I am continuing a list of activities/games that can be played with the baby to help his development… or just for fun!
See previous articles:

• Baby Developing Games 0-3 months
• Baby Developing Games 3-6 months

• Pots: hide a toy underneath and lift it to show it; let baby turn the pot o find the toy; show baby how to turn over the pot and drop the toy there
• In front of the mirror: smile, shake different body parts, make faces, rock back and forth, make sounds
• Sounds: make different sounds and put baby’s hand to your mouth to follow the lips: buzz like a bee, hum, pop cheeks, make siren, cough, pretend a sneeze
• Musical Toy: hide a musical toy somewhere in the room; “Where is the music?”; praise as the baby turns there
• Encourage baby to bang: a wooden spoon on the floor; sing a song and let him bang rhythm
• Shakers, home-made maracas: put buttons in a container that baby cannot open (could use plastic bottle to watch shaking objects) and shake, sing, let baby shake. What’s great about this activity: the baby can “see” how the sound is created.
• Let baby touch your various parts of the body, labeling them. I like “Head, and shoulders, knees and toes… and I modify it for all parts of the body: “Forehead, elbows, tummy, heels…”
• One by one touch baby’s fingers, shake the one that “you are looking for”:
Little hand, little hand, where are you? Here I am, Here I am, How do you do!
• As soon as the baby can sit, try rolling a ball to her.
• Bounce the baby on your crossed legs
• Peekaboo:

o Mommy peekaboo: hide behind some object and reappear
o Mommy peekaboo with a blanket: hold a blanket in between yourself and the baby, covering yourself. Say, “peekaboo”, and lower the blanket. After a few times, let the baby pull the blanket down to “find” you.
Baby peekaboo: use the same blanket, that you used to “hide” for a baby – put it on top of his head and let him take it off. TIP: for this game, a transparent scarf might be even more fun.
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o Toy peekaboo: hide a toy and bring it from behind your back saying “peekaboo, Jason”. Continue until baby anticipates appearance from that place. Then switch location from which puppet appears. Give a toy to the baby and let him try.
o Mommy’s hands peekaboo: hide behind your hands
o Baby’s hands peekaboo: cover baby’s eyes with his hands
o Hide and seek: hide (partially, like behind a chair) and sing. On a last line (if baby hasn’t found you) appear.
o Toy peekaboo: lie on a floor, show a toy, play with it, hide it and ask where it is. Find it and “peekaboo”!
o Sound peekaboo: hide face behind a towel, count loudly to three and open it up and say a funny sound (“pop”, “boo”, tongue clicks)

• Sing with the baby (Jacky Silberg):

Baby, baby, rock in the cradle (rock the baby)
Baby, baby jump in the bed
Baby, baby smile at your Daddy (bring baby close and smile)
Baby, baby, wiggle your head
Baby, baby, play hide and seek (cover eyes with hands)
Baby, baby, shall we peek?
Baby, baby, what do you see? (bring close to the face)
I am back, yes, sireeeee! (give a hug, kiss)

• Give baby squeeze toys
• Give baby measuring spoons and container to put them into to develop small motor skills. Help baby try holding two things in the same hand
• Interesting textures and textiles: show baby various materials, let her grab it and describe it as the baby studies it: “This is fur, it is soft.” Building a “scrap material” book might be very good for a baby. Don’t be afraid to introduce rough or unusual textures as well (under your supervision!!!): sandpaper, nail file (in you hands and only if it doesn’t have sharp edges), cotton balls (hold it at all times!), gauze pad, etc.
• Squish a sponge: place sponges in a water and let baby squeeze water out of it on hands, legs, arms… say words as squishing the sponge: swish, gurgle, squish. Note: this might be better for a little older baby, in case yours wouldn’t mind “drinking” the water from a sponge, like mine usually does.