Here are five exciting and educational games.
By the age of two months, babies can distinguish objects, follow them with their eyes, turn their heads in response to sounds, and actively move their arms and legs [1].
These games will help use these skills and provide great bonding time.
Always play these games with an adult present. Do not leave your baby alone while playing.
Peepers
In this game, your baby will look at different objects and follow them with their eyes.
How to Play:
Hold a rattle, toy, or bright object about 15 inches away from your baby.
Slowly move it up and down, and left and right.
Watch as your baby follows it with their eyes. It's fun for them!
To mix it up, use a flashlight:
Turn off the lights and sit your baby on your lap.
Point the flashlight at the wall and slowly move the beam of light.
This makes a great relaxing game for bedtime!
Rustlers and Whistles
This game helps develop hearing and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
How to Play:
Take a box and put in objects that make different sounds, such as a squeaker toy, foil, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, a bell, a maraca, and a tambourine.
Sit next to your baby and take turns making sounds with the objects. Change the order to keep it interesting.
Then, give one of the items to your baby. Eventually, they'll realize they are making the sounds themselves. A big discovery!
Touch-and-Feel
Babies explore the world through touch. Help nurture this natural curiosity.
How to Play:
Collect items with different materials and textures, such as a feather, sponge, rubber duck, piece of apple, and kitchen spatula.
Give the items to your baby to hold or place them on their stomach.
Watch their joy as they explore these new textures!
Dancing fingers
For this game, you don't need any props at all. You can arrange an exciting show for the baby with one hand!
How to play:
Put the baby on her stomach and place your fingers at eye level at a distance of about 15 inches.
Turn on the music and start moving your fingers to the rhythm. Change the direction of movement (up-down, right-left) and speed. How fun!
Bicycle
It's time to move! This game develops coordination and expectations.
How to Play:
Lay your baby on their back and hold their ankles.
Move one leg towards you and the other away, as if your baby is riding a bicycle.
Say "stop" and pause the movement.
Then say "let's go" and continue moving their legs.
Even though your baby doesn't know what a bicycle is, this game helps develop their gross motor skills.
Photo: shutterstock
