games that stimulate baby's mind

You brought your little one from hospital. Waited so long for the first feeding, baths, naps, smiles and now it’s time for first game with your child. Thanks to games you introduce to baby, you will help develop memory, orientation and concentration. Most important you will spend quality time and discover the little personality of your baby.

With time the change you will see in child, will amaze you. It’s hard to believe how quickly from not knowing anything will your child learn and you will be a teacher for most of the time. The best give you can give to a baby.

Here are some ideas of games appropriate to child’s age:

(0-3 months)

- Wind Bells:

Hearing is one of the first senses that develop fully in a small child. Good idea would be placing wind bells in window or the play area. Best would be soft ones. Holding your baby, walk closer to bells and gently touch them, so they won’t scare your baby. Observe how child reacts, if seems interested (turning head toward sound, looking around where the sound is coming from) do it again. Try to explain what you doing and where that sounds comes from. Don’t stay there for long, baby’s usually get tired quickly, also even if she/he liked the sound today, doesn’t meant it will next time or other way round.

That exercise will teach concentration, sound recognition, all while developing hearing and getting to know your baby.

- Motion process

For that exercise you can use rocking chair or hammock, if you have one. Sit comfortably in a chair or lie in hammock, place baby on you, stomach to stomach is best, but important to be both comfortable. Whatever suits you better. Baby will feel safe in your arms. You will be able to relax a little and get rid of some stress. While rocking you can sing, tell stories, gently massage baby’s back.

This will help especially if your baby is colicky. Also teaches rhythm, necessary to learning to speak. More vital is special bond you building with your child.

- Silly faces duel

Play with your baby face imitating. Repeat your child’s faces and the sound he/she makes. (smacking with tongue/ lips, snorting…) after some time, your turn to take over. Do silly faces, stick your tongue out, or open wide your mouth and say couple times “aaa”. Baby will definitely try to repeat you.

This exercise will help develop concentration, language efficiency and helps with focus.

(4-6 months)

- Little kids love to play with their fingers or toes.

You can sing:

1. “Five little pigs” song and touch every fingers or toes. The song goes: This little pig went to the market.
This little pig stayed home.
This little pig had roast beef.
This little pig had none.
This little pig cried "Wee, wee, wee, wee!"
All the way home.

2. Five little ducks: Five little ducks went out to play

Over the hill and far away
The mother duck said Quack, Quack come back

Four little ducks came running back
Four little ducks went out to play
Over the hill and far away
The mother duck said Quack, Quack come back

Three little ducks came running back
Three little ducks went out to play
Over the hill and far away
The mother duck said Quack, Quack come back

Two little ducks came running back
Two little ducks went out to play
Over the hill and far away
The mother duck said Quack, Quack come back

One little duck came running back
One little duck went out to play
Over the hill and far away
The mother duck said Quack,Quack come back

No little ducks came running back
Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
The daddy duck yelled QUACK, QUACK COME BACK!

Five little ducks came running back!

You can use any other songs that your child likes; on this web page you will find some other suggestions: http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/fiveducks.asp

- Magic lights

Cover flashlight with a piece of colorful foil, you can use wrapping tissue. Pick up baby and turn on flashlight. With flashlight make small movements, so your baby will be able to see bright light and follow it with eyes. While playing, explain what its happening and why.

This game will help show sight ability, also exercise following skill of moving objects.

- Flying Bee

Find toys made out of different materials, (you can use toys from baby mat or rubber duck, soft bear). Place baby on blanket. Hold toy above baby’s nose, so she/he can see it and slowly start moving toy in a circle and say: “Here comes, here comes flying bee… right above your nose to sit.” (touch baby’s nose) After some time, start moving toy closer to child hands and say: “Here comes, here comes flying bee…right above your hands to touch”. (touch baby’s hands with a toy, if she/he trying to reach it give it to her/him to explore. Then do it again with other object.

This exercise helps with discovering baby’s own body by touch and sight.

(7-9 months)

- Peek a boo

For this one you can both sit on a floor, carpet, grass… Have a small blanket or scarf, can be see trough. Put it on your head and while taking of say: “peek a boo”. Repeat it several times, than place it on baby’s face, pretend you are looking for him/her, by saying: “Where is …..” If by then baby won’t take if of her/himself, help and say: “peek a boo”.

By that game baby will start understanding the rule just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s gone. Also will help train memory.

-Drop and watch

Find several soft object (bean bag, ribbon, ball…) Give it to baby and try to encourage dropping it on floor. Let her/him observe what happens. Cause and effect rule. Pick it up or better yet, let baby pick it up with your help, and do it again. More likely she/he will drop it right away. Kids love to drop thing, especially food, so make sure there is no food around.

It helps with ability of controlling over object and observing.

(10-12 months)

- Relax on ball

Get big yoga ball. Place your baby on tummy on a ball and slowly move back and forth. Hold baby very tight, so she/he won’t fall of. When she/he gets used to a ball, place it on hers/his back and do the same. While moving ball, talk to child and explain what you doing.

Game is teaching physical fitness and trust to parents.

- Little artist

Prepare finger paint for little kids, paper or bubble foil (bubble wrapping), lots of paper towel or wet cloth. Tape wrapping on table or painting board. Encourage child to paint with fingers on “bubbles”. But if she/he doesn’t want to, you can use paper and painting brush. Let it be creative, and don’t worry about paint on face, cloths or mixing colors.

This game helps develop the sense of touch and teaches creativity.

Follow in games your child and try to read hers/his signals. You will quickly learn to recognize them. Fatigue, might turn her/his head away, feel sleepy or start crying. That’s a sign to stop a game!!! This way you will teach child a little control over inflow of impulses stimuli.

Game for an A+

- one year old shows initiative in a game, don’t try to do it for baby, help her/him.

- let baby have a free hand to choose: let her/him chose a toy or book.

- take care of safety first, buy toys for age appropriate, without lead.