20 Simple [at home] Activities to do with your Baby

If you're like me, then you are always trying to find new ways to stimulate your baby as well as help them grow and develop. My doctor gave me this list and thought I would share. They are simple, yet stimulating ideas that you can do with baby at home.



[Activities for Babies 8-12 months]

[1] Let your baby feed himself. This gives your baby practice picking up small objects [cereal, cooked peas] and also gives him experience with textures in his hand and mouth.

[2] Put toys on a sofa or sturdy table so that your baby can practice standing while playing with the toys.

[3] Turn on a radio or stereo. Hold your baby in a standing position and let your baby bounce and dance. If your baby can stand with little support, hold her like a dance partner.

[4] Make a simple puzzle for your baby by putting blocks or ping-pong balls inside a muffin pan or egg carton.

[5] Your baby will be interested in banging objects to make noise. Give your baby blocks to bang, rattles to shake, or wooden spoons to bang on containers. Show your baby how to bang objects together.

[6] Find a big box that your baby can crawl in and out of. Stay close by and talk to your baby about what she is doing. "You went in! Now you are out"

[7] Play imitations games like peek-a-boo and SO big. show pleasure at your baby's imitations of movement and sounds. Babies enjoy playing the same games over and over.

[8] You can make a simple toy by cutting a round hole in the plastic lid of a coffee can. Give your baby wooden clothes pins or ping-pong balls to drop inside.

[9] A good pastime is putting objects in and out of containers. Give your baby plastic containers with large beads or blocks. Your baby may enjoy putting socks in and out of the sock drawer or small cartons [like Jello-O, tuna or soup cans] on and off shelves.

[10] Read baby books or colorful magazines by pointing and telling your baby what is in the picture. Let your baby pat pictures in the book.

[11] Let your baby play with plastic measuring cups, cups with handles, sieves and strainers, sponges and balls that float in the bathtub. Bath time is a great learning time.

[12] Say "hi" and wave when entering a room with your baby. Encourage your baby to imitate. Help your baby wave to greet others. Waving "hi" and "bye" are early gestures.

[13] Mirrors are exciting at this age. Let your baby pat and poke at herself in the mirror. Smile an make faces together in the mirror.

[14] Play hide-and-seek games with objects. Let your baby see you hide an object under a blanket, diaper, or pillow. If your baby doesn't uncover the object, just cover part of it. Help your baby find the object.

[15] Play pat-a-cake with your baby. Clap his hands together or take turns. Wait and see if your baby signals you to start the game again. try the game using blocks or spoons to clap and bang with.

[16] Let your baby make choices. Offer two toys or food and see which your baby chooses. Encourage your baby to reach or point to the chosen object. Babies have definite likes and dislikes!

[17] Your baby will begin using his index fingers to poke. Let your baby poke at a play telephone or busy box. Your baby will want to poke at faces. Name the body parts as your baby touches your face.

[18] Play ball games. Roll a ball to your baby. Help your baby or have a partner help him roll the ball back to you. Your baby may even throw the ball, so beach balls or Nerf balls are great for this game.

[19] Your baby will play more with different sounds like "la-la" or "da-da". Copy the sounds your baby makes. Add a new one and see if your baby tries it too. Enjoy your baby's early attempts at talking.

[20] New places and people are good experiences for your baby, but these can be frightening. Let your baby watch and listen and move at her own speed. Go slowly. Your baby will tell you when she is ready for more.

[Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, Squires & Brinker, 2009]