OBSTACLE COURSE
Crawlers and cruisers alike will rise to this challenge: Scatter some cushions from the sofa on a carpeted floor to create mini mountains for your baby to climb over or crawl around. Stack one or two next to the couch, and "spot" your baby as he climbs to the top. Help him to back down on his tummy, feet first--just as you'll want him to do when he turns into an official stair climber.
THE MANY FACES OF PEEKABOO
This is, perhaps, the peak peekaboo period. Oh sure, the old cover-the-face-with-your-hands version is tried and true, but don't stop there. Consider these "advanced" versions:--Undercover Peekaboo: Drape a sheer scarf over your head and ask baby "Where's Mommy?" and let her pull the scarf off. Then drape it over her head and pretend you can't find her--she'll pull it off herself in a burst of laughter. Next do the same thing, only with a baby sheet; it's bigger and opaque--that much more thrilling.
--Hide-and-seek Peek: Hide behind a chair, couch or door, leaving a foot or hand in baby's sight, again prompting baby with "Where's Daddy?" If baby doesn't head your way, jump out with a "peekaboo." If there are two adults around, one can hide with the baby, while the other one counts down, then talks aloud as she tries to find them. "Are they in the closet? No...Are they behind the couch? No..." and so on, until you find them, when of course you give baby an elated hug.
--Unpredictable Peekaboo: Cover your face with a book, a plate--whatever is handy. Each time you reveal your face, "wear" a different silly expression. Also, sometimes move the book up, sometimes down, or to either side. The extra surprises in this version usually make for a giggle-fest.
TAPPING OUT A TUNE
This game, from WONDERPLAY: INTERACTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL GAMES, CRAFTS, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS (Running Press, 1995) by Fran Reitzes and Beth Teitelman, features a happy tune and a surprise ending. Sit with your child at the table, or across from him in his high chair. Starting tapping on the surface while you sing:
Tap, tap, tapping on the table,
Tap, tap, tapping on the table,
Tap, tap, tapping on the table,
Till it's time to stop!
On "stop," raise your arms up. It won't be long before your baby does the same. For variety, sometimes tap hard, other times softly; sometimes fast, other times slowly. If you like, create new verses to go along: "Tap, tap, tapping very softly," "very quickly," and so on--whatever tickles your fancy. Baby will love imitating you, whatever you do, and will soon take the lead herself.
SOCK BALL SPORTS
Roll a few pairs of athletic socks inside themselves to form balls--a piece of masking tape will make them more secure. Now show baby how to toss them into a laundry basket; move the basket further away for more of a challenge. Play catch with baby. Line up some toilet paper tubes and try knocking them over by throwing or rolling the sock ball at them. Show baby how you can juggle two (or better yet, three!) of them at a time. Half the fun of this game is making up variations as you go, says Sheila Ellison, coauthor of 365 DAYS OF BABY LOVE: PLAYING, GROWING AND EXPLORING WITH BABIES FROM BIRTH TO AGE 2 (Sourcebooks, 1996).
