Activities for Babies

Silly StuffTime 5 minutes Materials Common household items Directions To encourage the development of humor, notice what your baby finds funny and repeat it.Try shaking your head and talking in a funny voice. Generally, anything out of the ordina...

IcebergsTime 15 to 20 minutes Materials Empty half-gallon milk cartonHand-sized plastic objectsShallow baking dish Directions This puzzling activity can provide interest on and off for up to an hour. Put some small plastic objects into an empty m...

Pillow FunTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Small pile of pillows Directions This activity needs little more than your encouragement to provide giggles and smiles. Pile the pillows in the middle of the floor and put your baby on top of them.Fluff th...

Echo ExcitementTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials MailboxDirections While you are out on a walk, stop at your mailbox, lift up your baby, and as you open the lid, shout inside. The echo is terrific and will bring surprised looks and more calling and...

Wheelbarrow FunTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials None Directions You can help your baby gain upper body strength by gently lifting the legs while she is in the tummy position, encouraging her to move forward with the hands, if interested. This shou...

Change ItTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Cupboard with safe items that can be removed Directions To engender curiosity and safe exploration, make it a habit to put heavy breakable items in overhead cabinets and safe objects in the lower ones and e...

Tummy TimeTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials None Directions Playing from the tummy position allows for a different view of the world. Although it is recommended that babies sleep on their backs as a precaution against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndr...

Pile Them HighTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Flat empty boxes from shoes, cereal, etc. Directions Deciding where to place things makes this activity fun and is an early lesson in balancing. Show your baby how to stack the boxes and then hand the...

On a RollTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Small baby blanket Directions Babies learn to roll over on their own and don't need to be taught, but you can help to strengthen the muscles involved by laying your baby on her side and providing support fr...

Floating CatchTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Variety of lightweight scarves of different colors and patterns Directions As you sit on the floor together, throw a scarf into the air and catch it in your arms as it floats back down.Throw another sc...

Blow a KissTime 5 minutes Materials None Directions You can teach your baby to give a gift of love as you blow a kiss to her and encourage copying blowing a kiss by spreading open your arms and saying, "Blow me a kiss." Extensions Help your bab...

Beanbag TossTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Large laundry basketPlastic sandwich bags or old socksPackage of dry beans Directions Physical games encourage decision making about when and how to move the body. Tossing objects at a target can give y...

Calm DownTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials None Directions To get your child to listen to you, get down on their eye level and speak slowly while making eye contact. Keep what you have to say simple and short. Extensions The next time you are shop...

That Makes ThreeTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials 3 medium-sized items such as a washrag, yarn ball, small cup, or set of keys Directions Hand control is still developing, but with this activity you throw in decision making as well. Sit on the floo...