• Object permanence boxes:

-The ball drop object permanence box is great for learning the concept of an object still being there, even if they can’t see it. The ball rolls straight back out which shows the permanence of the object and encourages the child to repeat the posting/dropping of the ball.

–Ball drop with the drawer. This object permanence box has the added skill of learning to open a drawer to collect the ball.

–Coin posting (I would recommend introducing this after mastery of the ball drops and probably closer to the 9 month old mark). 

–Ball Push

–Ball Tracker  babies can track the ball across their midline and they’ll soon be pulling up to stand to post the ball as well.

 

 

• Exploring the senses and textures:

Touch and sight:

Collect up a range of house hold items that look and/or feel interesting, such as: sponge, fabrics (you could use clothing), tin foil, ribbons, a sensory board if you have one. Gently drape each item over baby’s skin and allow baby to look closely and touch and hold each item for themselves. 

DIY: Save up the lids from packets of wipes and gather up a range of textures from around the house (pompoms, bubble wrap, sponge, tin foil etc) and find a medium to large piece of cardboard (you could cut a side off a box). Hot glue the lids to the cardboard in neat rows. Underneath the lids, hot glue a textured item. For this age group, leave the lids open so that your child can investigate the textures freely. As they get older, add in the challenge of opening and closing the lids to see what is underneath.

Sound:

Collect up a range of things that make a sound, such as: bells, pot and wooden spoon, jar of rice, musical instruments if you have any. Shake and tap your items in front of baby and let baby watch each item make noises. Encourage baby to hold items as well and to investigate the sounds for themselves.

Smell:

Gather up a range of nice scents around the house. Some ideas: candles, spices, herbs, vanilla essence, cinnamon. Actively smelling/sniffing is still a bit of a hard concept, however, babies will still be able to smell the scent if it is put out in front of them. You could describe and name the scent you have displayed and incorporate the language for your baby.

 

• Mirror Play:

Place a mirror in front of baby for baby to enjoy watching and talking to themselves. You could do this with baby on their tummy or on their back.

Once baby has had a chance to look in the mirror at themselves, you could go into the mirror for baby to see your reflection and talk with baby, while holding eye contact and smiling, through the mirror reflection. 

 

• Read to your baby:

Reading together is so valuable for not only your baby’s learning, but also for quality time together. Your baby will enjoy the sound of your voice and the cuddles (along with the language, the pictures, the conversations and the rhythm of the book if it has one). It is ok to repeat books. Repetition of reading the same book for several days or weeks is actually beneficial to your baby. For maximum learning, have conversations about what you are reading (e.g. what do you see in the picture? Can you relate the story or the pictures to anything you and your baby do, see or have in your life? If there are animals, talk about the animals and the sounds they make etc)

Some books you might like to read include:

–Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

–My First Words: Let’s Get Talking! DK Books 

–My First Farm: Let’s Get Working! DK Books

–Noisy Animal Peekaboo! DK Books

–Baby’s Very First Slide And See Zoo Usborne 

–Baby Touch and Feel: Truck DK Books

–Baby Touch and Feel: Animals DK Books

 

• Water play:

Get a shallow tray with a shallow layer of water. Place in front of baby (on tummy) and let them investigate. -Supervise this activity closely while using water!

 

• Ice play:

On a tray in front of baby, give baby some ice to explore. Place it in their hands and let them feel the texture, the temperature and the sensation of it melting. Try placing it on the tray and encouraging baby to play and push it around the tray. 

 

• Toys:

–Cylinder Rolling Ball (with bell) (as a rattle, to look at or to push along the floor)

-Rattle

–Cloud ribbons (you could dangle from a baby gym, jingle in front of baby, or give to baby to hold and explore for themselves).

-A range of household fabrics/items (clothes, pegs, kitchen utensils, pot and wooden spoon, towel, sponge etc) to feel and explore

–Spinning mirror Barrel

-A ball (try a range of sizes and types (play with one at a time) -the Squish Ball and the Oball are great for this age!) You could also roll the ball back and forth to each other.

-Batting, reaching, grabbing and looking at attractive dangling items from a mobile or baby gym.

-Books (prop a book up to look at)

 

• instruments:

If you don’t have instruments, some at home instruments could include:

-Pot and wooden spoon (as a drum)

-Jar or rice or hundreds and thousands container (or anything similar) as a shaker

 

• Blow bubbles:

Inside and outside. This brings so much enjoyment to children. 

 

• Play Music and sing
• Go for a walk
• Sand play
• Nature walk/crawl