Games to play with your baby

Here are some suggestions about how to play with your baby:

• Show baby you're really interested in playing. Open your eyes wide, look surprised, smile, and talk excitedly.
• Move baby's arms and legs in rhythm with the song or game, fast to get her excited, slow if she gets too overworked.
• Reward her with lots of praise and smiles. Talk while you play. Baby understands your tone, even though he doesn't understand words. Naming things baby sees helps him learn that words stand for things. If baby's attention starts to wander, it's time to stop.
• Play Peek-A-Boo: If baby can't see something, she doesn't know it's still there! Hide your face behind your hands and say, "Where's Daddy?" Then take them away and say, "Peek-a-Boo!" Play Peek-a-Boo by hiding baby's face with a washcloth in her bath or with a shirt when you're dressing her.
• Try Shake the Rattle: This game can be played with a rattle or any baby toy. Hold the toy in front of baby and move it to get his attention. Then try to keep his eyes on it while you slowly move it from side to side, up and down and in circles. Try holding the rattle off to one side and shaking it. Does he look to find where the sound comes from? He soon will. Brothers and sisters can play these games, too.