby is lying on her back on a changing table or pad, hold her legs and give them

a little workout. The classic move is the bicycle: Hold her ankles and "pedal" her legs around

in circles. Or teach her the cancan: Raise her knees up and give each leg a high-kick. And no

need to neglect the arms: Move them out to the sides, then raise them up above her head.

(This could be thought of as "the frog.") Finally, don't forget the disco fun of "Y-M-C-A" —

babies especially love the exuberance of the arms-in-the-air "Y."

Cajun Two-Step

She'll be banging on pots and pans before you know it, but you can ready your baby's sense of

rhythm in the meantime. And there's nothing that cheers up a cranky baby (try this at the 5

p.m. witching hour!) like cuttin' the rug with Mom or Dad to the strains of some good music

with a thumping beat.

Skills developed: sense of rhythm

What you'll need: some great dancing music with a strong beat, such as Cajun, zydeco, or

reggae

Many parents attest to the therapeutic effect of Cajun music's syncopated rhythms on colicky

babies. Lay your baby on her stomach across your arm, putting light pressure on her tummy

with your hand (sometimes known as the football hold). Place your other hand on her back to

hold her securely, and sashay away. Or if she prefers being held upright, hold her in a seated

position facing forward, with one hand under her bottom and the other on her tummy. If

bayou music isn't to your little one's taste, try some Bob Marley, a waltz, mambo, or a Gene

Kelly-style soft-shoe.

2 months old

• Swat Team & Go Fish

Swat Team

Between 2 and 4 months, babies are perfecting their swatting technique, and there's no more

irresistible target than an unfamiliar object suspended overhead. Reaching for something —

and actually making contact — helps your baby gain confidence and coordination.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: some string, a screw-in cup hook, and some simple, light objects such as

plastic measuring spoons or a rattle

Optional: a piece of tinfoil, a ball of wool, a coat hanger

Put a hook in the ceiling above your baby's crib or over the center of your own bed, and use

strong string such as fishing line or dental floss to dangle a rattle, a ball of wool, or a set of

plastic measuring spoons just within swiping range: touchable but far enough away that he

can't grab hold of it and yank it down. Vary the objects every few minutes to keep your little

one's interest. You can even make it a mobile by attaching a coat hanger to the string, then

securely looping several different dangly objects around the crossbar (bend the hook of the

hanger into a closed circle so it can't fall off).

Variation: If it's warm enough, bring some string and a toy or two outdoors, and try a fresh-air

version of the same game. Push your baby's stroller under an accommodating bush or tree and

attach a string to a strong branch so it dangles just within swatting range.

Go Fish

Following bright and colorful objects is becoming a favorite pastime now that your baby has

a well-developed ability to focus. And nothing is more mesmerizing than the iridescent hues of

fish in nonstop motion, making this an ideal strategy to help you catch your breath while on

the go — stopping in for a break from errands at your local pet store, at the house of a friend

who happens to have a fish tank, even while waiting to be served in a seafood restaurant.

Skills developed: visual

What you'll need: access to a fish tank or aquarium

Hold your baby right up to the fish tank, so the fish are at her eye level. Follow the different

colored fish with your finger as they swim back and forth, helping her track them with her

eyes. Describe the fish to her, highlighting their differences: "See the big gold one? Watch

that one going around in circles. See the tiny rainbow-colored ones? Don't they swim fast!"

Choose one easily identifiable fish, perhaps the biggest or brightest, and help your baby track

it around the tank. Explore her budding sense of "object permanence" (the concept that

something still exists even when it disappears from view), noting when a fish is out of sight

and then pointing out when it reappears. Even more fun than peekaboo.

• Sound Judgments & Ups and Downs

Sound Judgments

Babies are born with a well-developed instinct to "startle" in response to loud noises. As time

goes on, this instinct turns into a love of surprising noises, especially crunching, squeaking,

or rattling sounds. And hearing a sound and then seeing what made it helps your baby

understand other types of connections.

Skills developed: auditory, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: things around the house that make noise when crumpled up, such as

waxed paper or cellophane, and a toy that squeaks or makes another noise

Gather a bunch of items that make noise, such as a piece of crinkly wrapping paper, a squeeze

toy, or a waxed-paper bag. Sit or lie next to your baby and demonstrate each sound, varying

the order so it's always surprising. Then put the noisemakers in his hand and help him make

the sounds himself. Repeat this activity over the coming months, watching to see if he looks

at his hand or seems to realize he's making the sounds.

Ups and Downs

Your baby probably won't learn to sit up for a few more months, but as her back and neck

grow stronger, she's ready to practice. (As you may have noticed, she's also eager to see the

world from a more upright angle.)

Skills developed: gross motor coordination

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Lie your baby on her back, propped up slightly on a pillow. Sit facing her and grasp her hands

firmly. Gently pull her to a sitting position, letting her head follow her shoulders, and enjoy

her expression as she sees the world from this new angle. Gently lower her and repeat as long

as she's having fun. As your baby gets used to this game, keep her sitting up a little longer and

sing a chorus of "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" or "Row, Row, Row Your Boat,"

alternately pulling each of her arms in a rowing motion before lowering her back onto the

pillow.

• Up, Up, and Away & Flashlight Dance

Up, Up, & Away

As your baby gains control over his body, he loves games that involve "flying" through the air.

Guide him through new maneuvers (and give yourself a workout) with this dynamic ground-

crew exercise. (It was inspired by a postnatal fitness instructor who, with an utterly straight

face, suggested to a group of new moms that they do abdominal crunches with their babies

resting on their legs.)

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Start by sitting up with your knees bent, positioning your baby with his tummy against your

shins. Then, holding him steady, lie back on the floor, simultaneously raising your legs

slightly into the air. Your shins, with your baby lying comfortably atop them, should be

parallel to the floor. If you can spare the breath, say, "Airplane up, up, and away" as your little

one rises into the air. Depending on your level of fitness, you can zoom him around by

moving your legs forward and back and side to side before bringing him in for a landing.

Flashlight Dance

Ever watch your baby turn her gaze to follow a patch of sunlight on the wall? Cater to her

captivation with light and dark by playing a soothing bedtime game.

Skills developed: visual, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a flashlight with a relatively strong beam

Think of how hypnotizing it is to watch a searchlight sweep the night sky. You can achieve

this same effect with a flashlight in a darkened room. When it's time for lights out, hold your

baby or sit with her on your lap (this works well in a rocking chair). Shine the flashlight beam

slowly over the walls and ceiling, encouraging your baby to follow the moving light with her

eyes. Many babies find this very relaxing; you can even create a soothing sound and light

show by playing quiet music at the same time or by telling a story about traveling among the

stars.

Leaf Peeping & Roll-Over Plan

Leaf Peeping

Your baby's ability to focus is fully developed now, and he is endlessly curious about the

world and excited by seeing new things. You're probably spending lots of time out and about,

looking for new sights to introduce him to.

Skills developed: visual

What you'll need: a few brightly colored leaves; some string, elastic, tape, or a rubber band

The next time you take your baby out for a walk, collect a few brightly colored leaves to show

him. (If it's not fall, pick a few leaves in unusual shapes and colors.) Use a short piece of

string or elastic (the stretchy cord left over from airport luggage tags is perfect) to attach the

leaves to the carrying handle of your baby's car seat. Or tape them to the sunshade of his

stroller: They make wonderful natural mobiles, as even the slightest breath of wind sends

them turning and twirling above his little head.

Safety note: If your baby has learned to grab, make sure the leaves are not within reach.

Roll-Over Plan

At almost 3 months old, your baby is really working on gaining control over the way she

moves. This simple indoor or outdoor exercise will help get her ready to roll.

Skills developed: gross motor coordination

What you'll need: a fairly large blanket

On a warm day, take your baby to the park or out into your backyard and spread a blanket on

a patch of grass or soft ground (or simply do this in your home). Take off as many layers of

clothing as weather permits, as babies seem to feel freer to move around when they find

themselves in the buff. If you have some cloth diapers, you might even spread those under her

and let her go diaperless for a few minutes. Lay your baby on her stomach or back, and let her

roll herself over, with a little gentle support on your part if necessary. Then roll her over again

yourself, so she's back in the same position. Continue in one direction until she reaches the

edge of the blanket — to give her a sense of getting somewhere — then lift her back to the

center again. Keep doing this as long as your baby enjoys it. Babies delight in new

perspectives, so if she seems to savor a certain position (lying on her back and looking up at

the scudding clouds, for example), lie down next to her and check it out together.

3 months old

• Pop! Song & Bend Over Butterfly

Pop! Song

Your baby is just beginning to figure out that certain words mean what they sound like. Here's

a singing game that makes that point while catering to babies' love of surprises.

Skills developed: verbal, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Sing the classic nursery song "Pop! Goes the Weasel," but highlight the element of surprise

with sound effects and actions. Start out softly and slowly: "'Round and 'round the cobbler's

bench, the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought 'twas all in fun..." (then raise your

voice to finish): "Pop! goes the weasel." Try it again, clapping your hands sharply on the

word "pop." Now go again, this time slapping your hand lightly on the floor or a nearby

padded surface such as a bed or chair. Grab a stuffed animal and make it jump up into the air

on the word "pop." This song can work wonders as a distraction during diaper changes and is

also great for keeping your baby awake on short car rides when you don't want him to nap just

yet.

Bend Over Butterfly

At 3 months, babies are just becoming fascinated with animals and insects, and pretending to

be one together is a great way to pique that interest.

Skills developed: verbal, motor

What you'll need: no equipment needed

Sit cross-legged on the floor or ground with your baby sitting in your lap facing forward

(away from you). Bend from the waist with your arms stretched forward, making a roof over

your baby with your body, so you become a "cocoon" enveloping her. Encourage her to bend

over with you. Speaking softly and slowly, say, "Okay caterpillar, you're waking up now."

Gradually lift your arms over your head as you say, "You're coming out of your cocoon now,

you're becoming a butterfly." Then sit up and reach your baby's arms up, too. Move your arms

out to the sides and flap them, saying, "Now you're spreading your wings — you're a

butterfly!" As you play this game over and over, your baby will learn to flap her arms to "be a

butterfly" too.

Variation: Once your baby starts walking, she can crawl into your lap as the caterpillar ready

to make a cocoon, then stand up and "fly" out of your lap when she's a butterfly, continuing to

wave her arms as she moves around the room.

• Different Drums & Kicking Back

Different Drums

It's quite a thrill (for her, at least!) when your baby reaches the banging age. Seeing that one

pound of her fist can make a satisfying whomp is a powerful affirmation that actions can get

results. Make it a bang-up time by giving her a range of high and low notes to aim for.

Skills developed: auditory, sense of rhythm, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: empty oatmeal containers, ice cream tubs, coffee cans, or any other

container with a flexible cardboard or plastic lid; plastic wrap

Make a few drums with different sounds so your baby can hear the difference between deeper

and shallower tones. Turn any can or round-shaped container into a drum by stretching

several layers of strong plastic wrap or a piece of thick paper over the top and taping it down.

Or, even easier, use containers that already have drummable lids, such as Tupperware and

oatmeal canisters. Tape the different drums together with duct or packing tape to make a drum

set. Sit on the ground facing your baby and place the drums between you. Demonstrate how to

tap the drums with your palms, fingers, and the heel of your hand. You might even try singing

some doo-wops to demonstrate different rhythms as you play.

Variation: If your baby can grasp, make homemade drumsticks too. Chopsticks are ideal, but

wrapped pencils will do just fine. Use some cotton or tissue paper and wad it around the ends

of the sticks, then wrap it up in masking tape. Show your baby how to tap the drumsticks on

both the tops and sides of the drums. Pretty soon you'll have your own rhythm section going.

Kicking Back

As your baby becomes more mobile, kicking is one of his favorite ways to exercise his restless

limbs. And kicking in water — and feeling the water splash — is a wonderfully wet lesson in

cause and effect.

Skills developed: gross motor, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a bathtub

Fill the bathroom tub or a small baby bathtub with four to six inches of water (no more). Lie

your baby down in the water on his back, keeping your hand under his head to keep the water

out of his ears and, even more important, his face out of the water. Most babies love the

stimulation of the water and the new bathing position and start kicking their legs delightedly.

The more they kick, the higher the splashes, and as they discover that it's their legs that are

causing all the splashing, watch out!

• Roller Coaster & Look Who's Here!

Roller Coaster

Now that he's strong enough to hold his head steady, your baby is learning how to control

and manipulate his upper body in preparation for learning to sit, roll over, and — eventually

— stand. This game helps develop full-body coordination and makes a great relaxation

routine when it's time to wind down before bed.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: a beach ball or cylindrical bolster pillow

If you're using a beach ball, blow it up most of the way, so it rolls but still has a soft spot.

Holding your baby securely with your hands on either side of his rib cage, place him tummy-

down on top of the ball or pillow and roll him back and forth and from side to side. Note: A

cylindrical bolster pillow provides a gentle, soothing ride, but won't allow the side-to-side

action.

Look Who's Here!

Babies just getting the hang of cause and effect are delighted whenever something unexpected

pops into the mix. The surprise of seeing your face triggers the biggest giggles — make it an

even sillier sight-gag by using a range of goofy expressions.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect, object permanence

What you'll need: something to hide behind

While your baby is on the changing table (securely strapped, of course), duck down below the

side, then pop up with an exaggerated smile or round-eyed "surprise face" and see if you get a

giggle out of her. Repeat it with different expressions on your face each time you reappear;

this can go on until your facial muscles get tired. When she's in her car seat, duck down

behind the back where she can't see you, then appear suddenly over her head so you're upside

down over her. Again, try this with a variety of expressions (but not too scary, please). You

can also play pop-up by poking your head out around doorways and corners in the house.

• Telephone Talk & Shadow Show

Telephone Talk

It's clear when a baby's verbal skills are ramping up: She's constantly trying to communicate

with you with an ever-growing store of sounds. Here's a playful way to help her keep working

on that speech.

Skills developed: verbal

What you'll need: two play telephones, or real phones that are turned off or disconnected

Give your baby one telephone, holding the receiver up to her ear. Then use your telephone to

hold a one-sided conversation, using a slow, exaggerated speaking style. Leave long pauses

between your questions and comments, and soon you'll notice her beginning to make gurgling

and cooing responses. This is a great way for you to help your baby practice the rhythms of

conversation — sooner than you might think, she'll join in with her own two cents.

Shadow Show

Welcome to the watching age — when babies are transfixed by moving patterns and shapes.

You may notice your little one staring at the TV now, whereas before he ignored it. Make him

an active audience with an on-the-wall shape-making game.

Skills developed: visual

What you'll need: a flashlight

Many cultures have created forms of theater using shadows, and babies love both the

spookiness and surprise of it. Sit on the floor with your baby in your lap or next to you.

Position a flashlight so it shines against a wall, then put your hands in between the beam and

the wall so that the wall serves as a screen. Start with simple activities like waving and

holding up different numbers of fingers. Then use your hands to make animal shapes, such as

a dog. Help your baby wave his hands to make simple shadows, and point out to him how

much smaller his hand-shadows are than yours. Finally, hold his hands in yours and help him

form the different shadow shapes, then have them say goodnight to him.

4 months old

• Tummy Bubbles & Song of Myself

Tummy Bubbles

Your baby's hands seem to be everywhere now; he grabs because it's so exciting for him to

see something, reach for it, and actually touch it. His hands are learning to do what his brain

tells them to do!

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination, knowledge of body parts

What you'll need: ordinary soap bubbles

Get your baby settled in a bath seat or in the tub itself (don't let him stand up, although he

may very much want to), then break out the bubbles. Start by blowing a few gently in his

direction, letting him reach out to catch or pop them (and taking care not to get the soapy

bubble formula in his eyes). After he gets used to the way bubbles behave, he may be ready to

play a body-parts game. An odd property of soap bubbles is that they attach themselves to wet

skin without popping, so you can deliberately aim bubbles to land on her legs, arms, hands,

tummy, and so on, encouraging him to pop them on each body part as you name it. ("There's a

bubble on your tummy!" "There's a bubble on your hand!") This works even better if you can

blow large bubbles, which, as even parents can attest, are particularly satisfying to pop.

Song of Myself

Babies recognize oft-repeated words long before they're ready to say them, and familiar

names are the friendliest verbal cues of all.

Skills developed: cognitive, auditory, verbal

What you'll need: a rocking chair (optional)

Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, pets, babysitters, and daycare teachers — your baby will

love to hear you name them all. One of the most natural ways to do this is with a song like the

old spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The words are simple and repetitive:

"He's got the whole world in His hands" repeats four times, and then the verses go on to name

general categories: "He's got the wind and the rain in His hands..." "He's got the tiny little

baby in His hands..." ending with four lines of "He's got everybody here in His hands." But

instead, try substituting your baby's favorite folks: "He's got [baby's name] and her papa, in

His hands..." "He's got Grandma and Grandpa in His hands..." and go on from there.

• Can You Top This? & Rock 'n' Row

Can You Top This?

Here's a madcap way to celebrate your little one's growing delight with unexpected events.

Skills developed: visual, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a wide-ranging selection of odd items to put on your head

In the classic children's book Jenny's Hat, a little girl who is disappointed in the hat she

receives as a gift tries on all sorts of odd things (a lamp shade, a flowerpot, an old-fashioned

TV antenna) to see if they make better headgear. Taking inspiration from Jenny's experiments,

pretend your house is a hat store and round up a number of possible toppers. Nothing cracks a

baby up like the sight of you wearing a tea cozy on your head. A cardboard box, a plastic

bowl, a pair of shorts or leggings, or a wicker basket can also do the trick. As you put each

object on your head, make a perplexed face at your baby and ask (? la Dr. Seuss), "Do you

like my hat?" For a real capper, sit your baby in front of a mirror and let her try on the silly

millinery for size.

Rock 'n' Row

In the next month or so, your baby may be ready to sit up unsupported for the first time. He'll

love to practice for the occasion by being propped up. A rollicking rowing routine strengthens

his back muscles in preparation for being seated.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

This singing game has you rowing in time to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Sit on the floor

with your legs spread in a V, as if you were going to begin stretching exercises, and sit your

baby facing you with a sturdy pillow or upright cushion propped behind him for balance.

Grasp his hands firmly and pull his arms gently so that he leans toward you while you lean

back slightly, then reverse so that you lean forward and he leans back. Sing the classic nursery

rhyme with a slow and emphatic rhythm, so that you are both moving forward and back in

time to each key word — for example, the rhythm of the last line should be "LIFE is BUT a

DREAM." As your baby gets used to this game, you can lean farther and farther forward and

back until you're practically on top of each other — and giggling hysterically.

• Shh! Listen In & Airplane Takeoff

Shhh! Listen In

Your baby is learning to listen — or, as the experts say, developing receptive language — just

as fast as he's learning to communicate himself. Treat him to a surprise eavesdrop by turning

his baby monitor into a listening device.

Skills developed: verbal, sense of object permanence (the concept that something out of sight

still exists)

What you'll need: a two-way baby monitor

Prepare for this aural ambush by sneaking into your baby's room while he's sleeping and

switching the settings on the baby monitor to "listen" (or receive) and the one in your room to

"talk" (or transmit). Listen for him to wake up — and then, before going into his room, spend

a few minutes talking into the monitor. Carrying your monitor with you, describe your

progress through the house: "Here I go heading down the hall to my baby's room..." or make

remarks about the weather, your plans for the day, or your baby himself. (This game works

particularly well if you have a friend or other favorite adult around to join in the conversation.)

When you finally appear in person, your entrance with be met with pleased astonishment.

Airplane Takeoff

Here's a game that gives you some fun together-time with your baby while teaching her about

the sheer joy of movement: You'll be helping her hone those developing motor skills as you

"fly" her body through the air.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: a full-size bathtub

Sit cross-legged in the tub, with your baby in your lap facing away from you. With one hand

holding her firmly and the other on the bottom of the tub supporting your back, raise your legs,

still crossed, with your baby resting on them, until she's just clear of the water. As your baby

goes up, say, "Airplane taking off, up, up and away!" and, as you lower her back down:

"Airplane coming in for a landing!" Encourage your baby to raise her arms out to the sides

and make airplane wings. As she gets older, you can raise and lower your legs a bit faster,

creating a splash as you reenter the water, announcing "Rocket ship launching" and "Rocket

ship splashdown!"

To calm her down before getting out of the tub, use a slower, more gradual motion as you

elevate your baby out of the water, saying "Elevator going up," then lower her back into the

water as you say, "Elevator going down."

• Pass the Hat & Mr. Moon

Pass the Hat

A baby loves the unexpected because she's a perpetual rapt student of life; when things

change, she gets to figure them out all over again. A game of pass the hat — make that many

different hats — will send her into giggles of surprised delight.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a selection of different hats

At a family gathering or other event where there are several adults present, pass out a variety

of different-looking hats (perennial favorites are cowboy hats, baseball caps, fire hats, fancy

ladies' hats, and policeman's caps) and have everyone try one on. This alone will have your

baby laughing, but that's just the beginning. Have everyone stand in a line in front of your

baby or in a circle around her, and, at the sound of some sort of signal (a whistle, bell, or just

someone shouting "change!") have each person pass his or her hat to the next person in line. If

your baby is not shy, include her in the lineup: Each hat goes on her head for a moment before

being passed along.

Mr. Moon

As your baby becomes more attuned to the world around him, changes in weather, seasons,

and other natural phenomena become an endless source of wonder. Check your calendar for

the next full moon phase and show him this special spectacle when the time is right.

Skills developed: awareness of the natural world

What you'll need: a full or almost-full moon visible in daylight

On a day when the full moon is visible before nightfall, point it out to your baby and show

him the man in the moon. Point to the sun as well, then sing this little song (choose your own

melody if you don't know it), acting it out as you go along. "Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, you're out

too soon, the sun is still in the sky. Go back to your bed and cover up your head, and wait

until the day goes by." Point to the moon when you mention it, cover your face with your

hands or a diaper at the words "cover up your head," then mimic going to sleep on folded

hands at the end. Make this a regular ritual and by the time he's grown, your child won't be

able to see the sun and moon together in the sky without thinking of you and hearing this ditty

in his head.

5 months old

• Spoon Landings & Hoop Dreams

Spoon Landings

Until your baby learns to feed himself, it's one of the great challenges of parenthood to get

food into his mouth. These spoon maneuvers have met with swooping success.

Skills developed: being spoonfed

What you'll need: a baby spoon

While he may already have gotten wise to the tried-and-true "airplane coming in for a

landing" trick, there are endless variations that can keep your baby open-mouthed (and that's

what you want, right?) in astonishment. A good one for surprise value is "rocket, landing on

the moon": Hold the spoon down below the table or high-chair tray, then bring it up quickly

but carefully (as close to vertical as you can without spilling the contents) and gently place it

in your baby's mouth just as you say "moon." Or, use a horizontal move to bring the spoon

into your baby's field of vision as you say "here comes the racing speedboat" or try using an

up-and-down bobbing motion to introduce a "whale swimming in the ocean." Some babies are

particularly partial to choo-choo trains (a "chug-a-chug-a-whoo-whoo" sound as you bob the

spoon along) and leaping dolphins (a dramatic arcing move sure to make a "splash").

Hoop Dreams

You've probably noticed that your baby loves to watch anything that involves people and

movement, so sports are a natural. It's a challenge for her to follow the constant changes —

now the ball's here; nope, it's over there.

Skills developed: visual

What you'll need: a local basketball court complete with players

If your neighborhood offers a basketball court — indoors or outdoors — with evening games,

here's a sure-fire way to lull your baby into bedtime readiness. Grab a warm blanket, head

over to the court, and find a comfortable seat where she can sit on your lap or in her car seat

or stroller and have a good, unobstructed view of the game. Whether it's the up-and-down

action of the leaping players or the regular thwunk of the ball hitting the court, there's no

better remedy for the evening fussies. Do try to steer clear of rowdy fellow fans, though, as a

sudden shout can break that glassy-eyed calm you've worked so hard to foster.

• Where's My Cookie? & Treasure Hunt

Where's My Cookie?

Once your baby wraps her head around what experts call "object permanence" (just because

she can't see something anymore doesn't mean it's not there), you can have fun with the

discovery by playing a simple hiding game.

Skills developed: sense of object permanence

What you'll need: a zwieback biscuit or other baby-safe cookie; boxes and bags of different

sizes

Take a teething biscuit or other favorite type of cookie and put it inside a small bag, then

inside a box. Put the box into a larger box or bag, and so on, until the cookie is encased in at

least five layers. Set the box-within-a-box-within-a-bag in front of your baby and ask,

"Where's your cookie?" While she's watching, open the first box or bag, take out the next, and

ask "Is your cookie in here?" as you open that one. Keep going until you open the last one in

front of your baby, exclaiming, "Here's your cookie!" Then let her make a grab for it.

Note: If there are friends or family members around, have people take turns opening each

subsequent layer, with each person asking your baby if her cookie is in their box or bag.

Treasure Hunt

The impulse to group things together starts at an early age, and your baby probably already

has a few toys or trinkets that he likes to take along on trips. Cultivate that collector's instinct

by going on a nature-"hunting" walk, a particularly enjoyable pursuit on a warm evening

after dinner.

Skills developed: fine motor coordination

What you'll need: a large bag or basket

Weather permitting, put your baby in the stroller and give him a large tote bag or basket with

a handle to hold on his lap. Amble slowly up and down your street, pointing out anything

interesting you see, whether it's an unusually large seed pod or a colorful leaf. Pick it up and

put it in your baby's basket. Pretty soon he'll start using his pointing skills to show you what

he wants to add to his collection. (Of course, stay away from small round objects that could

pose a choking hazard or any plants that could be poisonous.) When you get home, glue the

finds onto paper to make a collage and hang it on the wall.

• Recording Star & Really Big Buttons

Recording Star

The first time a baby hears his own voice is a moment to remember. He may not even realize

it's his for a while, and watching him figure it out is a lot of fun. This activity is a winner

anytime, but it's easiest in the quiet hour before bed.

Skills developed: auditory, verbal

What you'll need: a tape recorder and a tape

If you have an old-fashioned tape recorder (such as a boom box or portable headset stereo),

that works perfectly. If yours is a high-tech household, you can also do this using an iPod and

recording attachment, or a computer with a recording mike. Set up the tape recorder near your

baby and then encourage him to start babbling: Show him a picture book, tickle his feet, turn

on his mobile (you'll want to choose something that allows you to be quiet, because it's most

fun if the tape doesn't have a lot of sound other than his voice). Once you have a good sample

of your baby's vocal range (and this may take more than one sitting), play it back for him. To

his quizzical expression, reply, "Yes, that's you!" and play the key moments over and over

until the revelation hits. Save the tape or CD, as it will be a great memento to add to the box

of photos and videos.

Really Big Buttons

The "button bag" was a traditional baby toy in frontier America for a reason: Babies have

always loved small, shiny objects. And picking up colorful trinkets is the perfect way to satisfy

that magpie instinct (and fine-tune physical coordination to boot). Although small shirt and

blouse buttons pose a choking hazard and should be kept away from your baby, fabric stores

carry extra-large buttons (buy the biggest you can find, a minimum of 2 inches across) that

make safe and satisfying playthings.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: at least eight very large (minimum 2-inch-diameter) buttons; a small cloth

bag or pouch

Choose eight buttons in matching pairs of two, and try for a widely varying selection of colors

and textures. Put them in a small cloth bag or pouch or a paper bag, and let your baby take

them out and put them back in, Eeyore-like, over and over. Sit her in your lap and spread the

buttons out in front of her, then help her match them up two by two, or make a pattern of

alternating colors. This bagful of buttons is perfect to tuck in your purse to pull out when

you're away from home and your baby is getting bored.

• Chef Teddy & Tickle a Funnybone

Chef Teddy

Dinnertime can be another chance to learn that actions have results. This game is

particularly useful when your baby seems bored or tired at meals and resists eating.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect, a good appetite

What you'll need: a teddy bear or doll with flexible arms, a baby spoon

If it seems that being fed by you just isn't enough of a thrill to help the food go down, enlist

some help from a favorite doll, teddy bear, or other stuffed creature. Bring the toy to the table

and explain that a special friend is going to be serving dinner tonight. Holding the spoon in

the stuffed animal's paw or the doll's hand, have the dinner guest feed your baby her food.

Teddy's cajoling is guaranteed to get better results than Mom or Dad's nightly nagging. You

can also sit the doll or animal next to your baby, tie a bib around its neck, and announce that

you are going to "feed" your baby and her guest in turns. If she's already learned to hold a

spoon well herself, let her spoon-feed her friend. (Be prepared to wash its face afterwards,

though.)

Tickle a Funnybone

Games involving body parts are even more fun now that your baby can move his arms and

legs whenever he wants. With this one, you can help him associate an arm, leg, or belly-

button with a name.

Skills developed: verbal, fine motor

What you'll need: a plastic puff such as those that come with shower gel

With your baby seated in a bath seat or in the tub itself (with you right there), saturate the puff

with water, then approach your baby with the puff submerged under the water. Say, "I'm

going to tickle your toes," and tickle them lightly with the puff, pulling it out of reach by the

string if he makes a grab for it. Approach from different directions, saying, "I'm going to

tickle your knees, I'm going to tickle your back, I'm going to tickle your bottom," each time

pulling the puff away through the water when he tries to grab it. Then let him hold the puff,

and show him how to tickle himself with it, provided he doesn't just want to chew on it (not

such a good idea when it's been in the bathwater). Or, put your hand down into the water and

let him take a turn tickling your fingers.

6 months old

• My Photo Album & Clap, Clap Your Hands

My Photo Album

Recognizing familiar faces (including your own) is an enormous treat for your baby as he

learns to identify people by name and association.

Skills developed: pattern recognition, fine motor

What you'll need: a small photo album — the type where the photos slide into clear plastic

pockets

Buy a small photo album (one that holds 3-by-5- or 4-by-6-inch photos — one to a page is the

best) and fill it with snapshots of your baby and the people in his life. In addition to relatives

and family friends (the most typical photo subjects), make sure you include pictures of

babysitters or caregivers, neighbors, and other babies and children you know.

Give the album to your baby and tell him it's his very own. Sit with him and show him the

photos, letting him communicate his feelings to you. He'll react to the familiar ones with

excitement and point out any faces he doesn't recognize with a questioning expression. Then

put the album in his bookshelf or toy box, where he can page through it on his own. It'll

quickly become a favorite — and a lifesaver on plane trips and long car rides.

Clap, Clap Your Hands

There comes a miraculous moment, sometime around the 6-month mark, when your baby

discovers she can spontaneously bring her hands together to touch each other. But even

before she masters this skill, clapping games give her a thrill. What's more, they provide a

chance to interact with you face-to-face and to try to mimic your actions.

Skills developed: two-hand coordination

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Patty-cake is an old favorite for babies, but this version is a little more challenging. Sit your

baby on the floor, then sit down cross-legged facing her. If she doesn't sit securely yet, prop a

pillow behind her. Then sing this song (any tune will do), acting out the commands as you

come to them.

Clap, clap, clap your hands

Clap your tiny hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands

Clap your tiny hands

Additional verses:

Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet... (and so on).

Pat, pat, pat your head... (and so on).

Rub, rub, rub your tummy... (and so on).

Help your baby make the movements herself, even if it means holding her ankles and

stomping her feet for her. You can continue to make up sillier and sillier verses (wiggle your

eyebrows; stick out your tongue) as long as she continues to giggle.

• Jack-in-the-Can & Watch What Happens

Jack-in-the-Can

When a baby is getting the hang of object permanence (the idea that something still exists

even when it can't be seen), any game where things appear and disappear is a hit. While

traditional windup jack-in-the-boxes can still be too startling or scary at this age, you can

make a baby-friendlier one yourself using simple materials from around the house.

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence

What you'll need: a coffee can, yogurt carton, or large paper cup; a chopstick, pencil, or ruler;

a small colorful toy (a finger puppet works best); some tape or glue

Punch a hole in the bottom of the container. Insert a chopstick, pencil, or ruler (even a stick

from your garden will do) through the hole, then glue or tape to the tip a small stuffed animal,

plastic figure, or, even better, a finger puppet (just slip it over the end of the stick and secure it

with a bit of tape). Now you have a hand-operated pop-up toy: Pull the stick down so the toy

or puppet is hidden inside the can or cup, then push it up suddenly when you want the jack-in-

the-can to greet your baby.

Watch What Happens

As babies become more observant and attuned to the notion of cause and effect, they become

fascinated with light switches, TV remotes, and other things that seem like powerful agents of

change. Cater to that fascination by showing your baby how certain actions bring certain

results.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Start with simple changes: Open and close a cupboard door or dresser drawer, then turn a light

switch on and off (besides on/off, this demonstrates light versus dark). Then branch out into

more active scenarios: Roll a ball across the floor to your baby or put a stuffed animal at the

edge of the table, then push it off onto the chair. If you're feeling really adventurous, let her

turn the faucet on and off — as long as it's the cold one.

• Rodeo Days & Bubble Bottle

Rodeo Days

Babies love surprises, and being surprised (and then learning to predict what might happen)

is one way your baby learns that actions have consequences.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Sit on a chair or sofa with your knees together and legs bent at a right angle. Sit your baby on

your knees facing you with her legs to either side. Place your hands on your baby's waist to

steady her and bounce her gently on your knees, saying, "This is the way the lady rides, tri-

tree-tree-tree, tri-tree-tree-tree, this is the way the lady rides, tri-tree tri-tree tri-TREE." On the

final "tree," part your legs so your baby dips dramatically down between them, taking care of

course that she doesn't fall all the way to the floor.

The second and third verses have increasingly dramatic bouncing rhythms and falls: "This is

the way the gentleman rides, gallop-a-trot, gallop-a-trot, this is the way the gentleman rides,

gallop-a-gallop-a-TROT" — accompanied by a firmer bounce and a more pronounced dip —

and then (the final verse), "This is the way the farmer rides, hobbledy-hoy, hobbledy-hoy, this

is the way the farmer rides, hobbledy-hobbledy-HOY." Here, sway your knees from side to

side, rocking your baby as if she were a farmer being carried on a swaybacked nag, and on the

final "hoy," tip your baby sideways off your knees, catching her in your arms as she dips.

Bubble Bottle

Remember the hypnotic effect of watching a lava lamp? Here's a toy that will have the same

impact with your baby, and you can make it yourself for pennies. It's sure to become a

favorite, both in the bath and around the house.

Skills developed: dexterity, familiarity with colors

What you'll need: a clear plastic bottle (or several) with a tightly fitting screw-on lid; food

color; dish soap

Fill a large, clear plastic bottle, such as a soda pop or water bottle, one third full of water. Add

a few drops of dish soap or other liquid soap and a few drops of food coloring. Close the

bottle tightly and give it to your baby; show him how to shake it up and make eye-catching

colored bubbles. Make several bubble bottles using different shades of food coloring and use

them to introduce your baby to the various colors. Show him how to roll the bottles across the

floor.

• Hide 'n' Eat & A Great Fall

Hide 'n' Eat

All kinds of hide-and-seek games are fun for your baby at this age, as he continues to be

thrilled with the discovery that something hidden from him is still there after all. This

variation on peekaboo livens up mealtime with the thrill of the chase.

Skills developed: fine motor, understanding of object permanence

What you'll need: a clean dish towel, finger foods, and some small opaque cups or containers

Show your baby a snack (anything that's not too wet or mushy), then cover it with a cloth dish

towel or napkin. Let him lift the veil and discover that his treat is still there, even though he

couldn't see it just a moment ago.

You can also inject a little sleight of hand: Put two cookies or slices of fruit in front of your

baby, then cover them with opaque cups or other containers, adding at least one extra

container that's not covering anything. Swirl the cups around so he can't tell which ones are

hiding food, then let him lift off the cups and find his treats.

A Great Fall

Nothing is as much fun as a game with a surprise ending. Combine that with rhythmic speech,

which is easy for babies to follow, and you've got a winning combination.

Skills developed: gross motor, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

On a rug indoors or outside on soft grass, lie on your back with your knees raised. Seat your

baby on your tummy facing you, leaning back against your knees. Steadying her with your

hands, sway from side to side. Start reciting the well-known nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty

sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great..." and on the word "fall," tip your knees and roll to

the side so that your baby slides off sideways onto the ground (use your hands to make sure

it's a soft landing). Finish saying the rest of the rhyme curled up on the floor with your baby,

ending with a quick tickle when you get to the phrase "together again." Then help her get

situated on your tummy again for another go-round. You can add a further element of surprise

by varying the point in the nursery rhyme when the fall occurs, so she doesn't see it coming.

7 months old

• Story Boards & Roller Derby

Story Boards

For those times when the regular nighty-night routine seems a little too ho-hum, try

substituting your very own hand-animated bedtime story.

Skills developed: verbal, auditory

What you'll need: a flannel board, available from educational toy stores and catalogs; sheets

of colored felt and scissors, or purchased felt shapes

You can use traditional store-bought felt shapes, which usually come in themed sets (farm

animals, numbers, faces) or make your own by cutting them out with scissors. A good place to

start is with a "paper doll" made from felt in the same gender as your child, with a simple

wardrobe or props that let you make it day or night, winter or summer. Then you can add a

dog, cat, or rabbit, a simple house and car, and other elements to spin a tale that reflects your

baby's life or interests.

Sit facing your baby with the felt board propped on your knees so it is clearly visible. Tell

your story — any story, really; don't feel you have to be a master narrator — illustrating the

major points with the felt shapes. You might start out, "Once upon a time there was a little

boy (lay out the felt figure) who lived in a tiny house (lay out the house)." When your baby is

a little older, it's fun — and very revealing — to have him tell you a felt-board bedtime story.

Roller Derby

Whether or not your baby is ready to crawl, she's working on the motor skills she'll use to

become mobile: She's probably spending lots of time pushing herself up off the floor or

rocking back and forth on hands and knees. This game will help her get rolling.

Skills developed: crawling

What you'll need: two empty 2-liter plastic beverage containers, strong tape, and some small,

brightly colored plastic toys such as dinosaurs and balls

Optional: a couple of jingle bells

Use a knife or scissors to cut off the tops of both beverage containers about a third of the way

down. Put four or five small toys inside one container (an assortment of shapes, sizes, and

colors looks most interesting, and a jingle bell or two adds a lot of pizzazz), then wedge one

container over the other, overlapping the edges an inch or two and forming a closed cylinder.

(Since the containers are the same size, you may need to pinch one slightly to get it to fit

inside the other.) Use strong tape such as packing tape or duct tape to seal it closed, taking

care to completely cover any edges, and you have a fun roller. Now put the cylinder on the

floor and show your baby how to push it along. It's a great inducement to crawling as she tries

to follow the whirling toys across the floor.

Note: Keep an eye on your baby while she plays with this toy to make sure she doesn't

manage to get it open, especially if you are using balls or jingle bells small enough to present

a choking hazard.

• The Aim Game & Floating Blocks

The Aim Game

Why is it so hard to keep a baby's attention focused on food long enough to get him to eat?

Think about how tricky it is for him to even get a spoonful of food near his mouth, and it's

easy to see why he loses interest and sends it all to the floor. But give him some new and

unusual tools, and meals become fun occasions for practicing his technique.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination, eating with utensils

What you'll need: any utensils you have handy that are safe for your baby to eat with,

including wooden spoons, measuring spoons, rubber spatulas, even very dull butter knives

Your cooking utensil drawer is full of things that look like toys to your baby. Show him how

to use them for eating, and lunch or dinner becomes an exciting new game. Give them to him

one at a time, pantomiming eating with each one, or feed him once yourself with each one. He

may slather food all over himself with the spatula or flip it onto the walls with the wooden

spoon, but he does that with his regular utensils anyway, right?

Floating Blocks

Once your baby is sitting securely in the tub, she's ready to use bath time for some seriously

silly water play. A set of foam blocks lets her indulge her love of stacking and manipulating

things.

Skills developed: fine motor

What you'll need: a package of sponges or bathtub blocks made of dense plastic foam; a

sharp knife

To make your own bath blocks: Stiffen the sponges by wetting them and letting them dry,

then use a sharp knife to cut them into a variety of interesting shapes and sizes. Make sure you

cut at least one larger flat shape to use as a base for the others.

Show your baby how to press the blocks against the sides of the tub, squeeze the water out of

them, push them down to the bottom of the tub and let them pop back up again, and stack

them on top of each other. Sponge blocks are soft enough to safely throw against the wall or

into the water for a resounding splash. With the plastic foam, which floats, she can try

stacking smaller blocks on larger ones while they're floating on the water, an interesting

challenge.

Note: If she's still at the stage where she's chewing on everything in sight, watch carefully to

keep her from biting off pieces of foam.

• Choo-Choo Training & Shower Power

Choo-Choo Training

Best when your baby has lots of energy and is raring to go, this activity is a blast for new

crawlers who have clearly "left the station."

Skills developed: crawling, gross motor

What you'll need: no equipment necessary

Stand with your legs a little wider apart than your shoulders. Tell your baby she's the train and

you're the tunnel, then have her crawl through your legs. Add a few "chug-a-chug-a's" and

train whistle sound effects as she passes through. After she's done this a few times, suggest

that now the train needs to go through the tunnel quickly, before it collapses. As she passes

through, squeeze your legs together and try to catch her (giving her a head start, of course), or

lower your body (bending your knees) as if you're about to sit on her. Provided you don't get

her overly excited while playing, this is a great way to tucker out a pre-walker before bed.

Shower Power

Splish-splashing in the bath lets a baby explore the thrill of making something happen — and

because water is such fun to manipulate, he's flexing those fine motor skills to boot. Here's a

game where he actually gets to make it "rain."

Skills developed: fine motor, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a small plastic food container (like a tub of cottage cheese or yogurt) with

a lid

Using a knife, fork, or scissors, punch small holes in the container's lid. When your baby is in

the bath, fill the container with water and snap the lid on, and show him how to turn it upside

down and sprinkle water into the tub. A water toy like this has endless potential: He can help

a doll or rubber ducky take a "shower," he can take a shower himself like Mom and Dad, or

he can make it "rain" over the water — and you can point out how the droplets make ripples

on the surface.

• Hide and Peek & Water Balloons

Hide & Peek

This simple tablecloth game is great fun and very reassuring for babies just beginning to

understand that out of sight doesn't mean out of mind.

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence

What you'll need: a table with crawl space underneath and a long tablecloth, sheet, or

blanket

Throw a large blanket, sheet, or tablecloth over a table so that it reaches all the way to the

floor. Show your baby how she can crawl underneath the table (you may need to get down

there first yourself and coax her along if she's timid). Then demonstrate how, when you're

outside the tablecloth and she's underneath, you can't see her. Ask, "Where's my baby?" When

she crawls out or peeks out from under the cloth, say, "There's my baby!" Next, bring her

outside with you, then hide a doll or stuffed animal underneath and ask about it: "Where's

Teddy?" Let your baby crawl underneath to find her lost friend, and when she does, exclaim,

"There's Teddy!"

Water Balloons

What better lesson in cause and effect than to blow up a balloon and let it go? Add water and

it becomes an immersion course. (Save this game for those evenings when everyone's a little

punchy and you don't mind cleaning up the bathroom afterwards.)

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a sturdy balloon

With your baby sitting securely in the tub, put a bit of water in a balloon and blow it up, but

don't tie it. Give it to him and show him how to let it fly — then watch it zoom around the

room, spraying water as it goes. (Close the shower curtain to keep the room from getting

completely soaked.)

Warning: An uninflated balloon presents a serious choking hazard, so don't let your baby put

the balloon in his mouth, and never let him play with it unsupervised.

8 months old

• Kick Start & Where's That Noise?

Kick Start

Getting ready to crawl, stand, and walk is a big challenge — all sorts of new muscles need to

develop in those little legs. This kicking game develops gross motor coordination while your

young go-getter's still "on the bench."

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: a midsize plastic ball

Kneeling or sitting on the floor, hold your baby in front of you (and facing away from you)

with one arm around his chest and the other hand supporting his bottom so his legs stick out

in front of you both. Place a ball directly in front of him and help his feet kick the ball forward;

then move forward so he can propel the ball across the floor, like a mini soccer star. Cheer

encouragingly every time his foot makes contact with the ball, and point out how far he's

"kicked" it. This makes a great game when you get your baby together with a playmate: The

parents can position the players to face each other and kick the ball back and forth.

Where's That Noise?

Squeaky toys are such favorites because babies love to be surprised by unexpected sounds.

Add the fun of peekaboo and you have an audiovisual guessing game.

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: several noise-making toys; a dish towel or small blanket

Show your baby a squeaky toy, give it a good noisy squeeze, then cover it with a dish towel or

small blanket and let him uncover it. Then cover it again and try making it squeak while it's

still invisible — this is always good for a laugh and a rush to "discover" it. Substitute a toy

that rattles, then one that makes a crunching noise or other unusual sound (you can make your

own with a ball of waxed paper). For the final act, throw a blanket over a tape recorder, then

push the button (through the blanket) to start up a tape. If nothing else has gotten a big

reaction, this certainly will!

• Peek-a-boo Picture & Today's Greatest Hits

Peekaboo Picture

There's no limit to the versions of peekaboo your baby will enjoy. This one builds on your

baby's fascination with facial expressions.

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence, fine motor

What you'll need: paper or cardboard; pens, scraps of cloth, scissors, glue

Remember that page in Pat the Bunny where you can lift up a slip of cloth and see Paul's face?

Taking this as inspiration, make your own peekaboo pictures, using different characters and

facial expressions. On several sturdy pieces of construction paper or cardboard, draw simple

sketches of people, each with a happy, sad, or grumpy expression. If you'd rather not draw,

cut out pictures from a magazine instead. Then cut rectangular pieces of cloth a little taller

than each figure. Use glue to attach the cloth just above each picture, creating a flap that lifts

up. When the glue is dry, show your baby how to raise the flaps. Make up a story about the

person underneath, and end it with your baby "finding" the face.

Variations: Cut squares of cloth big enough to cover the faces, but leave the bodies uncovered.

Or draw only faces rather than full figures.

Today's Greatest Hits

As your baby starts taking more interest in the world, one natural way to develop her memory

and concentration is to review her own most memorable moments. It's also a comforting way

to bring the day to a close.

Skills developed: cognitive, auditory

What you'll need: a glider, rocking chair, or other good cuddling spot

Start by asking questions and answering them for your baby. "What did we do this morning?

We went to play group, didn't we?" Add a few details: "That sure was a big dog we saw at the

park!" Then talk about what you might do tomorrow, suggesting some of her favorite

activities. Finally, tie it all together with a great old folk song called "What Shall We Do

When We All Go Out?" that lends itself wonderfully to personalization. (It's found on many

children's folk music tapes, such as those by Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.) The lyrics are

very simple and repetitive:

What shall we do when we all go out, all go out, all go out,

What shall we do when we all go out, when we all go out to play?

The actual verses then go on to name various play activities, such as "Swing on the swings

when we all go out" and "Slide down the slide when we all go out." But try making up lyrics

that reflect what your baby is actually going to do, whether it's "Ride in the stroller" or "Take

a nice bath." Then follow with verses that include special people: "Visit Uncle Jim" or "Go to

school with [teacher's name]." Your baby will fall asleep thinking cozily of all her loved ones.

• Rattle and Roll & Tug-a-Lug

Rattle and Roll

There's nothing like a rattle to excite budding young percussionists — although babies tend to

tire of these toys faster than we'd like. Shake things up by making your baby his very own

maracas to create new and different sounds.

Skills developed: fine motor, sense of rhythm

What you'll need: small containers such as film canisters, one-serving Tupperware

containers with tightly fitting lids, empty yogurt cups, or half-pint milk cartons; fillers such as

dried rice, macaroni, or beans; strong packing or duct tape

Empty film canisters (thoroughly scrubbed to get rid of that chemical smell) make perfect

shakers for small hands. Empty yogurt cups and small Tupperware containers work well, too.

If your baby is past the stage of putting everything in his mouth, cardboard toilet paper tubes

with the ends taped over and half-pint milk cartons sealed shut are other great noisemakers,

and they're easy to decorate with construction paper. Load each rattle with different fillers for

a variety of tones. Then put on some snappy Latin jazz or salsa, sit your baby down with his

new rhythm section, and get ready to rattle and roll!

Note: Prevent any choking hazard by taping all rattles tightly closed. And if your baby is the

type to get it open no matter what, use bigger fillers such as bow-tie pasta or ping-pong balls.

Tug-a-Lug

You may have noticed how your baby absolutely will not let go of something when you try to

take it away. It's as if she's instinctively protecting her territory, and in a way, she is. (She's

finally learned to hold on to things, and she's going to hold on tight.) Go along with that new

doggedness by starting a game of tug-of-war.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: a dish towel or other small piece of cloth, or a soft toy

Let your baby grab hold of a dish towel or a toy such as a cloth-covered rattle. Then grab the

other end of it and pull gently, testing her strength. As she gets used to this, it's fun to tug hard

enough to actually lift her up slightly so her arms are supporting her own weight; which

builds upper body strength. Think of it as your baby's first weight-lifting routine.

• Highchair Art & Diaper Change of Pace

Highchair Art

Mealtimes are getting mighty messy these days as (more and more, it seems) your baby insists

on playing with her food. After all, what better way to enjoy all the new things she can do

with her fingers than spread that mashed potato around? Instead of getting frustrated, get

into it by turning dinner into "art class."

Skills developed: familiarity with colors, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: gooey sauces and foods like ketchup; a highchair with a rimmed tray

Choose a few liquidy foods and let your baby "paint" with them on her highchair tray.

Ketchup and mustard are easy to squirt onto the tray (be sure it's not spicy mustard) and make

for a cheery red and yellow combo. Pesto creates a nice deep green, while Jell-O that hasn't

yet gelled offers many bright-colored possibilities, as well as a slimy texture that's easy to

spread. As your baby uses her hands to mix and swirl the various goos, tell her the names of

the colors and show her how they combine to form secondary shades. (Of course, don't expect

her to repeat or remember the names of the colors at this age.)

Diaper Change of Pace

Sometime around the 8-month mark, babies may chafe against diaper changes. Could be your

little one has just recognized (and decided to let you know) this isn't his favorite part of the

day — or he may just be sick of staring at the same old chunk of ceiling every time. A change

of scenery might make him a lot more obliging.

Skills developed: auditory, exploration

What you'll need: a movable diaper changing pad or cloth

Try changing your baby in a different place each time, turning the search for a fun new spot

into an adventure. Start by remarking, "Oh, you're wet, where shall we go to change you?"

Then carry your baby — along with the basic supplies — around the house or yard in a

concerted search for an untried location. The best bets will offer some new sight or sensation

to distract him: For example, the unexpected breeze on his bare bottom out on the patio might

keep him calm for the requisite few moments.

9 months old

• Inside the Box & Where Did It Go?

Inside the Box

Now that she's got the motor skills to explore new territory, your baby is ready for some basic

spatial concepts. A computer carton or other large box can introduce her to "inside" and

"outside" — and also provides the perfect secret hideout.

Skills developed: gross motor, spatial relations

What you'll need: a sturdy cardboard box big enough for your baby to crawl in and out of

Put a soft blanket and some toys and books in the box with your baby and let her explore her

own little space. Babies who are mobile can climb in and out of a box with 8-inch sides. A

taller-sided carton provides more privacy, but watch carefully or she might tip it over. Cut

windows out of a tall crate and you've created a "clubhouse," where your baby can play

peekaboo with you and get her first deliciously powerful taste of "no parents allowed."

Safety note: Never leave your baby unattended in the box, as it could tip over.

Another option: Use a large appliance box turned on its side, and let your baby crawl in and

out at her leisure.

Where Did It Go?

Your baby still delights in the surprise of finding something that was previously hidden, and

his increasing fine motor skills allow for all sorts of new hunting and finding games.

Skills developed: fine motor, understanding of object permanence

What you'll need: a sandbox, a few small colorful objects (sticks or coins will do in a pinch)

At the park, the beach, or in a backyard sandbox, show your baby a brightly colored object

(sunglasses, a plastic dinosaur, anything that will stand out reasonably well). With your baby

watching you, bury it under a small mound of sand. With a perplexed look on your face, say,

"Now where did those sunglasses go?" Then put your baby's hand on the mound of sand and

help him brush the sand away until the object is uncovered. Once he gets the hang of the

search, he'll do the digging without help. Gradually, you can move on to hiding the item when

he's not watching.

• Flour Power & Squirt the Tummy

Flour Power

You've probably already noticed that whatever you do, your baby wants to do the same thing.

Make a game of this mimicry by giving him a chance to "cook" — he'll enjoy playing grown-

up and delight in the new textures you're introducing.

Skills developed: fine motor

What you'll need: newspaper, a flour sifter or measuring cup, and some flour or cornmeal

Spread some newspaper on the floor, then put a little pile of flour or corn meal on it and let

your baby mix his own "cake." If you have a flour sifter, show him how to put the flour in and

turn the handle. If you don't, a strainer is just as much fun. Together, use measuring spoons or

a cup to scoop up the flour and dump it out again — he'll have a ball copying your moves.

Pour a little on his hands or feet so he can explore the sensation of the flour on his skin.

Things will get a bit messy, sure, but the scene will make for some classic photo opportunities.

Safety note: Don't leave your baby alone when he's playing with flour. It could interfere with

his breathing if he were to inhale a big cloud or get a heaping handful in his mouth.

Squirt the Tummy

Reading books about body parts is fun, but why not play a game that teaches your baby to

identify her own?

Skills developed: familiarity with body parts

What you'll need: a simple, gentle squirt gun or other squirt toy

With your baby seated in a warm bath — either in a swiveling bath seat, on a foam bath pad,

or just in the tub watched closely by you — get out a squirt toy and fill it with warm

bathwater. (For safety's sake, bring it with you to the tub; never leave a baby unattended to

retrieve a toy.) Let your baby see the squirt toy and watch you fill it so there won't be too

much surprise. Ask your baby, "Where's your tummy?" and then point to it with your finger

and say, "There's your tummy!" Finally, squirt your baby's tummy gently, saying "I'm

squirting your tummy!" Repeat for arms, legs, back, shoulders, and other body parts (never

squirt your baby near the face — aim below the neck).

If your baby likes the surprise element here, drop the question-and-answer part and simply

squirt each body part, saying, "I'm squirting your legs!" "I'm squirting your elbow!" and so on,

varying the order so your giggly target never knows which body part will be next.

• My Little Thumbkin & Sticky Situation

My Little Thumbkin

Fingers are fascinating to your baby because he's discovering how much they can do. In the

classic children's singing game "Where Is Thumbkin?" the individual digits of each hand

really come to life.

Skills developed: fine motor, auditory

What you'll need: a nonpermanent pen

Use a pen to draw a small face on the pad of each of your fingers and both thumbs. Start by

making fists and holding them both out in front of your baby, clenched tight so no fingers

show. To the tune of "Fr?re Jacques," sing:

"Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin?"

"Here I am, here I am" (bring out one thumb, then the other),

"How are you today, sir?" (make one thumb bow),

"Very well, I thank you" (the other thumb returns the bow),

"Run away, run away" (put one hand, then the other, behind your back).

The song repeats with each finger called by name: Pointer, Tallman, Ringman, and Pinky.

Then, for the grand finale, sing, "Where's the whole family?" waving all five fingers together

on "Here we are." If you've given each finger-face a slightly different expression, this last

verse is a hilarious hands-down winner.

Sticky Situation

When your baby has mastered the knack of picking up and manipulating toys, she's ready for

the surprise silliness of this captivating challenge.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: a piece of contact paper, tape, and a few small toys

Take a piece of sticky contact paper, the kind you use for lining drawers and shelves, and

place it, sticky side up, on your kitchen floor. Then tape it down securely along all four edges.

(You can put some newspaper down first for extra protection.) Gather an assortment of small

toys and arrange them on the paper, pushing down on them to make sure they're firmly

adhering. Then show your baby the toys and encourage her to pick them up — or try to.

You'll both get a good laugh as your baby figures out how to get them un-stuck. Once all the

toys are rescued, help her step barefoot onto the contact paper. She's likely to be fascinated

with the sensation of the sticky surface pulling at her soles as you help her lift each foot and

put it down again. Of course, if she doesn't like the sticky feeling, don't force the issue.

• Classified Information & Campfire Tales

Classified Information

Sometime around 9 months comes the urge to categorize. But playing with plastic shape

sorters has its limits if a baby hasn't mastered the spatial skill of fitting the shapes through the

correct holes. This homemade alternative helps him sort things out on his own.

Skills developed: sorting, fine motor

What you'll need: a muffin tin, preferably one for 12 muffins, and groups of seashells or

other objects

Collect a few large groups of related small objects such as seashells, rubber balls, or even

large hair barrettes. Show your baby how to put an object into each cup of a muffin tin. Then,

after you've helped him fill the tin and dump it out a few times, sort the same types of objects

into their own cups. This is a game you can continue to play for years, making it more

sophisticated in terms of sorting and matching, grouping items, for example, by color and

shape.

Safety note: Don't use any objects that are small enough for your baby to swallow.

Campfire Tales

Story hour is extra-special now that your baby seems to treasure particular picture books.

Make it even more fun by turning it into a "campout." (It's a good way to get in some quiet

cuddling time on a cold winter night or a long midsummer evening when darkness doesn't

come early enough.).

Skills developed: verbal, pre-reading

What you'll need: a large sheet or blanket, two or three chairs, a flashlight, books

Position two kitchen chairs near a third piece of furniture, such as a table or sofa, or use three

chairs, and stretch a large sheet or blanket over them to make a tent. (A cotton sheet is coolest

on a hot night, a wooly blanket coziest on a cold one.) Use nonbreakable weighty objects like

shoes or books to anchor the edges. Settle in together with some books and a favorite bedtime

toy or blankie, and savor the joys of reading by flashlight.

10 months old

• Two-Handed Clacking & Pile It On

Two-Handed Clacking

There comes a point when nothing amuses a baby so much as trying to bring his hands

together. He looks from one hand to the other, moves each one, and then suddenly they're

touching and he's ready for patty-cake.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: two wooden sticks, such as long cylindrical blocks, drumsticks, or kitchen

spoons

Exploit the "handy" impulse by giving your baby a wooden stick or spoon to hold in each

hand and showing him how to clack them together. At first he'll miss as often as he hits, but

soon he'll get a rhythm going, and the satisfaction of each noisy contact will keep him happy

through many a diaper change.

Pile It On

There's a reason your little one loves blocks, stacking cups, and simple building toys: She

loves to see how things fit together. So why not build on that enthusiasm by letting her put her

dinner together at the table?

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: a variety of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, potatoes, green beans), cooked

thoroughly until very soft and cut into finger-size lengths

Settle your baby into her highchair, booster chair, or other comfortable place where she's used

to eating. (She'll need a flat tabletop to work on, so a bouncy-seat won't work.) Sitting across

from her, pile the vegetables in front of her, separating them by type — carrots in one pile,

green beans in another, etc. Make piles for yourself, layering your own tower so your baby

can see what you're doing. Begin by selecting the largest vegetable sticks and laying them

lengthwise in a square to serve as the foundation. Choose another type (a contrasting color

helps too) and lay them in a square on top of the first layer, overlapping ends like you were

building with Lincoln Logs. Build upward, layer by layer, to make a colorful striped tower. Of

course, both of you can eat as you go — in fact, that's the idea!

• The Book of Me & Cruise Control

The Book of Me

We all like to talk over our day's experiences as we get ready to turn in for the night, and your

baby is no exception. The trick is, he can't tell you much yet. One way to get him to "share" is

to put together a scrapbook of things that help illustrate his day's adventures, then look at it

together each night.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: cardboard, paper, plastic bags or plastic wrap, photographs, and a three-

ring binder or string or yarn for binding

Start with some photos of your baby and the people he sees every day: siblings, babysitters,

friends from his playgroup. A photo of his favorite stuffed animal might also be a hit. You can

add a leaf you found together on a walk, a flower from the garden, or a "drawing" that your

baby made that day. Paste the photos and other mementos on pieces of stiff paper or

cardboard, then cover them with plastic wrap or see-through plastic bags and tape the plastic

down. You can tie the book together with string or yarn, but it will be sturdiest if you insert

the pages into a three-ring notebook. Store it in a safe place: Today it's a wildly useful

bedtime tool, tomorrow a treasured keepsake.

Cruise Control

Babies will walk when they're good and ready —

this is one skill you can't rush. But as your baby

gets closer to taking her first steps, it's fun to

"sneak-preview" the joys of getting around.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination,

walking

What you'll need: kitchen-table chairs

Line up a row of chairs against a wall (preferably in a carpeted room). Help your baby stand

up and hold on to a chair at one end of the row, then show her how to use the chairs to propel

herself slowly along from one to another. If she needs extra incentive, take a favorite toy and

place it on the farthest chair, and when she reaches the toy, help her get it, then clap and give

her a big hug. Put another toy at the opposite end and send her back in the other direction.

You can keep it up as long as she's having fun and still steady on her feet.

• Supper Sorting & Bubble Surprise

Supper Sorting

By now you've faced the fact that your baby is going to play with her food just as she plays

with blocks, spools, and anything else she can pile up and scatter. Serve her "Japanese style,"

with foods in little containers, and at least she'll learn to sort shapes, practice picking up and

dropping things, and sharpen a host of other new skills.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: several small bowls and Tupperware containers with lids; finger foods

Fill small bowls with a colorful assortment of your baby's favorite finger foods — like small

chunks of soft fruits or well-cooked veggies, O-shaped cereal, tidbits of chicken or fish, and

little cubes of cheese or hard-boiled egg. Give her some empty containers as well, and

encourage her to mix and match, transferring the foods from one bowl to the next. If she has

enough dexterity to open and close lids, provide some small plastic containers and let her

open them herself — a great way to make a meal last long enough for a grown-up

conversation.

Bubble Surprise

The surprise of "now you see it, now you don't" is especially fun with glittery soap bubbles.

Your baby will love the excitement of discovery, and you'll be pleased that he stays in the bath

long enough to get clean!

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: soap bubbles

Get your baby safely settled in a bath seat or in the tub. (If he's not enclosed in a seat, be sure

to make clear that a rule of this game is that he can't stand up in the water.) Duck down so he

can't see you, then blow clouds of bubbles, letting them cascade down on him. (It works best

if your tub area has high walls or a shower curtain for you to hide behind.) Pause for

occasional intervals, then blow some more. Each surprise soapy shower will elicit fits of

giggles — somehow, not being able to see you but knowing you're right there producing the

bubbles is endlessly funny to babies. Once he's on to you, try changing locations (if you're

standing at one end of the tub, move to the other, or to one side) so the bubbles suddenly

come from a new direction — guaranteed to get the giggles going all over again.

Safety note: No matter how much fun you're having, never take your eyes off your baby for

more than a few moments while he's in the tub.

• Flying Seesaw & Pour It On

Flying Seesaw

An almost-11-month-old is bound to be enthralled by this dynamic exercise.

Skills developed: sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: a cardboard tube stuffed with newspaper for stiffening, a short square

board or large rectangular children's book, a small stuffed animal, a child's hammer or mallet

Lay the tube on a flat surface — preferably a smooth floor. Balance the board or book on the

cylinder like a teeter-totter with one end down and the other angling upward. Set the stuffed

animal on the lower end of the book. Announce, "Let's watch Bunny go for a ride," and have

your child hit the high end of the book with the hammer. (If you don't have a hammer or

mallet, have your baby use his fist.) Then watch your baby's face as the animal goes flying.

Warning: He'll want to repeat this over and over, so for your sanity you may want to add a

challenge, such as measuring how far away it lands.

Variation: Put a stuffed animal at both ends of the board or book to make a seesaw, then show

your child how to balance it.

Pour It On

There's a reason Montessori-style preschools feature so many activities that involve pouring:

It's a great way to explore concepts like "full" and "empty" and develop dexterity to boot.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination, spatial relations

What you'll need: a large dish tub or bucket; some plastic cups, bowls, and other containers

Because it's messy, try this activity outside, or in a kitchen or bathroom with a bath mat or

towel on the floor. Fill the dish tub or bucket about halfway with water, and set out the

various pouring implements next to it. If your baby is walking, you can set up this activity on

a low bench or chair; if she's not, have her sit next to the bucket.

Show her how to scoop water out of the bucket and pour it back in. When she has the

technique down, show her how to transfer water into a larger cup or bowl using a smaller one

as a tool. Funnels, measuring cups with spouts, and basters also make for great water play.

11 months old

• Food Faces & My Little Trampoline

Food Faces

This game teaches your baby to construct a pattern (in this case a face) — and who would

guess such fun is also a way to hone the fine motor skills needed for eating? It works best if

your baby is either in a highchair, seated on your lap, or in a booster seat at the "big table."

Skills developed: pattern recognition, fine motor

What you'll need: a meal that includes several small, easily manipulated items such as peas,

cubed cooked carrots, corn off the cob, cherry tomatoes cut in half, coarsely grated cheese,

meat cut into small bits, noodles or spaghetti

Set out the different parts of your baby's meal in small, nonbreakable bowls: cooked peas in

one bowl, cubed meat in another, and so on. Place a large, relatively flat plate (not a

compartmentalized toddler plate) in front of your baby, and help her make a face out of her

dinner. You'll need to be the art director here, but your baby can take handfuls of food and

place them (more or less) where you say: "Put the cheese here for the hair... let's use a tomato

for the nose." (Tip: Cooked carrot cubes are great for eyes, and spaghetti and other noodles

make very convincing hair.) Guide her hands if necessary, and then do the final arranging

yourself. When the face is done, you're ready to eat. Hopefully, though, your baby's been

snacking the whole way through.

Safety note: Round objects pose a choking risk, so definitely cut those cherry tomatoes and

grapes in half, and cook meat and peas and other vegetables until very soft.

My Little Trampoline

It's no secret that kids love to jump on beds. Actually, babies do too, and it's a perfect way for

little ones to build lower-body strength and learn to control their wobbly legs.

Skills developed: standing, walking

What you'll need: a bed with a springy mattress

Stand your baby upright in the middle of your bed, carefully supporting him with your hands

holding both sides. Help him bounce up and down, lifting him off the bed, then landing him in

a standing position. If your baby is already walking, you may be able to just hold his hands,

once he gets used to the springy motion of the bed.

Another fun game: Have him sit on the bed with his legs out in front of him and gently

bounce the bed with your hands.

Safety note: Never leave a baby unattended on a bed.

• Tube Tunnel & Little Home-Wrecker

Tube Tunnel

The pincer grasp — being able to hold a small object between the thumb and forefinger — is

one of the fine motor milestones, and once your baby can do it, he'll want to do it all the time.

This activity is perfect for babies who have learned to manipulate with their fingers.

Skills developed: fine motor, sense of cause and effect

What you'll need: one or more long cardboard tubes, such as those inside wrapping paper or

paper towels; small balls such as golf balls

Sit on the floor with your baby, and show him how to hold the tube at an angle to the floor.

Take a ball and show him as you put it in the top of the tube. Tell him to watch the bottom to

see it roll out; he'll smile excitedly when it does. You can also rest the bottom of the tube on a

large block or stack of books so it's easier to see the balls rolling out. Let your baby put the

ball into the tube himself, and show him how to tilt the tube more or less to make the ball roll

faster or slower.

Once he gets the hang of rolling the ball down the slide, you can play games such as marking

where each ball finishes and seeing which ball rolls the longest distance. You can make the

tube steeper and show your baby how the ball rolls faster and farther. Or you can keep the

angle of the tube the same and try different types of balls, to see which ones go the farthest.

Variation: Cut a tube in half lengthwise to make a trough so your baby can see the ball as it's

sliding down (as shown in the photo). Tape several of these troughs together in a zigzag

pattern (cutting angled corners and taping them together with strong tape such as duct tape) to

make a more dramatic ball course.

Little Home-Wrecker

Yes, it's goofy, but this game is a great way to help your baby build upper body strength. And

ironically enough, considering the name, it's great for family bonding. It will get you laughing

as loudly as your baby.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: two adults

Sit on the floor back to back with your spouse or another adult and challenge your baby to pry

you apart. (If she's walking, she can do this standing up, but if she's crawling, doing it on

hands and knees works fine.) To convey the concept to your baby, begin by sitting back-to-

back with her and having the second adult squeeze in between the two of you. When it's your

baby's turn, she'll have great fun trying to push and pull these huge, unwieldy adults. When

she manages to make some room between you (you might have to help just a little), encourage

her to insert herself in the middle, then lean back toward each other and gently "squish" her.

• Diaper Dolly & Water "Coloring"

Diaper Dolly

A baby's penchant for "monkey see, monkey do" can add a cheery dimension to diaper

changes — a fun first lesson in what it feels like to care for someone else.

Skills developed: fine motor, nurturing

What you'll need: a doll with easily removable clothes

Buy or make a doll with simple, removable clothes (preferably including a diaper) so your

baby can change her dolly while you change her. (Of course, this will be easier for her when

she's older, but even at this age she can remove a simple Velcro-ed diaper and possibly a shirt

or dress, and what she can't get off you can take off for her.) Give her a square of toilet paper

to wipe her doll's bottom while she's being cleaned up, and finally, your baby and her dolly

can get dressed together and head back to play.

Water "Coloring"

The next time you need to get a little work done outside, try this simple activity. It will keep an

older baby engrossed for a surprising amount of time — developing all the fine motor skills of

painting (without the mess).

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: some inexpensive paintbrushes and a bucket of water

Outdoors, fill a large bucket with water and give your baby several real paintbrushes (either

bristle or foam is fine). Set him up so he's sitting in front of a wall or low piece of outdoor

furniture, such as a step stool or bench, then show him how to "paint" it with water. Never

mind if the water is going everywhere but on the piece to be painted; your baby will feel very

proud that he's helping you get such an important job done.

• Climb Every Cushion & Indoor Beach Baby

Climb Every Cushion

Even as your baby learns to walk, she'll set her sights on climbing. You'll spend lots of extra

minutes getting up your front steps and into the house because she'll want to scale the stairs

all by herself — not once, not twice, but until you call off the ascent.

Skills developed: gross motor

What you'll need: lots of pillows from the bed, sofa, and elsewhere

Pile up a high stack of pillows for a safe, fun climbing activity. Use the largest, most stable

pillows, such as couch cushions and bed pillows, on the bottom, then add chair pillows, throw

pillows, and so on. Holding your baby steady, help her climb up the mountain of pillows and

stand triumphant on top. If you have a lot of rectangular pillows, you can use them to create

more of a stair-step structure, but you'll need to hold your baby's hand to make sure she

doesn't step off the top tier into thin air.

Safety note: Never leave a baby alone with her pillow mountain; this activity should be

supervised constantly. And move any furniture with sharp corners, so there's nothing for her

to bang against if she falls.

Indoor Beach Baby

No time to get to the park? Not to worry: Here's a way your baby can do all the sifting,

measuring, pouring, and fantasizing that comes with sandbox play.

Skills developed: fine motor, imagination

What you'll need: a dishpan or other large, relatively shallow container; cornmeal or sand;

newspaper; and some sand toys or cooking utensils

Spread newspaper on the kitchen floor, then fill a dishpan or other shallow container with

corn meal (or sand from an actual sandbox, if you have one) and place it on top. Offer some

small sand toys or kitchen utensils to play with. Mini strainers, sifters, and flour scoops are

great fun, as are measuring cups and spoons and, of course, good old buckets and shovels.

1 year old

• String-Along & Package Play

String-Along

Small round objects are extra-enticing now that your baby is mastering the "pincer grasp."

Seize the chance to hone those fine motor skills while also (hopefully) getting her to sit still

for a little more breakfast than usual.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination

What you'll need: sturdy string, plastic cord, or a shoelace; cereal-Os

On a highchair tray or nonbreakable plate, spread a thin layer of any kind of cereal-Os that

have reasonably large holes. Cut a 20-inch piece of string or plastic cord (sold in craft stores),

or use a thin shoelace with plastic-coated ends. Tie a knot in one end, or tie the cord around a

cereal-O, to prevent the others from slipping off. Show your baby how to thread the cord

through the cereal, then sit back and read the newspaper for a few minutes of uninterrupted

peace.

Variation: As a special, occasional treat for an older child, this activity is a real thrill if the

stringing is done with shoestring licorice and colorful cereal such as Froot Loops. Once she's

finished, she can devour the entire necklace.

Package Play

We all like getting presents, but for babies, the unwrapping's the thing. There's both the thrill

of discovery and the fun of making his fingers do what he wants. In this game, it doesn't seem

to matter that the "present" is actually a bath toy he's been playing with for months — it's the

element of surprise that counts.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination, understanding of object permanence

What you'll need: a washcloth or two and some small plastic bath toys

With your baby seated in the bath, distract him for a moment and use a wet washcloth to

"wrap" a small bath toy, such as a rubber duckie or plastic dinosaur. Present him with the

"package," saying, "I'm giving you a present." He'll unfold the washcloth, squeal with delight,

and immediately want to do it again. If you have two washcloths handy, you can start

wrapping the next present while he's busy unwrapping the first one. As he gets older and his

dexterity increases, he'll delight in wrapping such presents for you to open, a wonderful way

to encourage his natural sense of generosity.

other good links:

http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/month-by-month/your-child-month-3.aspx

http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nurturing/month/a197

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/stages/1300/

etc.

Let's play! 13-month-old

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Who’s hiding there?

Try this fun adaptation of hide and seek. Your toddler will love discovering you hidden under a sheet and it will

help her understand that just because she can’t see something, it doesn’t mean it is not there.

Skills developed: object permanence

What you’ll need: sheets or a big towel which you can hide under

This game is best played in a clear space where your toddler can concentrate on you. Cover yourself up with a

sheet. Say, "Where's Mummy gone?" and wait while your little one crawls or walks around you. Encourage her by

sliding a hand out from under the sheet and giving her a wave. When she has found your head you can pop up:

"Here I am!" You can also swap roles: try covering her with a sheet then gently discover an arm or a leg before

finally revealing her head.

Reading together

Looking at colourful board books is a great way to enjoy some quiet time together. And there is no better way to

help your little one to love books and stories later on.

Skills developed: talking, reading

What you'll need: a favourite book or two

Make reading more interactive by asking your toddler to point to things she can see in the picture: "Where is the

big dog?" or "Can you point to the yellow ball?". Take your time and let your toddler turn the pages when he is

ready.

Let's play! 14-month-old

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Stacking towers

Building towers with your little one will not only help his motor control but also start to lay down the foundations of

maths.

Skills developed: motor control, sorting, cause and effect, language

What you’ll need: building blocks of any shape; design or colour

Start with a pile of building blocks and gradually build your toddler a tower. He may want to help or he might

prefer to wait until you're finished then take great delight in knocking the whole thing down. Talk your toddler

through the process either by counting the bricks as you build them up or naming their colours. Tell him if you are

going to build a big tower or a small tower. Watching the tower you have just built come tumbling down will

encourage his sense of cause and effect.

Mirror me

Toddlers are great mimics, especially when it comes to pulling faces. And while you are having fun, she will be

developing her co-ordination and dexterity.

Skills developed: imagination, motor skills, social skills

What you'll need: just yourselves

Sit down facing your toddler. Start with simple actions like poking out your tongue, waving, reaching up high or

covering your face. Encourage your toddler to copy you. Now it's her turn. She will be fascinated to see you copy

her every move.

Let's play! 15-month-old

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Abstract artist

Your little one might be ready to start putting crayon to paper. Her scribbles may be illegible but this is the first

building block of learning to write, so help her out when she gets frustrated and shower her first attempts with

praise.

Skills developed: fine motor control, early writing skills

What you'll need: paper; masking tape; crayons

Start off by taping some big sheets of thick paper onto a table (so you don't end up with crayon all over your table)

and let your little one loose to doodle to her heart's content. Start her off with just a few primary colours so as not

to overwhelm her with choice. Name each colour as she picks up the crayon. Invest in washable crayons if you

can because her scribbling interest may spread to the walls. And don't forget to display her work when she has

finished. It will show her how much you value her efforts.

Junk orchestra

You don't need any fancy equipment to make an orchestra of your own. You can experiment with all sorts of

everyday objects from around the home to make music with. It's easy, very noisy and great fun!

Skills developed: imagination, gross motor control

What you'll need: cardboard tubes from toilet paper or kitchen towels; saucepans and lids; wooden spoons

Take your "instruments" and lay them out on the floor. Show your little one how to blow the trumpet (cardboard

tube) and bang the drums (saucepans for drums and wooden spoons for the sticks). And if your neighbours won't

complain, try clashing together cymbals in the shape of pan lids. It might not be Beethoven's Fifth but it is a lot of

fun.

Let's play! 16-month-old

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Sorting games

At about this time your little one will start being able to differentiate between colours, shapes and sizes. Sorting

objects into piles and groups will help him practise this skill. As his memory is still growing these repetitive tasks

will delight him each time.

Skills developed: motor control, sorting and building skills

What you'll need: household objects in different shapes and sizes

Start your little one off by suggesting you sort all the big objects into a pile. Now how about all the round objects?

Keep going using different shapes or colours as your theme. A good variant of this to ask your toddler to help you

sort your shopping: all the tins go in one pile and all the boxes in another.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

A nursery staple, this game has delighted children for years and is a great way to teach body parts.

Skills developed: learning body parts, singing

What you'll need: your singing voice

You can sing this song and do the actions either sitting down or standing up. Start slowly, then as your little one

gets the hang of it, you can begin to speed up. Remember to put both hands on the part of your body you are

singing about. Here are the words:

"Heads, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

And eyes and ears and mouth and nose

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes."