Play time with the bebes

[bigrock74]

How are you guys playing/teaching your babes? We read books, do lots of tummy time, sing, play patti-cake in hopes he'll learn to clap his hands, jolly jumper, play with toys (stuffed animals, eye-hand co-ordination and some other stuff), and of course we have the ultimate....circle of neglect (exersaucer). He also has a toy car that he can sit inside and hit buttons etc.

Just wondering what else there is to do at this point.

[dawnfire]

We do a lot of the same...read books, I make lots of funny noises at him, I make noises and he tries to copy them, he plays in his bouncer, stuff like that. I got a book called "125 Brain Games for Baby" and the nice thing is that a lot of the stuff I thought was just me being a newb mom trying to entertain baby is actually valid for growing little brains.

Though last night I gave him a wooden spoon to play with like was one of the book's suggestions, and not sure about that. He managed to whack himself and me with it pretty good (he didn't hurt himself, but I don't think he knows his own strength!) Not sure we'll do that again.

ETA:  There is one game I got from the book that he really likes sometimes and not others.  It's called "Ahhh boom."  You sit with baby facing you, and you dramatically go "Ahhhhhhh!" as you slowly bring your forehead close to him.  Then you say "BOOM!" when you touch your head to his.  The first night we did this he laughed and laughed!

[bigrock74]

Feb 9, 2015 20:06:16 GMT -5 dawnfire said:

We do a lot of the same...read books, I make lots of funny noises at him, I make noises and he tries to copy them, he plays in his bouncer, stuff like that. I got a book called "125 Brain Games for Baby" and the nice thing is that a lot of the stuff I thought was just me being a newb mom trying to entertain baby is actually valid for growing little brains.

Though last night I gave him a wooden spoon to play with like was one of the book's suggestions, and not sure about that. He managed to whack himself and me with it pretty good (he didn't hurt himself, but I don't think he knows his own strength!) Not sure we'll do that again.

ETA:  There is one game I got from the book that he really likes sometimes and not others.  It's called "Ahhh boom."  You sit with baby facing you, and you dramatically go "Ahhhhhhh!" as you slowly bring your forehead close to him.  Then you say "BOOM!" when you touch your head to his.  The first night we did this he laughed and laughed!

My Dad has been doing this with the babies in our family for years! He'll be impressed to find out it's a brain game!

[isolemnlyswear]

I feel like we do the same thing everyday. We do a lot of tummy time, she rolls everywhere, bouncer, read tons of books, itsy bitsy spider, patty cake, tickle time. I'm excited to start swim class this week and we are going to try and make story time at the library on Mondays.

[surfmama106]

Alot of the same here too. Although we have a couple of new stuff that is a big hit. Vtech activity cube is amazing. She sits around each side and can play for a while and she also loves to pull herself to stand. SO because she wanted to stand so much I bought her a leapfrog activity table she can stand at and play. Lastly I got her the vtech activity train that she can sit on and eventually scoot. It's really fun to watch her play and be surprised by different things. I would kill to be home and able to play with her all day!

[surfmama106]

[surfmama106]

[bigrock74]

surfmama106 - your LO looks so much older than Spencer! Must be all her beautiful hair, and she looks tall too.

[Leapinglizards]

I didn't even think of pulling out the activity table that's a great idea. Although my kid is a daredevil and likes to fling herself backwards

[Leapinglizards]

We do the jumper/tummy time most of the time. She just likes a change of scenery so I feel like my day is moving her from one place to the next

[surfmama106]

Feb 9, 2015 22:12:18 GMT -5 @iheartmyshiba said:

surfmama106 I just can't get over her hair. It's amazing. I'm sure people ambush you when you're out in public with her.

Yes. Without fail. I actually just bought some organic baby shampoo and conditioner. (Yes, conditioner) she needs a little hair repair in the back its all broken and knotty. Poor thing, I'm already combing knots out of her hair.

[honeybee434]

We just do whatever entertains DD for the longest amount of time and hope that it partially involves her playing by herself for more than 5 minutes. She loves her toys, but lately she wants to sit on my lap while playing which means after I get home from work or on weekends NOTHING gets done around the house. Walking away from her for 2 seconds results in crying with tears. :/ I usually get a good 10-15 minites out of the jumper. SIL has an exersaucer that she really likes, so I'm debating getting one of those, or a walker, in hopes that I can get a few more household things taken care of while she is entertained.

[Leapinglizards]

Feb 9, 2015 20:06:16 GMT -5 dawnfire said:

We do a lot of the same...read books, I make lots of funny noises at him, I make noises and he tries to copy them, he plays in his bouncer, stuff like that. I got a book called "125 Brain Games for Baby" and the nice thing is that a lot of the stuff I thought was just me being a newb mom trying to entertain baby is actually valid for growing little brains.

Though last night I gave him a wooden spoon to play with like was one of the book's suggestions, and not sure about that. He managed to whack himself and me with it pretty good (he didn't hurt himself, but I don't think he knows his own strength!) Not sure we'll do that again.

ETA:  There is one game I got from the book that he really likes sometimes and not others.  It's called "Ahhh boom."  You sit with baby facing you, and you dramatically go "Ahhhhhhh!" as you slowly bring your forehead close to him.  Then you say "BOOM!" when you touch your head to his.  The first night we did this he laughed and laughed!

We just tried ah boom it was a hit!!!! Thanks for the idea

[Liv]

Feb 9, 2015 21:52:39 GMT -5 Leapinglizards said:

We do the jumper/tummy time most of the time. She just likes a change of scenery so I feel like my day is moving her from one place to the next

Yep, same. With some reading and "talking" together. Being home all day is great, but sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough if I'm not just concentrating on her 100% all the time!

[littlemissmarla]

Feb 10, 2015 11:24:07 GMT -5 Liv said:

Feb 9, 2015 21:52:39 GMT -5 Leapinglizards said:

We do the jumper/tummy time most of the time. She just likes a change of scenery so I feel like my day is moving her from one place to the next

Yep, same. With some reading and "talking" together. Being home all day is great, but sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough if I'm not just concentrating on her 100% all the time!

Ahhhh story of my life. Lately she's been having fun going to different rooms with me while I clean or put away laundry. She gets to play on different surfaces and see different things. 

We do:
Exersaucer
Pack n Play (which has a ton of her toys)
Tummy Time
Exercises
Read (not enough)
Sing, a lot! We are always listening to Disney World Radio
Have photo shoots
Practice sitting/rolling
Hang out in the high chair and play
Occasional Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
She loves to just grab her feet on the floor and scream at the fan so we do a lot of whatever that is haha

[Leapinglizards]

My little one also likes this that we learned at library time

m.youtube.com/watch?v=A193BeYhkEE

[sararl07]

Feb 10, 2015 14:12:01 GMT -5 Leapinglizards said:

My little one also likes this that we learned at library time

m.youtube.com/watch?v=A193BeYhkEE

I've never heard that one before...will be adding to my song list

[soon2bmrsn]

Same as what everyone else has said mostly. Jumperoo time, playing in the playroom with her brothers (as long as it's temporarily clear of all the small Lego and Playmobil pieces), reading books, and we spend the most time in her room because she has a lot of floor space. I laid out a big quilt over the carpet and this is where most of her toys are. She plays/rolls around/etc. forever!

[mamanorris]

We sing patty cake, he just started clapping today. It's the cutest thing I have ever seen. He was so proud. We made the piano on the kicky mat so he can sit up and play and he loves that too. Bubbles are another big hit, with both boys. Jack karate chops them and lennon loves to watch them float down.

[sararl07]

Bubbles what a great idea

[bigrock74]

I thought I would revive this thread as our babies are older now. What are you doing for fun inside and outside?
We have some interactive toys (music table, baby einstein laptop, balls, books etc). Outside we don't have much yet as it is just getting nice here. We have a push car and a baby swing. We will be getting a pool within the next few weeks. I find that Spencer is getting bored with some of his toys and I think I need to switch stuff up.