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Song
& Play to Make Your Baby Laugh
What's a good way to have fun with your baby?
Singing songs and playing fingergames! Small children
love to sing and be sung to, and they aren't fussy
about the quality of your voice. "Maddie
is the only one who appreciates my singing,"
joked a father known for his off-key road-trip
sing-alongs.
Oldies But Goodies
Babies love traditional lullabies and standard
nursery songs like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat,"
"Pop Goes the Weasel," "Old MacDonald,"
"You Are My Sunshine" and "Yankee
Doodle."
Let Your Fingers Do The Singing
Let your fingers accompany the tune with animated
fingergames. Favorite fingergames are "Two
Little Blackbirds," "Where is Thumbkin?"
and "Itsy-Bitsy Spider." If you don't
know the exact finger motions, make up your own--or
ask at your neighborhood library or bookstore
for books, records or cassettes of music for babies.
Or check out our list of baby favorites right
here (link to Baby Songs).
Tickle Central
Another way to have fun with your baby is with
rhyming tickle games. Here's one that's sure to
bring a giggle — "Creepy Mouse":
"Creepy mouse,
Creepy mouse,
All the way up to
Molly's house!"
It's all in the delivery with this one-start the
rhyme very slowly and beginning at your baby's
toes, make fingers gently creep upward. Go faster
as you reach "all the way up to" and
on the word "house," end with a gentle
tickle on the neck. The tickle is sure to release
squeals of delight!
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Early
Signs of Swimming
It may look like your baby is trying to swim while
being bathed, and that could be just what's happening.
Splish, Splash I Was Taking a Swim
Researchers tell us when a baby starts to walk,
an instinct to swim may appear briefly. When babies
are supported under the chest in water they kick
their legs alternately. This is the second time
the swimming instinct shows itself — newborns
have a similar reflex, but it disappears after the
age of three months.
Tadpole or Shark?
Some parents want to take advantage of the swimming
instinct and start special swimming lessons for
their baby at about a year. If this idea appeals
to you, enrolling in lessons can provide a healthy
activity to share with your child. Before entering
any infant swimming program, however, get your doctor's
approval and investigate the qualifications of the
instructors. Enroll only in a program where parents
are expected to swim with their baby.
Lifeguard Mom On Duty
Always remember that your baby has no understanding
of the danger of drowning and can exercise no judgment
about the water. You must be ever watchful with
babies and toddlers near water, whether they can
swim or not.
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Playtime
With "Found" Items
Now that your baby is an increasingly mobile little
person, full of new-found curiosity and amazing
energy, playtime will be a more active and imaginative
occasion. And, while you'll certainly get a great
deal of pleasure out of watching your baby at play,
there will be many times when you'll want to join
in the fun.
Gotta Box? You've Got Fun!
A simple, yet fascinating game to play with your
baby starts with a simple cardboard box. Get ready
for easy fun with a game called "going through
the tunnel." The tunnel should be large enough
to crawl through easily but not so long that it's
scary. You can make an instant tunnel out of any
large cardboard box, such as the ones groceries
are packed in. Just cut out both ends and turn the
box upside down. Then sit at one end of the tunnel
and ask baby to crawl through to you. This is an
exciting and enjoyable adventure for a 6-month-old,
and meeting you at the end of the journey is the
most fun of all!
You and baby could also take turns pulling a small
toy on a string through the tunnel, or your child
could chase the toy as you draw it to you. The same
tunnel also makes a cozy little house. So if your
baby decides to stop crawling and just sit inside
for a while, that's fine too.
Just Dropping In!
Another toy that's easy to make is a Shape Box,
using a fairly large empty carton. Tape the open
ends shut, cover the box with adhesive paper in
a bright color, and then cut holes in the top in
the shape of a circle or a square.
Give your baby objects to drop into the holes, such
as a ball for the round hole and a block for the
square one, or simply make one hole that's large
enough to accommodate various shapes and sizes of
objects. Demonstrate the game to your baby, naming
the objects and identifying their colors.
Just Plain Fun
Toys don't have to be fancy, expensive or even called
toys to be fun. Paper for example, makes a fascinating
sound when it's scrunched up. Paper cups or plastic
bowls can be nested. A couple of clattering pie
tins or even a rolling pin can provide entertainment
for many minutes at a time. In fact, 6-month-olds
can make interesting toys out of almost anything
around. Allow your baby freedom to have fun with
these "found" toys, but be certain that
they are safe to handle, as are all the toys you
make or buy.
The Best "Toy" Of All
Of course, a baby's favorite "toys" are
their parents. As you play with your baby, you'll
probably invent spontaneous games. When your baby
makes an intriguing sound, for example, repeat the
sound and you'll soon have a delightful game going.
Other times, you can take the lead - perhaps by
making a funny face — and let your baby imitate
you. Playing "peek-a-boo" with you or
riding "horsy" on your knee is great fun
for your baby now too. Your increasingly active
6-month-old will also delight in a game of hide-and-seek,
especially if you are the object to be found.
Whatever the game you play with your baby, both
of you should have a good time and enjoy what you
are doing together. In this way, not only will you
be providing important stimulation for your baby,
you'll be strengthening a loving relationship.
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