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Parenting Press®June 24, 2006
Easy Learning Games to Play with Your Baby
Tip—Get in the habit of taking 5–7 minutes at various times throughout the day to sit down and play a quick game with your baby.
Much has been written about the value of play in early childhood. Perhaps at no age is it more important than during the first two years of life. Play is how an infant and toddler explore and learn about the world. The stimulation she gets from exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and caregivers contribute heavily to brain development. The more you take time to play with your baby, the more he will learn, develop, and grow. And heck, it’s fun for you too.
Tools—Lots of common activities you do spontaneously with your baby actually provide important learning opportunities and practice. You don’t have to go out and research infant development to play with your baby and help her learn (although if you’re inspired to do so, by all means, go for it). The following are two simple games you can easily do with your child throughout the day—for as long as she maintains attention. If she gets fussy or wants to stop, let her. These games are excerpted from my book, Peekaboo . . . and Other Games to Play with Your Baby.
Drop and Dump Game
This is a kind of hide-and-seek game for babies. I’ll bet you’ve played it before with him. You will need an empty oatmeal container and a few differently-colored blocks. Put the blocks in the oatmeal container. Show your baby the container or wait for him to find it. Watch how he finds the blocks inside and dumps them out. Does he hold and look at them and then put one or two back in the box? Let him drop the blocks in and dump them out for as long as he likes. He will probably like dumping best.
Putting the blocks in the container and then dumping them back out helps him learn that the blocks still exist even when they are out of sight.
Copy Cat Game
This game helps your baby start to learn to follow directions and encourages him to listen. You will need a teddy bear, a ball, and a hat. Sit down with your baby. Place the items in front of him, left to right. Pick up the bear. Hug it. Say, “Mommy hugs the teddy bear.” Tell your baby to hug the bear. If he does it, clap and smile. Say, “Baby hugs the bear!” If he doesn’t, hug the bear again. Encourage him to copy you. Continue this until he loses interest.
Pick up the ball. Roll it to your baby. Say, “Mommy rolls the ball.” Show your baby how to roll it back to you. Say, “Baby rolls the ball.” Continue until he loses interest.
Put the hat on your head. Say, “Mommy puts the hat on her head.” Show your baby how to put it on his head. Say, “Baby puts the hat on his head!” Smile and clap each time he copies you. He will learn faster if you praise him.
You’ll find more practical tips you can use right now in Peekaboo . . . and Other Games to Play with Your Baby by Shari Steelsmith.
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