One of the perks of being an at-home mama is the potential
for all-day play. You may think that babies can’t do much in the playtime
department, but there’s plenty of play to be had! Check out a few ideas below,
inspired by the book Brain Games for Your Child: Over 200 Fun Games to Play
by Robert Fisher.
1. Make music
Now that baby is likely sitting up, it’s the perfect time to
introduce him to the classic pot drum. The perfect distraction for when you
have to cook (or basically do anything around the house), open up your pot and
pan cabinet to the next great rock and roll drummer: your baby. Encourage him
to “make music” with everything around him – drums being the obvious first
step. Point out how different object make different sounds – hit a pan with a
wooden spoon, then the pan lid, and then the floor. Music is everywhere!
2. Get touchy-feely
Introduce her to different textures by letting her touch
everything (safely, of course). Have her grab a handful of sand, bread dough,
or corduroy pants; pet a dog, stroke a feather, or play with ice cubes. Open
her eyes to touching and feeling the world around her – don’t forget to
identify every object she touches and reiterate how it feels: hard, rough, wet,
furry, etc.
3. Baby got rhythm
Rhythm is a natural part of life, ingrained in us when we
heard our mother’s heartbeats while we were inside cookin’. After birth, babies
love to be rocked or sung to rhythmically. Continue this rhythm nation by
singing or dancing with him to rhythmic music – at seven months he’ll be more
interested when you add actions to rhythmic rhymes, think “Wheels on the Bus”
and “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.” Rhythm is a dancer, and babies love
to dance.
4. Cawfee tawk
Your baby is the perfect listener and budding
conversationalist, especially now as she continues to find her own voice. Talk
to her all day – point out names of things in her bedroom, explain every
step as you do the laundry or make lunch. Make a game of bath time or a diaper change
by pointing out different body parts with an extra tickle or kiss. “Chin –
tickle tickle!” or “Ear!” accompanied by a big kiss.
5. Counting games
Count EVERYTHING out loud. Literally. Count his legs when
you put each one into his pants. Count the ingredients as you cook. Count the
number of soup cans you add to your grocery cart. Bonus points if you turn the
counting fun into a song – “One, two socks in your shoe. One nose and two eyes
of blue.” (Rhyming optional. But encouraged.)
