Baby: Activities To Do Together
A side note: When you read "age appropriate" please keep in mind that usually means it is the age to START this activity. Most activities, once begun, can continue until your child is bored with them (months to YEARS later). Even if they are bored with them, reintroduce the same thing a few months later and your child will be interested again.
Newborn:
Stimulate babies vision with bold patterns on sheets and blankets that are hung where baby can see them. I placed baby on floor and blankets draped on the couch.
Cuddle, sing, and talk to your baby while you are feeding them.
Shake a rattle gently on one side of babies head. They eventually will turn towards the noise.
Place black and white patterned objects on side of crib for baby to look at.
Hang a wind chime securely above baby so they can look at it and listen to it.
Hold your baby on your left side, they will be comforted by your heart beat.
Use baby massage. You need oil (olive is good and not toxic if baby puts hands in mouth), calming music, and baby. Classes are offered for this and numerous books have been written on the correct techniques. I strongly believe in baby massage.
Read your baby a book. Memorize a book. This was a life saver when my babies were crying. I could recite a book and talk to them in a soothing tone even when I felt tense about their crying.
Hold baby on your shoulder so they can see as you walk around.
Play music for baby to listen to. Any music will do. Sing along.
Skin to skin time is very important for newborns and is a tactile experience.
Rock in a rocking chair. Take time to relax with you and your new little one.
Put your babies head on your knees and their feet near your tummy, support their heads and talk to them.
Newborns become overstimulated easily. The baby whisperer book has EXCELLENT charts to help you read your babies body language.
Ok Mom and Dads, it is a big job to have this new little baby! Thanks for getting to my site and I hope you have wonderful times together!
1-3 Month Olds
-remember to do all the previous activities as well. Add on but don't think they are "too old" for anything.
Talk to your baby and then STOP TALKING. Both my babies learned to respond with sounds during this time. As soon as baby responds verbally, talk again. Yes, teaching the art of conversation begins early...or is it that you are learning to listen to them? I believe, you are learning to listen to them.
Talk and sing to your baby as you do all your household chores. Tell them what you are doing and the names of everything. Do this for the next several years!
Hang pictures and objects near above and next to your changing table. Change them every once in awhile. Tell you baby about them as you change their diaper or let them get involved looking at them with out you.
Get small samples of different material (Fabric). Stroke your babies head and body with fur, silk, velvet, wool, satin, bumpy, fuzzy, smooth. This helps develop the sense of touch.
Next try this with feathers!
Get your baby booties with bells and rattles on them. They can shake their own feet and listen to the noise. Can they discover they have control over this noise?
Lay on a blanket in semi dark. Use a flashlight on the ceiling and slowly move the light around.
Mimic your babies sounds and facial expressions like a mirror. Then stick out your tongue. Did they mimic you? Raise your eyebrows, smile, frown.
Get an unbreakable mirror and let baby look at themselves.
Roll up a bath towel and lay baby on it facing down. Gently roll baby back and forth for a soothing rock and tummy time.
Hug, kiss, cuddle your baby endlessly.
Whisper your babies name in their ear until they turn their head.
Dance to the rhythm of the music.
Talk to your baby using a puppet.
Record your babies sounds and play it back to them.
Hang a different mobile above their crib.
Place rattle in babies hands. Can they hold it? Can they shake it?
Tummy Time! For short periods allow your baby time to move their arms and legs while on their tummy. Lay down facing your baby and have a chat or place toys to look at in front of them. I liked to place books propped open there.
Lay baby on their back on a blanket and blow bubbles around baby, avoid their face.
Go outside and tell your baby all about the world. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells to them. Name everything!
Get a helium air balloon with a weight. Pull the balloon down and let it float back up. Gently knock balloon and watch it move back and forth. This one is entertaining for months!
4-6months
-remember to do all the previous activities as well. Add on but don't think they are "too old" for anything.
Sit baby in your lap and read them stories. Can they turn the pages??
Let baby look out the window. Name everything and tell them what is going on.
Fill an empty cereal box half way with rice or beans. Tape the box shut and let baby kick it over. Redo over and over.
Stand in front of the mirror holding baby to see their own reflection.
Blow through a straw at babies head and arms. Do they giggle?
Slowly wiggle and move your fingers in front of baby. Do they try to grasp it?
Do you have a fish tank for baby to watch?
Play peek-a-boo. Say "Where is ________?" and remove blanket quickly.
Have a baby play date.
Bring out your spice rack and let baby smell each one.
Place a toy on a towel. Show baby how to pull the towel towards them and get the toy.
Let baby try to hit a beach ball. Could they move it? Cheer them on!
6 - 9 months
Place a bird feeder right outside your window. Place your baby so they can watch.
It's time to play with gravity! Show them how to drop toys and watch them watch the toy fall. Watch your "Little Newton" repeat the experiment a million times.
Go on a sound walk. Things you can listen to; dishwasher, microwave, noisy car, radio, popcorn popper, toilet, vacuum, bells, drums, piano, timer, the list is endless. Push the buttons and explore!
At times when baby is actively involved in exploring their own toys, try to read while they can see. It is important that your child sees you as a reader.
Read to your child at least 15 minutes every day.
Make a picture album of people you know. Flip through the album and see if baby recognizes familiar faces. Tell them about these people.
Tickle game. Tell them, "I'm going to tickle your neck." "I'm going to tickle your tummy." "I'm going to tickle your knee." This is a great way to teach them body parts.
Hide a toy in your shirt pocket and see if your baby will look for it.
Put cheerios on their tray at meal times to practice their ability to grasp. My friend noted that having a "lip" on the tray is very valuable to help with this skill. (If you don't the cheerios will be pushed right off the table or tray.)
Add funnels and scoops to bath time play. I loved the little scoops from formula containers. If you breast feed exclusively ask a friend or day-care for theirs. They are small and easy to handle.
Play Peek a Boo and easy Hide And Seek games. Simply hide behind something and call their name until they look for you.
Put a blanket over yourself and see if they will pull it off your head. Put a blanket over their head and see if they will pull it off.
Tell your baby the alphabet in phonic sounds. A is ahh etc. If you don't know the sounds try a leap from video from the library. See which sounds they can repeat!
Use an empty tissue box to put toys in and let your baby explore how to get them out.
Make a home-made drum or play pots and pans.
Give your child a hand bell to ring and play with.
Roll a ball to your baby. See if they can roll it back. See how long you can roll it back and forth.
Make your child a special cabinet or drawer in the kitchen that has toys especially for them. Allow them to open and close this drawer or cabinet to their hearts content.
Newborn:
Stimulate babies vision with bold patterns on sheets and blankets that are hung where baby can see them. I placed baby on floor and blankets draped on the couch.
Cuddle, sing, and talk to your baby while you are feeding them.
Shake a rattle gently on one side of babies head. They eventually will turn towards the noise.
Place black and white patterned objects on side of crib for baby to look at.
Hang a wind chime securely above baby so they can look at it and listen to it.
Hold your baby on your left side, they will be comforted by your heart beat.
Use baby massage. You need oil (olive is good and not toxic if baby puts hands in mouth), calming music, and baby. Classes are offered for this and numerous books have been written on the correct techniques. I strongly believe in baby massage.
Read your baby a book. Memorize a book. This was a life saver when my babies were crying. I could recite a book and talk to them in a soothing tone even when I felt tense about their crying.
Hold baby on your shoulder so they can see as you walk around.
Play music for baby to listen to. Any music will do. Sing along.
Skin to skin time is very important for newborns and is a tactile experience.
Rock in a rocking chair. Take time to relax with you and your new little one.
Put your babies head on your knees and their feet near your tummy, support their heads and talk to them.
Newborns become overstimulated easily. The baby whisperer book has EXCELLENT charts to help you read your babies body language.
Ok Mom and Dads, it is a big job to have this new little baby! Thanks for getting to my site and I hope you have wonderful times together!
1-3 Month Olds
-remember to do all the previous activities as well. Add on but don't think they are "too old" for anything.
Talk to your baby and then STOP TALKING. Both my babies learned to respond with sounds during this time. As soon as baby responds verbally, talk again. Yes, teaching the art of conversation begins early...or is it that you are learning to listen to them? I believe, you are learning to listen to them.
Talk and sing to your baby as you do all your household chores. Tell them what you are doing and the names of everything. Do this for the next several years!
Hang pictures and objects near above and next to your changing table. Change them every once in awhile. Tell you baby about them as you change their diaper or let them get involved looking at them with out you.
Get small samples of different material (Fabric). Stroke your babies head and body with fur, silk, velvet, wool, satin, bumpy, fuzzy, smooth. This helps develop the sense of touch.
Next try this with feathers!
Get your baby booties with bells and rattles on them. They can shake their own feet and listen to the noise. Can they discover they have control over this noise?
Lay on a blanket in semi dark. Use a flashlight on the ceiling and slowly move the light around.
Mimic your babies sounds and facial expressions like a mirror. Then stick out your tongue. Did they mimic you? Raise your eyebrows, smile, frown.
Get an unbreakable mirror and let baby look at themselves.
Roll up a bath towel and lay baby on it facing down. Gently roll baby back and forth for a soothing rock and tummy time.
Hug, kiss, cuddle your baby endlessly.
Whisper your babies name in their ear until they turn their head.
Dance to the rhythm of the music.
Talk to your baby using a puppet.
Record your babies sounds and play it back to them.
Hang a different mobile above their crib.
Place rattle in babies hands. Can they hold it? Can they shake it?
Tummy Time! For short periods allow your baby time to move their arms and legs while on their tummy. Lay down facing your baby and have a chat or place toys to look at in front of them. I liked to place books propped open there.
Lay baby on their back on a blanket and blow bubbles around baby, avoid their face.
Go outside and tell your baby all about the world. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells to them. Name everything!
Get a helium air balloon with a weight. Pull the balloon down and let it float back up. Gently knock balloon and watch it move back and forth. This one is entertaining for months!
4-6months
-remember to do all the previous activities as well. Add on but don't think they are "too old" for anything.
Sit baby in your lap and read them stories. Can they turn the pages??
Let baby look out the window. Name everything and tell them what is going on.
Fill an empty cereal box half way with rice or beans. Tape the box shut and let baby kick it over. Redo over and over.
Stand in front of the mirror holding baby to see their own reflection.
Blow through a straw at babies head and arms. Do they giggle?
Slowly wiggle and move your fingers in front of baby. Do they try to grasp it?
Do you have a fish tank for baby to watch?
Play peek-a-boo. Say "Where is ________?" and remove blanket quickly.
Have a baby play date.
Bring out your spice rack and let baby smell each one.
Place a toy on a towel. Show baby how to pull the towel towards them and get the toy.
Let baby try to hit a beach ball. Could they move it? Cheer them on!
6 - 9 months
Place a bird feeder right outside your window. Place your baby so they can watch.
It's time to play with gravity! Show them how to drop toys and watch them watch the toy fall. Watch your "Little Newton" repeat the experiment a million times.
Go on a sound walk. Things you can listen to; dishwasher, microwave, noisy car, radio, popcorn popper, toilet, vacuum, bells, drums, piano, timer, the list is endless. Push the buttons and explore!
At times when baby is actively involved in exploring their own toys, try to read while they can see. It is important that your child sees you as a reader.
Read to your child at least 15 minutes every day.
Make a picture album of people you know. Flip through the album and see if baby recognizes familiar faces. Tell them about these people.
Tickle game. Tell them, "I'm going to tickle your neck." "I'm going to tickle your tummy." "I'm going to tickle your knee." This is a great way to teach them body parts.
Hide a toy in your shirt pocket and see if your baby will look for it.
Put cheerios on their tray at meal times to practice their ability to grasp. My friend noted that having a "lip" on the tray is very valuable to help with this skill. (If you don't the cheerios will be pushed right off the table or tray.)
Add funnels and scoops to bath time play. I loved the little scoops from formula containers. If you breast feed exclusively ask a friend or day-care for theirs. They are small and easy to handle.
Play Peek a Boo and easy Hide And Seek games. Simply hide behind something and call their name until they look for you.
Put a blanket over yourself and see if they will pull it off your head. Put a blanket over their head and see if they will pull it off.
Tell your baby the alphabet in phonic sounds. A is ahh etc. If you don't know the sounds try a leap from video from the library. See which sounds they can repeat!
Use an empty tissue box to put toys in and let your baby explore how to get them out.
Make a home-made drum or play pots and pans.
Give your child a hand bell to ring and play with.
Roll a ball to your baby. See if they can roll it back. See how long you can roll it back and forth.
Make your child a special cabinet or drawer in the kitchen that has toys especially for them. Allow them to open and close this drawer or cabinet to their hearts content.
