Baby Play Ideas: For 0-6 Months
Ribbons and Rings
You’ll need
- Ribbons of various colours and textures (cut into 40cm lengths)
- Scissors, wooden curtain rings/baby activity links.
What to do
- Tie the ribbon onto the rings/links by securing in the middle of the ribbon.
- Hold or hang the ring from the pram hood / baby capsule / activity centre approximately 20 cms from baby to support focus.
How baby’s learning is supported
Very young babies find it easier to notice the difference between the shades black and white before colours. Here’s a link to find out more about colour development. https://lozierinstitute.org/dive-deeper/the-newborn-senses-sight-and-eye-color/
Glitter Bottle
You’ll need
- A clean clear bottle (label removed), 1 or 2 tubes of glitter (flake glitter is best)
- Water
- Glycerine (find it in your medical aisle, also great for making bubble mix).
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Bubble-Solution#Super-Bubble-Solution-with-Glycerin_2
What to do
- Add glycerine and water to the bottle at the ratio of about 5 parts water to 1 part glycerine.
- Add glitter to bottle, shake to mix.
How baby’s learning is supported
As babies eyesight develops they can focus for longer, swirl the bottle and place in front of baby during tummy time to enhance endurance especially for reluctant tummy timers. Place the bottle out of reach when babies start showing signs of crawling to encourage forward movement.
Tummy Time Mirror
You’ll need
- A mirror where your baby can see their reflection while laying on their tummy.
- You can purchase them where baby products are sold, but any mirror that is attached to a wall where babies can see themselves while laying on their tummy can be used.
What to do
- Lay your baby on their tummy in front of the mirror, draw their attention to themselves.
- Lay down next to them and make eye contact with them in the mirror.
- This supports baby’s recognition of themselves in the mirror.
- Hang other items in front of the mirror that are also reflected and talk about them and their action as they move while on baby’s level.
How baby’s learning is supported
As well as supporting development of vision and helping to extend tummy time, babies’ self-identity is positively nurtured.
Singing & Rhymes
You’ll need
- Nursery rhymes e.g. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; Old MacDonald Had a Farm; Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Or your own favourite songs!
What to do
Connection and bonding, sensory stimulation (sound / movement), emotional and language development.
https://simplemusicteaching.com/2021/10/14/interactivesongsforbabies0-6months/
Sensory Hula Hoops
You’ll need
- A hula hoop
- Pieces of fabric/ribbon/cord of various textures & colours
- Rattle/shaker
- Double sided tape or glue gun
What to do
- Tie or attach the items around the hula hoop with tape or glue.
- Tie the rattle or other sound making object to the hoop using a short cord or piece of fabric.
- Hot glue guns will secure the items for longer as babies have a firm grasp and letting go in the first 6 months is more difficult.
https://scientificorigin.com/why-do-babies-have-such-a-strong-grip
How baby’s learning is supported
Children up to two years learn through their senses, this resource supports exploration through sight, hearing and touch, and concentration is also supported. When things go into babies’ mouths, they begin to understand that it is not tasty. Support language development by describing items babies interact with e.g. ‘that ribbon is so soft isn’t it? or ‘that one makes a noise’.