Baby Games

Yesterday Allen's developmental teacher was here~ once again he is developing at just a little above average! YAY!

As we discussed where he is at, what he is doing, starting to do and isn't doing yet she had some ideas for games to play~

Peek-a-boo with a twist

Blanket

Toys Baby Likes

Might introduce household items such as a bowl, spoon, cup, etc.

The game starts of with traditional peek-a-boo using a blanket between baby and peek-a-boo partner. By now this is a familiar game for baby. Then the twist...

take one of baby's favorite toys or introduce new items to baby. Hide the item under the blanket. Ask Baby where the item is~ if it is a new item keep saying the word for the item. For example if you are introducing the sippy cup~ show baby the sippy, tell baby what it is, then put the sippy down and cover it with the blanket. Ask baby where the sippy is. Then peek-a-boo there is the sippy as you pull off the blanket. You want to repeat the word of the time several times during the game.

This does dual learning~ baby is learning things don't just disappear and begins to reason where things go when out of sight AND because you are repeating the word of the object over and over there is language development and word to object recognition beginning. This is a fun game for baby.

Then balancing games to help baby sit better (Allen is sitting but is still very top heavy and loses his balance easily)

One was to sit baby on your knee, grasp both hands and then gently and slowly bounce and move your leg around so baby is having to work at balancing a bit. As baby gets a little better at this, start releasing one hand at a time so that baby is able to use one arm to balance along with the grasp on your hand. Singing little songs to baby while he is playing the balancing game and moving your leg to the rhythm can also help him learn a bit about rhythm and predictability.

There was also the suggestion of sitting baby up on the floor, sit in front of him with a book. Read the book while he is sitting but also being ready to catch him if he tips over. The book may hekp keep his attention and not have him so courious about everything else he can see and losing balance to examine whatever it is that has caught his attention.

Of course continuing to praise and make much ado about everything is key.

Allen is an amazing little guy and I am so blessed to be his Mommy!