Musical Peek-a-boo

Prep: None / Activity Time: 5 Minutes

Playing a simple game like peek-a-boo can form or strengthen amazing numbers of brain cell connections. Music at a young age also influences brain development. This activity of musical peek-a-boo combines both.

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Colors, letters, shapes, oh my!

Prep: None / Activity Time: 3-5 Minutes

As you are searching for new toys for your infant, consider concept books that focus on colors, shapes and letters as well as plastic and cloth blocks with a variety of textures, shapes, and letters. Your infant needs lots of playful opportunities to explore colors, shapes, letters, and textures.

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Can you Say What I Say? Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba?

Prep: None / Activity Time: 2-3 Minutes

Young infants try to imitate the sounds that adults make. This behavior shows that your baby is already becoming aware of the sounds of language. Play this game with your child to help develop this emerging skill.

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Fill and Dump

Prep: 5 Minutes / Activity Time: 5-7 Minutes

From 6 to 11 months old, your child’s fine motor development greatly improves. A favorite game during these months is “Fill and Dump”! It is these early experiences that prepare your child to have the fine motor and eye-hand coordination she will need later for drawing and writing.

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Yummy Finger Foods

Prep: 5 Minutes / Activity Time: 7-10 Minutes

Using the thumb and index finger to pick up objects is a big advancement in fine motor development. It is these early experiences that prepare your child to have the fine motor and eye-hand coordination she will need later for drawing and writing.

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Finger Plays

Prep: None / Activity Time: 5-7 Minutes

Songs that involve finger and hand movements encourage eye-hand coordination. They are not only fun but can enhance the fine motor development needed to learn to write.

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Same and Different

Prep: None / Activity Time: 3-5 Minutes

Being able to distinguish how objects are the same or are different is an important skill that children will need as they grow. One way to introduce same and different to babies is to talk about their toys.

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Move to the Beat

Prep: None / Activity Time: 3-5 Minutes

Babies love music and instinctively move to the beat. Using hand motions to music promotes dexterity, builds self-esteem and increases confidence.

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Hide and Seek

Prep: None / Activity Time: 3-5 Minutes

Play simple games where your baby can discover the “rules” of the game by your positive response. Creating these positive experiences with learning will be important as your baby begins to explore print, letters and words.

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You Say… I Say

Prep: None / Activity Time: 2-3 Minutes

At this age, your baby is likely beginning to babble and produce a variety of sounds. To build on this stage of language development, encourage your child to echo you as you make some of his most commonly produced sounds.

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