Developmental Playtime Activities for Babies
What Games to Play with Baby Throughout His First Year
Oct 21, 2008
Each day brings new and exciting things for a young baby. Depending on where your child is developmentally will effect what toys and games are appropriate to play. Remember that all babies develop at their own unique pace.
Birth to Three Month Activities
For the first three months of life, babies need a lot of time to sleep and will eat frequently. Things you can do with baby include rocking them, holding them, singing and talking to them. Baby will enjoy watching your face as you talk, and will be fascinated with watching simple things including mobiles hung from their crib.
Three to Six Month Activities
As your baby grows and develops through the three to six month period, continue to talk about anything and everything. Baby will enjoy you making faces and blowing raspberries on her belly. Be sure to have tummy time every day, to allow her to strengthen her neck and back muscles. Give her opportunity to kick her legs, and place brightly colored toys within reach to entice her to reach for them.
Read to your baby every day. It is also a good idea to introduce playpen time with a selection of toys to allow baby to learn how to play independently. Allow your baby to play with toys that respond to her efforts to hit and move the toy.
Six to Nine Month Activities
Baby will continue to enjoy having you talk to her and will love to look at you. Allow time for play on the floor with a selection of toys. Provide small rattles and other toys for baby to grab, shake and bang around. Play games to teach baby different parts of his body. For example, point to baby’s nose and say “here is baby’s nose!” then point to your nose and say “here is mommy’s nose!”
Making funny noises and playing peek-a-boo or saying “ahh boo” as you bring your face quickly to baby should thrill her and reward you with smiles and laughter. Baby may also learn to drop things from her highchair in order to get you to pick it up again.
Allow for opportunities for baby to pull up on things, and entice baby with toys to encourage crawling and cruising. Pull baby to her feet and help her “walk” to help strengthen her leg muscles.
Nine to Twelve Month Activities
As baby gets older, consider allowing her to have a kitchen cupboard of her own to open and shut the door. Allow her to bang on pots with spoons, and have a basket of toys for her to choose from and play with. Sing silly songs and repeat phrases for baby to attempt to copy. Have time for baby to sit and look at books, as well as time where you read books to her each day. Play simple games of hide and seek, and play together on the floor. Continue to talk to her about what you see, what color things are and what makes different sounds
There are so many toys on the market for babies, so be sure to not over stimulate your baby with too many choices. As your baby grows and develops, your play will grow and develop as well. Be creative and come up with your own games and toys to play with your baby.
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