Games Babies Play

Pull the Right String: A Using-a-Tool Game

Purpose of game: This game helps your baby learn to use objects as tools to get what she wants.

How to play: Hold your baby in a sitting position on your lap facing a flat surface such as a tabletop. While she is watching, tie one end of a piece of string around a favorite toy. Place the toy out of reach on the table and say, “Get the toy.” Your baby will learn to pull the string to get the toy.

Another Using-a-Tool Game

How to play: Place the toy on the string out of reach again. Place two more strings alongside the string with the toy attached. Your baby will learn to pull the string with the toy attached instead of the other two strings. Playing games like this helps your baby develop her ability to learn and lets your baby know you love spending time with her.

Be sure to put the string away when you are not playing with your baby. Babies can strangle or choke or strings and cords.

What You Can Do to Help Your Baby Learn

Parents can do many things now to make sure their children will do well when they go to school later.

Floor freedom – Children who do well in school are allowed to explore by crawling and walking in a safe environment. They are not kept in cribs, high chairs, walkers, or swings all day.

Language – Children who do well in school are talked to by adults who explain and expand on things. For example, the child might say, “Doggie” and the parent will answer, “Yes, it’s a big brown dog and he’s wagging his tail.”

Outings – Children who do well in school have been taken places such as the grocery store, post office, fair, and park.

Just enough help – Children who do well in school have parents who help them, but not too much. For example, parents might put chairs together so an early walker can hold onto them while walking. As the child gets better, the parent will move the chairs slightly apart, making it just a little more challenging.

TV and Children

Child development experts strongly suggest that children under 2 years old (that includes your baby) not watch television. The images on TV are too overwhelming for babies. Watching television also takes time away from doing more important things, such as moving, exploring the environment around them, and interacting with family and friends.

You may have noticed that there are lots of media products for children under 3 years old that are marketed to parents. These media products, such as educational videos, television programs, and 24-hour television channels for babies, may look appealing, but there is no evidence that these products make babies smarter. We do know, through research, that babies learn best by being able to move around and interact with people and things in their environment.