Playing with your baby is more than just fun. Not only does play help you bond with your baby, it also helps him develop his social, cognitive and physical skills. Simple games are best as infants have limited attention spans and limited motor skills. Repetition is also key; babies understand and enjoy a game more quickly if it's played over and over again. Baby games fall into specific age ranges to best enable development of the baby's skills.
Birth to Three Months
Babies at this age have little control over their limbs, as their nervous system is still developing. Games that are best at this age include pointing and naming parts of the baby or common object and singing. "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" is a great favorite that infants enjoy. Sing the song as you gently touch each named body part.
Similarly, examining common everyday objects is a delight to a newborn. Look at a whisk, a wooden spoon or a silk scarf. Let the baby put it in her mouth as her tongue is her most trusted sensory receptor. Name the object, and help the baby put it in her hand. She's likely to drop it or might hit herself or you, so choose objects that don't have sharp ends and can't cause other damage.
Four to Six Months
Babies at this age typically have some gross motor control. They may be able to roll over or sit up. You can help foster this development with simple games. Blowing bubbles delights a baby. Make sure you play on a soft surface as most babies will try to grab at the bubbles and topple over.
Babies of this age also delight in playing "This Little Piggy," where you touch each toe and recite the classic poem. Make sure you complete the game by running your hand up the baby's leg and tickling his tummy.
One critical game to play at this stage is any game that gets your baby on his stomach. Since babies are now put to sleep on their backs, the muscles in the back and neck that enable crawling need regular exercise to ensure proper physical development. An easy way to do this is to play a game of peek-a-boo while your baby is on his tummy and you lie in front of him lying on your tummy as well.
Six to 12 Months
Your baby is typically continuing to develop gross motor skills at this age. Enable her development with things she can pick up and bang around, such as sitting on the kitchen floor together with wooden spoons and old containers. Model hitting the objects and the floor to see what different sounds they can make and watch your baby's face light up as she does it, too.
Crawling or scooting skills grow rapidly. You can help foster her development by placing objects in your baby's path, such as a pillow or even your own body. See how your baby continues to advance as you create an obstacle course for her to traverse.
Roll a ball to your baby to help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Don't expect that she'll understand at first that she needs to roll the ball back to you. Begin by sitting down across from her and rolling her the ball. If she grabs it and starts to play with it, that's fine. Enlist your partner in playing with you to model that you catch the ball and roll it back again. When she rolls it away from her, praise her and she'll soon be an enthusiast.
