Games for Babies

[ajrsmom]

Babies learn largely through play and by watching others do things. They learn to talk by being talked to and learn to play by being played with. If you are afraid you will look silly or don’t know what to do, here are some games you can play with your baby that will get you started on your way to a wonderful play partnership.


Peek-a-boo is not only a game, it is a tool for teaching babies that when you go away, you will come back. Start out using a cloth diaper or small receiving blanket. Put the cloth over your head while sitting in front of the baby and say, “where’s mommy?” Pull the cloth away and say PEEK-A-BOO! After you demonstrate this to your baby a few times, put the cloth over baby’s head and say, “where’s baby?” You’re bound to get giggles even with the tiniest baby and most baby’s are able to pull the cloth away on their own from the very beginning.


Patty-cake is a time-honored classic game for babies. You can either demonstrate the game to your baby or take the baby’s hands and help him do the clapping himself. Although there are variances to the rhyme depending on where you are from, the basic rhyme goes like this:


Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man (Clap to the beat of the words)

Bake us a cake as fast as you can

Roll it and pick it and mark it with a B

Throw it in the oven for baby and me! (Throw baby’s arms up in the air)


I still remember the horseback riding game from when I was a child and it is a fun game for babies who love to bounce. Put the baby on your knees and hold his hands, while bouncing the baby on your knees sing to the tune of “Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush”:


(Bouncing gently)

This is the way the gentleman rides, gentleman rides, gentleman rides,

This is the way the gentleman rides, so early in the morning.


(Bouncing a little higher)

This is the way the lady rides, lady rides, lady rides,

This is the way the lady rides, so early in the morning.


(Bouncing harder and swaying back and forth)

This is the way the farmer rides, farmer rides, farmer rides,

This is the way the farmer rides, so early in the morning.


(Bouncing fast and crazily, but not too hard!)

This is the way that baby rides, baby rides, baby rides,

This is the way that baby rides, so early in the morning.



A fun tickling game for babies is to start at the baby’s feet and while walking your fingers up the baby’s body to his armpit, say, “there’s a mousie under the barn and it’s gonna get baby under the arm!”


Your baby will most likely be the author of many new games once you get him started, so be ready for hours of his own brand of fun. Don’t be afraid to make up your own games and just enjoy being with your baby.