Using play to teach your baby

Peek-a-boo with blankets, pillows, books, you name it. The more things you can find to play with the more entertained your baby will be. This teaches object permanence and helps baby to understand that everyday objects can be used in several different ways, which develops curiosity and the ability to try new things.

Play with a ball by either rolling it, throwing it (gently please), pretending to sit on it, pretending to lose it, placing it on your head. This is a way to show your baby what's logical verses what's silly, and promotes a good sense of humor.

Conversations about anything. Keep a running monologue throughout your day and show baby the things you are talking about. This will help baby with object identification and expand his or her vocabulary when he or she does start speaking.

Read a book (or several). Point to the pictures, talk about the pictures, let baby turn the pages and point as well, mimic any sounds baby makes while looking at a book, name colors, oh yeah, and read the story! This helps with language development, curiosity, the ability to retain information, the ability to learn later in life, better social habits, more interests for baby, etc. There are too many benefits not to do this on a daily basis!

Play with stuffed animals or toys by lining them up and labeling them by size, shape, color, name, etc. Sort them into containers or group them together on the floor. See if your baby can help with the sorting.

Make a tower of anything but blocks. Blocks are good too, but the real creativity comes with unusual things. See how high you can build a tower of plastic food containers, pots and pans, clean paper beverage cups, etc. Or stack a tower with all of these things. This teaches creativity and problem solving, as well as cause and effect. If it gets too high or is not stacked properly, it falls down.

Look out the window. Label everything you see by size and color. "That is a big, green tree, look at the small grey squirrel, etc." There is no better way to encourage your child to enjoy the everyday than by talking about it with them and showing them that the little things are exciting.

Look at a picture album of people your baby is familiar with. Your baby will love seeing a "book" of his or her family. You can talk about activities they have done with these people, and your baby will learn to associate Grandma with the beach or Uncle Steinbecker with ice cream. This is a fun way to enhance baby's memory.

Good job playing! Now let that baby have a nap!