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Playing Games with Your Baby
There are games that help your baby to express himself - games of self discovery which help the child to recognize himself in the environment. It is also very important as soon as possible to turn a game into knowledge for your child could discover knew things, find solutions in the simple playing situations and would be explained the things of the world he so much eager to know. The great part are games on exploration - games for an expanding world - you child investigates all the objects around him and tries to reach extend and move all the time. There are also games that test the senses - touch, see and hear. Don't forget that all these developmental games can be played not only in the safety of the house but also outdoors. A variety of outdoor experiences help children understand the wonders of the natural world. Here is the list of useful games to play with your child: Self Discovery Games Ball games Ball play is a great activity for babies -- long before they can throw & catch. As they become aware of their feet it's also the ideal time to introduce the idea of kicking a ball. Can't you see? It's me! Young babies love to stare at their own reflections. Here are some simple games, involving mirrors and shiny surfaces, designed to capture your baby's attention. Finger puppets Finger puppets are perfect for entertaining a baby and can be made very quickly. They also travel well. Pop a few in your bag and you're ready to take the show on the road. Photo fun Activity cards made from family photos are a great entertainment. They not only engage your baby but also help them learn more about their world and the important people in it. Smiley toys New babies are just learning how to focus and see images clearly, so they really appreciate the strong contrast of black & white. Watch their response to the smiling faces activity cards. Tactile activity mat Stimulate your baby's growing sense of touch with a tactile activity mat made from textured fabrics. Baby's love to lie on it wearing only their nappy. It's a great craft project. The sensational bag Pack a bag with a collection of sense-stimulating playthings to take on car trips, visits to the doctor, restaurant outings - anytime your baby might appreciate some diversion. Toddlers like this too. Expanding World Games Baby basketball Store your baby's toy balls is in a plastic or wicker laundry basket and turn tidy-up time into an exciting game of baby basketball. Blowing bubbles Bubbles are great for children of all ages. With minor modifications, you can play bubble games with your child from birth up to pre-school age - and probably beyond. Bowling babies All you need are a few plastic water bottles, a big rubber ball and you're ready to bowl. Your older baby or toddler will supply the enthusiasm! Coin banking A baby piggy bank is easy to make and just right for 6 to 12 month-olds. Your baby will love filling up their bank with large fake 'coins' and tipping them out again. Draw and paint Most children love painting and drawing. Here are some ways to support your child's creativity and incorporate drawing and painting into everyday life. Finger painting Most children love the feeling of finger painting and being allowed to be messy! Fortunately, it's easy to participate in this joy and take a few steps to keep the mess in check. Hammering board Hammering nails is a delightfully satisfying experience for a young child. It¿s also safe when your budding carpenter knocks golf tees into a polystyrene workboard. Indoor sandbox Most children love playing with sand outdoors. But what do you do when it's raining? Easy. Bring it inside and give your child the chance to dig, sift and excavate all year round. Kitchen music Inside your kitchen cupboard there's a band waiting to play! Disguised as pots and pans, these make a great noise when you and your child bang, clap, shake, strum and rattle them. Making a collage Creating a collage involves arranging and sticking various materials and treasures you've found on a flat surface. It's easy to do this at home. Obstacle course for crawlers Your baby is on the move now, with places to go and new things to see. Create an obstacle course that's both physically challenging and teaches what under, over and around mean. On top of the world With a partly deflated beach ball, you can make your baby feel on top of the world. Photo fun Activity cards made from family photos are a great entertainment. They not only engage your baby but also help them learn more about their world and the important people in it. Printing press Finding shapes to print and making patterns on paper are hugely satisfying and thrill most children. Best of all, it can all be done with materials you already have on hand. Ramp it up A ramp gives ball play a thrust babies and toddlers can't always provide on their own. Build a ramp yourself, or use the playground slide. Round or square, big or little Shapes fascinate small children and make great games. At this age, your child establishes the basics of geometry through the experience of identifying, sorting and matching shapes. Shape sorter Sorting and matching basic geometric shapes and fitting them into corresponding holes is a precursor to more complex puzzles your child will enjoy later. Make your own shape sorter. Tea party It's time for tea! A pretend tea party gives children a chance to imitate the adult behaviour they observe at home and incorporate it into their play. Games That Test the Senses Finger puppets Finger puppets are perfect for entertaining a baby and can be made very quickly. They also travel well. Pop a few in your bag and you're ready to take the show on the road. Smiley toys New babies are just learning how to focus and see images clearly, so they really appreciate the strong contrast of black & white. Watch their response to the smiling faces activity cards. Tactile activity mat Stimulate your baby's growing sense of touch with a tactile activity mat made from textured fabrics. Baby's love to lie on it wearing only their nappy. It's a great craft project. The sensational bag Pack a bag with a collection of sense-stimulating playthings to take on car trips, visits to the doctor, restaurant outings - anytime your baby might appreciate some diversion. Toddlers like this too. Turning Play into Knowledge Baby talk Babies learn to talk by listening, exploring and responding to the sounds of the world around them. Here are some ways to get your child chatting. Box of delights When it comes to imaginative play little beats the humble cardboard box. It can be anything your child wants it to be - car, train, cooker, sink, playhouse, even a cave for teddy. Building box blocks Young children love building blocks, because they can be anything a child wants them to be. Classic wooden blocks are a good investment but you can also use ordinary cardboard boxes. Car wash Let your child do some real work. Children love copying adults and washing a car is the ideal job because it involves warm water, a sponge and loads of bubbles. Coin banking A baby piggy bank is easy to make and just right for 6 to 12 month-olds. Your baby will love filling up their bank with large fake 'coins' and tipping them out again. Doing chores Children enjoy opportunities to take on the real-life tasks they see being performed around them every day. Here's an activity that turns chores into fun. Dolly bath Put your child in charge and let them bath a doll. They'll enjoy the familiar experience -- bath time -- but in a new role as parent. Fun fingers & action rhythms Rhymes can be comforting and also a chance for older children to practice their finger skills by acting out little scenes as you sing. Sing or chant anytime, anywhere. Ice castle Cool down on a hot summer's day by making an ice castle. Your child can build it any way they want and it makes a great activity for a summer birthday party. Matching game Letters and numbers are the basic building blocks of writing and reading - but they can also be fun. Games based around letters and numbers are a great way to learn. Mini water worlds Create the Arctic or the Tropics in miniature and let your child lead the exploration of these new lands. Constructing tiny eco-worlds can engage your child in hours of fantasy play. Numbers play Numbers are fun and the world is full of interesting things to count. Painting with water There is some great fun to be had with a big brush and bucket of water. This task is fun and lets your child know that participating in real work is important. Picture book Why not create a very special picture book with your child? Besides being fun, it fosters language skills as you pore over the pages and talk about what you see. Playing house Many children at this age are actively enjoying the world of make-believe. Help set the stage for imaginative play by creating a small house for them to move into. Printing press Finding shapes to print and making patterns on paper are hugely satisfying and thrill most children. Best of all, it can all be done with materials you already have on hand. Puddle play Only ducklings may enjoy a good shower of rain more than small children. When it pours, seize the day in all its wetness and take advantage of the opportunities for fun it presents. Sink or float Encourage a young scientist by exploring a concept like buoyancy. Let your child try to sail different objects across a miniature pond to discover which sink and which float. Sticky fishy Children need a variety of opportunities to learn about letters and numbers. With magnetic fishing your child learns by fishing for symbols they recognise. Water the garden The garden is a wonderful place for your child to discover how to look after living things and learn the basics of life - such as what plants need in order to grow. What number? Learning to recognise numbers takes practice. Luckily, this kind of practice is as much fun as a treasure hunt. Wind toys A variety of outdoor experiences help children understand the wonders of the natural world. On a breezy day, capture the wind with a dazzling 'wind wand', a kite or bubbles.
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