With your baby’s mind growing so fast during their early formative years, it is natural to want even their playtime to be educational. Here are some fun games to play with your baby that will aid them in their development.
Music
It doesn’t matter what age you are, everyone loves music. Let your little one experiment with different sounds by playing kid-friendly musical instruments. You most likely already have a rattle, so why not purchase a mini-drum or keyboard? And try not to worry too much about the loud noise.
Copy Cat
Place your baby in front of a mirror. Let them crawl up to it and touch it. Play copy-cat with them, getting them to do certain movements and letting them watch as their reflection does the same.
Sing
Unless your baby is a child prodigy, it is highly unlikely they will be able to sing themselves. Sing to your baby and let them make noises along with you. Provide something visual as well. This can be dancing, clapping, or just letting them wiggle on the floor.
Name Game
Play a game of naming the parts of the body. Say the names as you touch their feet, belly, arms, fingers, and so on. Repetition is key, and it is a very close bonding time. Make sure to use the proper names even if they can’t say them yet.
Peekaboo
You would be surprised how beneficial a game of peekaboo can be. Eye contact can help with facial recognition, displaying and understanding emotions, and helps to create a strong bond. This game also lets them begin to understand cause and effect, along with permanent and temporary states. They might not fully grasp the concepts yet, but their minds are taking it all in and working on it.
Patty-cake
This game helps your baby develop their hand-eye co-ordination. They can start to distinguish patterns and experiment with how they move their arms and body. Pair this game with a fun and educational rhyme!
Clean-up
Yes, even getting your baby to help you clean will enhance their development. This doesn’t mean sending them into the bathroom to scrub the toilet, but working with them to put their toys back in a proper place can teach responsibility and how items can be sorted into categories.
Pets
Growing-up with a pet is not only a lot of fun, but your child can forge new skills as they forge their friendship. Be with them as they play age-appropriate games like fetch. Teach them about how to manoeuvre their bodies so they can ‘friendly-pat’ their pet. Find out how to include them in caring for the pet at www.catlittlersource.com.
All children mature and grow at different rates, so don’t worry if they are more receptive to one game than another. Provide positive reinforcement for their attempts, praising them for trying but still correcting them.
Jen Brenner (C)
