KITCHEN INSTRUMENTS
There's nothing like a metal pot and its lid banging together to demonstrate cause and effect. Add a wooden spoon, a metal spatula, and some plastic lids and containers into the mix, and you've just expanded baby's repertoire of sounds and activities: in and out, on and off, loud and louder, stacking and nesting. Fran Reitzes, coauthor of WONDERPLAY: INTERACTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL GAMES, CRAFTS, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS (Running Press, 1995) and the director of the Center for Youth and Family at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, suggests providing baby with his own storage spot for kitchen goodies: choose a bottom drawer and, if you can, paint it a bright color or label it with the baby's name using stickers.
GOOD MORNING, HOUSE
Inspired by the children's classic GOODNIGHT MOON (HarperCollins Children's Books), this transition routine makes both waking up and falling asleep a little easier. When baby wakes up in the morning (or after a nap), hold him close as you slowly walk from room to room saying "Good morning (or good afternoon) bedroom, good morning hallway," and so on throughout the house. When you get to the bathroom be sure to look in the mirror and say "Good morning, (baby's name)." Do the same thing in reverse order before bed.A fun twist for older babies that makes darkness a little less scary: Right after lights out, sit together and shine a flashlight on different objects in the room, saying "Good night, mobile; good night clock; good night animals," and so on. Tape up photos of close family members, friends or caregivers near the crib so the child can say good night to them, too.
IT'S MAGIC
It doesn't take any sleight of hand to amaze your little audience with this trick from 365 DAYS OF BABY LOVE: PLAYING, GROWING AND EXPLORING WITH BABIES FROM BIRTH TO AGE 2 (Sourcebooks, 1996) by Sheila Ellison and Susan Ferdinandi. Tie together several long, brightly colored scarves end to end. Stuff them inside an empty tissue box (the "boutique" size with the small oval opening on top works best). At first your baby will be enthralled just by watching you extract the scarves, but it won't be long before she wants to perform the trick herself.
WHO SAID THAT?
For posterity's sake, it's a good idea to tape-record your baby's sounds--and your conversations with him--once every couple of months or so. But don't wait until the child is older to play it back. Replay it right after you've recorded it; Ellison says some babies respond to hearing their own voice by "talking" up a storm, while others become still with wonder. Don't forget to say the date and set the stage as you begin each recording; in later years you can add to the tape on special occasions like the child's birthday, asking the same question each time. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or "What was the best thing that happened to you this year?" are sure to elicit responses that will be a treasure to listen to decades later.
BUBBLE FUN
Bubbles are the next best thing to singing when it comes to cheering up a fussy baby. Blow them within reach of your seated baby so she can bat at them; say "pop" when they burst as they hit the ground. Later, your baby will try to "catch" them, and later still she'll want to blow them herself (good training for blowing on hot food). Even if your baby just sits and watches the bubbles cascade down around her, she's getting a good visual "tracking" workout--essential for reading skills later on. Hint: Bubbles are inexpensive enough to buy several bottles. Keep one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, one in the backyard, and one in the stroller to pull out at the beach or playground.
TOT'S TETHERBALL
Tape a piece of string to a beach ball (or thread it through the valve loop). Dangle the ball for baby to bat with his hands or feet. Move it slightly out of reach, giving your baby a chance to wiggle or roll or reach towards it.
