Play With Me: It Helps Me Learn

The Mirror: An Eyes and Hands Game

Purpose of game: Helps your baby learn how he looks.

How to play: Stand in front of a mirror with your baby and point to his reflection. Using his name, say, “I see Brandon. Where is Brandon? Find Brandon. Look at Brandon.” Encourage him to point to himself in the mirror.

Still sitting in front of the mirror, do the same thing with objects. Pick them up one at a time and move them behind your baby’s head. Name the objects, telling your baby something about them such as, “This is a ball, and it is round.”

Then ask your baby, “Where is the ball?” and encourage him to point to the mirror.

Your baby may enjoy sitting in front of a wall mirror and playing with his toys.

Games Show Your Baby He Can Make Things Happen

Your baby loves to throw things out of the high chair or over the side of the crib. He watches an object fall and listens to the sound it makes when it hits the floor. Your baby is exploring cause-and-effect relationships. He is trying to learn his effect on his world.

Help your baby play this game by giving him objects that fall differently, such as a:

• Washcloth
• Wooden spoon
• Plastic key
• Plastic container
• Rattle
• Ball

As your baby plays, talk about how the object falls and how the object lands. “Oh, look how slowly the washcloth fell, and it didn't even make a noise when it landed.”

Games Help Your Baby Learn to Crawl

Give your baby a reason to want to move. Place a favorite toy just outside your baby's reach. Help her wiggle to it. This is the first step in learning to crawl.

Whatever your child’s timetable, encourage her to move, explore, and be active. Whenever your baby moves around, it helps her get exercise and learn to crawl.

Be sure your home is baby-proofed!

You Are the Most Important Teacher

Researchers have found two types of play between parents and their children. One style is similar to a professor lecturing to a class. The other style is called “pingpong” because it's similar to a pingpong ball going back and forth between parent and child.

Lecturing doesn’t help babies learn. "Pingpong” is best.

To be a pingpong-type teacher, do this: When your baby giggles, you giggle. When your baby hands a block to you, hand two blocks back to her. When you do something, your baby will react to what you do.

The best learners have adults who spend time playing with them.