Infant games are great parent resources. They facilitate parent-child bonding, while also boosting infants’ cognitive development. But many parents have trouble finding age-appropriate infant games. Whether you’re looking for 3 months old activities, games for 6 month olds, or 9 months old baby activities, 125 Brain Games for Babies revised, is the perfect source for every parent’s needs. Try out these baby games with your little one today!
Infant games are great parent resources. They facilitate parent-child bonding, while also boosting infants’ cognitive development. But many parents have trouble finding age-appropriate infant games.
Whether you’re looking for 3 months old activities, games for 6 month olds, or 9 months old baby activities, 125 Brain Games for Babies revised, is the perfect source for every parent’s needs. Try out these baby games with your little one today!
Connect with Conversation
(3 to 6 months)
What Brain Research Says:
Language is fundamental to brain development. Having a conversation with your baby is a great stimulant for the brain. Anytime during the day is a good opportunity to talk with your baby and develop her language.
• Start a conversation with your baby. Say a short sentence such as, “it is a beautiful day today.”
• When your baby responds with some babbles or a coo, stop talking and look into her eyes.
• As your baby talks, respond with a nod of your head or a smile.
• This indicates to your baby that you are listening to and enjoying her sounds.
• Continue with another sentence. Always stop and listen to your baby’s response.
• This game also teaches your child about taking turns.
Touching Textures
(6 to 9 months)
What Brain Research Says:
Games that challenge your baby to reach for an object develop your baby’s hand-eye coordination, which impacts the “wiring” in his brain.
• Games that encourage eye-hand coordination are important to play with your baby because they help develop the wiring in her brain.
• Gather together strips of different kinds of materials—wool, cotton, velvet, satin, and any others that you might have.
• Sit on the floor with your baby and hold out one of the material pieces close enough for him to reach. When he grabs at it, praise his effort.
• Once he has touched the strip of material, tell him the name of it and place it on his palm. Describe the feel of the material. “This is velvet and it feels smooth.”
• He will not understand all of your words, but he will associate the sound of your voice with the feel of the material.
One, Two, Three, Kick
(9 to 12 months)
What Brain Research Says:
Physical movement stimulates not only muscles and bone development, but also brain growth and development. Research shows that physical activity stimulates the brain to develop connections and pathways neurons. Active neurological pathways are critical to intellectual and cognitive growth.
• Show your little one how you hold on to the side of a chair and kick your leg in the air.
• Encourage him to copy you.
• Say, “One, two, three, kick” and kick your leg in the air on the word kick.
• Listening for the word kick is a lot of fun for babies and kicking a leg into the air develops their muscle strength.
• Kick in front, kick to the side, and kick in back.
• Try counting in a soft voice and saying the word kick in a big voice.
