Infant Play

What can I do to help promote play in my infant?

While all children are different and may enjoy different toys and interactions, the following are suggestions for activities and toys for the infant:

Birth to 1 month:

• Hang brightly colored objects near your infant
• Hang black and white mobiles

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant
• Play music
• Rock your infant, take him or her for walks

2 to 3 months:

• Likes bright objects
• Enjoys pictures and mirrors
• Likes rattles
• Enjoys infant swing
• Enjoys car rides

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant
• Play music
• Rock your infant, take him or her for walks

4 to 6 months:

• Likes brightly-colored objects
• Likes to hold toys
• Enjoys rattles or bells
• Likes swings and strollers

What you can do as a parent:

• Talk to your infant
• Encourage your infant to crawl and sit by placing him or her on the floor

6 to 9 months:

• Enjoys large toys with bright colors that move
• Likes to play peek-a-boo

What you can do as a parent:

• Call your infant by name
• Speak clearly to your child and encourage different sounds
• Name body parts, foods, and people
• Tell your infant simple commands
• Play pat-a-cake
• Begin saying words that tell what you are doing
• Encourage your infant to crawl by placing toys beyond his or her reach

9 to 12 months:

• Enjoys looking at books
• Likes hearing sounds of animals
• Enjoys large toys that can be pushed and pulled

What you can do as a parent:

• Take your infant to different places and outings
• Play ball with your infant
• Read to your infant
• Tell your infant names of body parts

Toys for infants:

• Birth to 6 months:
  • Mobiles
  • Mirrors that will not break
  • Music boxes
  • Bells and rattles
  • Stuffed animals
  • Swings
    
    
• 6 to 12 months:
  • Blocks
  • Brightly colored toys
  • Books
  • Balls
  • Cup and spoon
  • Jack-in-the-box
  • Rattles
  • Teething toys
  • Toys that can be pushed and pulled

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Online Resources of Growth & Development