Developmental games for your 6 to 12 month baby

Here are some games that you can play with your six to 12 month old baby that are age appropriate and developmentally stimulating:

Roll the ball: Roll a soft, brightly coloured ball to your baby and show him how to stop it and push it back to you.

Naming body parts: Play naming games with your baby.  Point to his nose and say, “nose.”  Do the same with his eyes, hands and toys.

Hunting teddy: Hide a toy in one room of the house and carry your baby from room to room saying ‘Where’s teddy?’ and telling him what rooms you are looking in.

Hide and seek: Hiding objects under boxes, behind couches, under blankets, or really anywhere, is a wonderful way to develop object permanence.  Show your baby the object first before you hide it, then hide it and say, “Where’s it gone?”

Pouring games: Pouring games are great to develop the shoulder muscles. Your baby will love pouring games and the bath is the best place for this. Give him beakers or plastic cups to pour water.

Get that toy: Tie a piece of string onto a toy so that your baby can pull it towards himself and retrieve it independently. This is most fun when done from a highchair.

Animated conversations: When talking to your baby, use exaggerated tones and gestures and copy the sounds he makes.

Cycling: Once your baby can sit stably, fasten him into a baby seat on your bicycle and take him for a ride.

Sitting in the bath: Now that your baby can sit on dry land, you can start allowing him to sit in the bathtub. Get a sitting frame for the bath, or a bath support, or at least a non-slip mat. Do not leave your baby sitting alone in the bath for even a second.

Big shakers: Fill empty plastic bottles that can roll, with small, colourful and noisy things, e.g. bells, scrunched coloured paper and small stones. Make sure the lids are secure. Encourage your baby to shake them and make music.

About the Author: Meg Faure is the co-author of the best selling Baby Sense and other ‘Sense-series books’. An Occupational Therapist, Meg has a passion for keeping little ones calm, sleeping well and developing optimally. Meg founded the Baby Sense company, lectures internationally and is a journalist in the field of baby care. Parent With Sense: Meg is active on various social media platforms. Like her Facebook Page (link to: https://www.facebook.com/MegFaureOfficial ) Follow @MegFaure on Twitter (link to: https://twitter.com/megfaure)  or Visit her website at www.megfaure.com

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