Babies are a bundle of joy and they keep surprising us with the new talents they seem to acquire every day and they love to show off too. You, as a parent or a caregiver, can help fuel your little one’s curiosity and interest. So how can you do this? There are many simple and small games that you can introduce to your baby depending on their age. In this article, we list the top fun games to play with your baby.
For babies, games are not to just kill time, but contribute to their growth and development too. Each game you teach your baby works on different coordination and helps them learn new skills. As your baby gets proficient with each game, you can leave them to play alone. Free play is an important way of teaching your baby to grow to be independent and self-reliant.
In This Article
- Top Fun Games to Play With Your 0 to 6 Months Baby
- Top Fun Games to Play With Your 6 to 12 Months Baby
- FAQ’s
Top Fun Games to Play With Your 0 to 6 Months Baby
During the first six months, babies spend most of their time sleeping and lying. Some babies turn to their tummy while others are still trying to achieve the milestone. The games you play with your baby should allow them to have fun even when lying on their back. Here are the top games to play with your baby who is less than 6 months old.
1. Peek-a-Boo
Peek-a-Boo is one of the most famous and straightforward games you can play with your little one. All you need is a piece of cloth to cover your face. Say Peek-a-boo and uncover your face. Your little one will find it very funny, and the giggle time will keep going on for a longer time. Though it is such a simple game, there is so much that your little one can take from it.
Playing this game with your baby will
- Help with your baby’s gross motor skill development
- Improve your baby’s visual tracking abilities
- Provide fuel to their senses
- Tickle their sense of humor
- Improve their social skills
[Read : Why is Peek-A-Boo Important For Your Baby?]
2. Make a Funny Face
The newborns are very skilful and talented in learning about their environment. They try to listen and look at their surroundings and imitate them. You can make funny faces and noises for them. This will make them laugh and kindle their interest in imitating others.
This is the best way to make your little one laugh and teach them. You can teach them animal sounds, words, and expressions through the ‘Make a Funny Face’ game.
Playing this game with your baby will
- Improve their social and emotional development
- Improve their visual skills
- Help them learn to imitate
3. Can You Hear Me Now?
‘Can you hear me now?’ is the foundation game upon which peek-a-boo and hide and seek were developed. Your newborn is fond of new voices and sounds. They get excited when the voice is yours. You can put them in the baby carrier and walk around them, singing and making funny noises.
You may notice that your little one follows your voice and tries to turn the head in your direction.
Playing this game with your baby will
- Help in developing the visual tracking of your baby
- Improve the auditory functioning of the little one
4. Tickle Time
Tickle time is yet another fun time for your little one. The newborn’s skin is so delicate. They need to explore the different textures. To play this game, you can lay down your little one in a blanket and move the different textures in their tummy, hand, and neck. You can say “Tickleee Tickleee” when you do that.
Playing this game with your baby will
- Help them in accepting and enjoying different textures
- Activate their senses.
5. Eye, Nose, and Mouth
‘Eyes, Nose and Mouth’ is yet another simple game where you teach your little one the body parts and make them feel elite and happy. Take your little one’s palm and place them in your eyes, nose, and mouth. Then, kiss their palm. The game goes like this, eyes, ears, mouth, kisses!
Playing this game with your baby will
- Help in bonding with your baby
- Give them an early start to learning about their body
- Entertain them
[Read : Bonding With Your Baby]
Top Fun Games to Play With Your 6 to 12 Months Baby
Once your little one has crossed half a year, it is soon time for them to crawl and sit up. Here`s how you can play with them during their 6-12 months.
1. Stacking Game
Stacking is the best game to learn hand and eye coordination. When your little one develops and becomes an expert in hand-eye coordination, they will not stop playing the stacks. Stacks can be anything from building blocks, different size glass tumblers, stacking rings, or wooden blocks. You will find them knocking down the whole stack and starting from the first again.
Playing the stacking game helps your baby
- Develop eye-hand coordination
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Differentiate sizes and colors
- Play independently for longer hours
2. Roll-a-Ball
‘Roll a ball’ is the simplest of all games. You need to roll a ball back and forth to your little one. If your child has not coordinated enough to pass it back, they will probably beat it around. But eventually, they will throw back one day.
Playing the roll-a-ball games helps your baby
- Gain better control over their movements
- Develop hand-eye coordination
- Improve gross motor skills
- Improve balance
3. The Pouring Game
‘The Pouring game’ is an exciting game for older babies who are closer to 12 months. You can take a bowl or glass of any pouring material – water, flour, pulses, grains or even sand. Take another empty container of your choice and pour the contents from one container into another. Or scoop the contents from one container and drop it into the other. Do it a few times and soon your little one will be ready to imitate you.
Once your little one masters the art of pouring, this game can be advanced to teach them about Wet and dry, Full and Empty, Heavy and light.
Playing the pouring game helps your baby
- Develop gross and fine motor skills
- Learn better coordination
- Get used to the kitchen utensils and pantry staples
Games are an eternal part of your little one’s growth and development and it is essential to keep interacting and playing with them. You needn’t really spend loads of money to get the latest toys for your munchkin. There are many simple easy-to-play games that cost little to no money at all. Most older babies love playing with your kitchen utensils and anything in your home. Give them the freedom to play and explore and you will see that they are reaching all their milestones on time.
[Read : Baby’s Gross Motor Skill Development]
FAQ’s
1. Do I Need to Play With My Baby Constantly?
Yes. Playing and interacting with your baby is very important for their growth and development.
2. Do Babies Get Bored?
Even in the early days, when babies cannot participate actively in games, they can get bored if the caretakers do not talk or interact with them.
3. Do Babies Understand Kisses?
Yes. Infants can understand kisses and that they are an expression of love and affection.
Read Also: Toys For 2 Month Old Baby – Types, Benefits and What to Buy
