Playing with Your Baby: A Key to Their Development

Play with your baby—such play promotes physical, emotional, and social development in the baby and is very rewarding for both of you. Watching their facial expressions alter from puzzlement to delight can be very satisfying, and your baby gets to spend precious time with the most essential person in their life, learning all the while.

When you play together, you’re not just entertaining your baby; you’re teaching them about sounds, rhythm, numbers, and concepts like object permanence. They also develop basic coordination and language skills during playtime.

Nursery games are an excellent way to entertain your little one while providing them with valuable skills. These timeless games offer cost-free, guaranteed fun for both you and your baby.

Pop Goes the Weasel

With your baby seated in your lap, sing: “Half a pound of tuppenny rice, Half a pound of treacle. That’s the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel.” Bounce your baby gently when you sing the word “Pop!” Repeat a few rounds, pausing at “Pop!” and your baby will start to bounce themselves. This game helps them learn about repetition.

Peekaboo

Cover your face with a blanket and say, “Where’s mummy?” Then uncover your face and say, “Peekaboo!” You can use anything from a book to a dupatta. Repeat this game over and over. Babies love it, and you’re teaching them about object permanence. Around eight months, they begin to understand that objects and people still exist even when out of sight.

So Big

Point to your baby and ask, “How big is baby?” then help them spread their arms wide and say, “So big!” Point to other objects and repeat the game. This physical play also helps them become aware of object sizes.

Counting Fun

Using their fingers as counters, sing: “One, two, three, four, five, once I caught a fish alive, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, then I let it go again! Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on my right!” This game provides tactile contact and introduces them to counting and rhyming.

Textured Fun

Join various fabrics to make a long scarf, then stuff it into an empty foil or cling wrap roll, leaving a short end poking out. Your baby will enjoy pulling the scarf from the container and helping you stuff it back in again. This game teaches them about different textures and improves hand-eye coordination.

Playing with your baby not only strengthens your bond but also fosters essential developmental skills. Embrace these playful moments, knowing you’re contributing to their growth and having fun together.