Activities for Babies

Early ConversationsTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials None Directions Babies are fascinated with faces and voices, and your first communications are through the sounds you make and the nearness of your face. It doesn't matter what you say, as long a...

Unwrap ItTime 10 to 15 minutes Materials Empty box wrapped in paper Directions Babies love to unwrap boxes, and you can cater to that joyful activity by wrapping a few to be torn open. Extensions Enclose small favorite belongings like blankets,...

Can You Hear Me?Time 5 to 10 minutes Materials Large pieces of furniture to hide behind Directions In this variation of peekaboo, you hide behind a piece of furniture. Call your baby by name, grabbing their attention before you pop out. Extension...

Touch TourTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Safe common household items Directions Treat your baby to a bird's eye view of the world and a chance to touch things too high to reach. Carry your baby around at your eye level and name each object as yo...

Buzzy BeeTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials None Directions Communications can be fun when they are silly. While holding your baby on your lap, move your fingers around in the air and make a buzzing sound. Make thebuzzy bee land on your baby's tummy ...

Texture CrawlTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Safe articles with interesting textures, such as a rubber floor mat, carpet samples, silk scarves, chenille rug, bubble wrap, a piece of corduroy, velvet, satin, sticky side of a piece of contact paper,...

Water PlayTime 30 minutes Materials Wading or plastic tub with a few inches of waterWaterplay equipment such as empty squeeze bottles, plastic cups, boats, funnels, balls, floating objects, plant sprayer, sponge or dish rag, etc. Directions Babie...

Sticky FunTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Duct tapeHand-sized objectsA sheet of contact paper about 2 feet long Directions This activity will surprise and mystify your baby. Lay the contact paper out on the floor sticky-side up and tape it down ar...

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...