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Baby Activities for Babies 9 - 12 months
Your baby will definitely be coming more mobile now and will need more interesting and more structured activities to keep them amused.
Not only will your baby really enjoy dancing and music and going to the park, it is now the time to get out the arts and crafts and start bringing back a few of the old favourites like cubby houses and blanket rides.
For some ideas to keep you both amused read on......
Not only will your baby really enjoy dancing and music and going to the park, it is now the time to get out the arts and crafts and start bringing back a few of the old favourites like cubby houses and blanket rides.
For some ideas to keep you both amused read on......
Art – Try adding a few drops of food colouring to some water, then sit outside with your baby with a big sheet of paper; let them experiment with making swirls with a paint brush. No paper? Then let your baby try to paint the patio floor with water instead. For another variation try adding food colouring to a pile of canned whipped cream. Your baby will love to smear the cream all over herself and if it ends up in her mouth, who cares?
Balls – Your baby may now be old enough to understand throwing and trying to catch. Get a few different sized balls for throwing, catching and rolling and start having some fun.
Ball pit– Use your playpen or a blue clam as a ball pit. Fill them up with a bag or two of plastic balls, sit back and watch the fun.
Bath time – Add some new toys to your baby’s collection, such as a bucket or small plastic handled cups or jugs. She will enjoy filling and tipping out the water.
Beach time – Once the weather is nice, grab your sunscreen, a beach umbrella and head to the beach. Your baby will love splashing in the ocean and playing in the sand.
Blanket rides – lay your baby on a blanket or towel and drag them around the floor. They will love the new sensation of movement. Just be careful that they don’t slip or fall.
Blue Clam – I am sure we all remember the big blue clams. Fill one side with water, the other with sand and sit with your baby and play.
Cars – Buy some push cars and trucks and set up an obstacle course. Show your baby how the car goes up a piece of cardboard and then quickly rolls back down.
Cubby House – All kids love their own tiny space to play. You can drape a blanket over your table, buy a cubby house or make your own from a huge appliance box. Just visit your local electrical retailer ask for an old box, bring it home and paint it and cover with stickers. Then get inside and let your imagination take over.
Drawing – Your baby may be too young to draw on her own yet, but that doesn’t mean she won’t enjoy seeing the colours and shapes you both make with chalk and crayons.
Echoes – Next time you are at a relatively empty car park. Call out or making a funny sound and listen for the echo. My daughter loves this game and it helps entertain her whilst I get the groceries into the car.
Grassy wonders – On a nice day take your baby out into the garden and let them have a crawl around on the grass. Touching grass and watching a beetle scurry buy will be fascinating to a baby new to the outdoors.
Just like me – Your baby loves to copy you. So give them a chance to try and feed you, brush your hair or wash you with a cloth. Not only will they have fun being a ‘big’ person it will help to teach them about caring for others.
Learning songs – Add some new songs to your nursery rhyme repertoire that help to teach your baby about numbers, letters or body parts. Think “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”.
Magic cups – Introduce your baby to magic. Get a ball and three plastic cups. Hide the ball under one cup and slowly move it. Ask her to find the toy. It may take a few goes but eventually your baby will show off his detective skills.
Magnets – Buy a few big kids safe magnets to put on the bottom of the fridge door. Your baby will enjoy stopping in for a visit and a play as he crawls past on one of his expeditions.
Movies – Your little one may too young for cartoons and children’s shows yet, however there are a few fun sing along DVD’s on the market that you can put on to provide a back drop for your singing and dancing sessions with your baby. You can also put on family home movies; your baby will enjoy watching the familiar faces. My daughters first and favourite DVD is Playschool’s Live in Concert. It is 45 minutes of almost non-stop singing and dancing and even at 9 months of age she claps as soon as she hears the introduction song. “There’s a bear in there”.
Obstacle course – Set up an obstacle course of rolled up blankets, pillows, and other soft toys. Let your baby crawl around and practice getting up and over obstacles in his path. If your baby is trying to walk, set up a chair or other object she can pull up on, just make sure you are nearby and your obstacle course it is on a soft floor just in case she stumbles.
Peak a boo – The next version of peek-a-boo to play with your baby can involve her own toys. Let her see you hide a toy under a blanket and then let her pull the blanket away as you say peek-a-boo. You can even let her watch you hide a toy and then you can both pretend to find it.
Phones – It is about this age that baby’s become fascinated with the phone. They realise that familiar voices come out of the phone. My daughter yells’ da da ‘every time it rings. Let them listen in on conversations and encourage them to say hello. For their own play time you can buy baby phones by Fisher Price and other major toy manufacturers. Though they do know the difference and nothing beats mummy’s phone. Depending on their age you could even offer them one of your old mobile phones to play with, but ensure the battery is out and that there are no loose parts that could become a choking hazard, and always supervise their play with objects not initially designed for babies.
Puppets – Buys some puppets or put on a show with her favourite cuddly toy. Let the toys talk and dance, or even have a tea party. It will teach your baby about communication and play.
Push toys – There are lots of push toys available to help with your child’s balance and walking skills. From the old favourite block filled wooden cart, to the plastic balls with a handle. Depending on your child’s balance he may even be able to pushed around on a small ride on bike or push cart. Just make sure they are always supervised though.
Puzzles – Whether it is a wooden jigsaw puzzle or other toy with shapes and slots, this will be another activity to improve your baby’s spatial relation skills.
Recordings - Record you and your baby’s voice and play it back to her. She will love hearing another babies babble and will smile at the familiar sound of your voice. Or you could even record a few of her favourite stories on a tape to play back whilst she is falling asleep.
Ring Stack – another favourite old toy is the ring stack. Your little one won’t be able to get them on in order yet but the game will be a great opportunity for them to practice.
Rip them up – My daughter absolutely loves magazines and catalogues. Once you have finished reading give your baby a few to play with. She will enjoy the pictures and the great sound of ripping paper. Just watch that the pieces don’t end up in her mouth though.
Rocking horse – Buy and old fashioned rocking horse and let your baby enjoy riding away the afternoon. Just stay close by in case your little jockey looses their balance.
Shape Sorting toys – There are plenty of shape-sorting toys on the market, or you can make your own by cutting holes in the top of an old shoe box and putting various toys and balls through the holes. Both will teach your baby hand eye coordination and spatial relations.
Slide – Sick of the swing, then next time you go to the park, pop your little one on your lap and whizz down the slide.
Stacking blocks – Whether you stack blocks, Tupperware containers or plastic cups. Your baby will love to make things and knock them down again.
Talk in a tube – Here is another game you can play with an old paper towel or glad wrap tube. Hold the tube to your mouth and make funny sounds, talk or sing. Your baby will enjoy listening to these new sounds.
Teddy Bears Picnic – Take your baby and some toys out into the great outdoors. Enjoy a tea party and then head off for a walk to see the ducks, the birds or whatever other creature may be nearby.
Toys for Climbing - Your baby will need opportunities to pull up. You can either offer your hands or put a chair on a soft rug. I also found the Fisher Price Stand to Sit Giraffe a great toy. It combines a ball and music game with handles to encourage baby to stand and balance.
Walk on your feet – place your baby’s feet on yours, hold their hands and let them walk with you. They will delight at this first attempt at walking.
Walker – If your baby is starting to want to walk try buying them something to assist with their balance. I really liked “baby’s first walker by Vretch” which provides a piano, musical toy and walker all in one.
Water fun – Depending on water restrictions in your area, get outside and have some water fun. Put on a sprinkler, grab a water pistol, play under a watering can or buy a water play table. Whatever you do, just get outside and get wet!
Zoo – It might be time to start showing your baby some animals. Try visiting a petting zoo or animal farm. Just make sure you watch those little hands don’t get them into trouble.
Balls – Your baby may now be old enough to understand throwing and trying to catch. Get a few different sized balls for throwing, catching and rolling and start having some fun.
Ball pit– Use your playpen or a blue clam as a ball pit. Fill them up with a bag or two of plastic balls, sit back and watch the fun.
Bath time – Add some new toys to your baby’s collection, such as a bucket or small plastic handled cups or jugs. She will enjoy filling and tipping out the water.
Beach time – Once the weather is nice, grab your sunscreen, a beach umbrella and head to the beach. Your baby will love splashing in the ocean and playing in the sand.
Blanket rides – lay your baby on a blanket or towel and drag them around the floor. They will love the new sensation of movement. Just be careful that they don’t slip or fall.
Blue Clam – I am sure we all remember the big blue clams. Fill one side with water, the other with sand and sit with your baby and play.
Cars – Buy some push cars and trucks and set up an obstacle course. Show your baby how the car goes up a piece of cardboard and then quickly rolls back down.
Cubby House – All kids love their own tiny space to play. You can drape a blanket over your table, buy a cubby house or make your own from a huge appliance box. Just visit your local electrical retailer ask for an old box, bring it home and paint it and cover with stickers. Then get inside and let your imagination take over.
Drawing – Your baby may be too young to draw on her own yet, but that doesn’t mean she won’t enjoy seeing the colours and shapes you both make with chalk and crayons.
Echoes – Next time you are at a relatively empty car park. Call out or making a funny sound and listen for the echo. My daughter loves this game and it helps entertain her whilst I get the groceries into the car.
Grassy wonders – On a nice day take your baby out into the garden and let them have a crawl around on the grass. Touching grass and watching a beetle scurry buy will be fascinating to a baby new to the outdoors.
Just like me – Your baby loves to copy you. So give them a chance to try and feed you, brush your hair or wash you with a cloth. Not only will they have fun being a ‘big’ person it will help to teach them about caring for others.
Learning songs – Add some new songs to your nursery rhyme repertoire that help to teach your baby about numbers, letters or body parts. Think “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”.
Magic cups – Introduce your baby to magic. Get a ball and three plastic cups. Hide the ball under one cup and slowly move it. Ask her to find the toy. It may take a few goes but eventually your baby will show off his detective skills.
Magnets – Buy a few big kids safe magnets to put on the bottom of the fridge door. Your baby will enjoy stopping in for a visit and a play as he crawls past on one of his expeditions.
Movies – Your little one may too young for cartoons and children’s shows yet, however there are a few fun sing along DVD’s on the market that you can put on to provide a back drop for your singing and dancing sessions with your baby. You can also put on family home movies; your baby will enjoy watching the familiar faces. My daughters first and favourite DVD is Playschool’s Live in Concert. It is 45 minutes of almost non-
Obstacle course – Set up an obstacle course of rolled up blankets, pillows, and other soft toys. Let your baby crawl around and practice getting up and over obstacles in his path. If your baby is trying to walk, set up a chair or other object she can pull up on, just make sure you are nearby and your obstacle course it is on a soft floor just in case she stumbles.
Peak a boo – The next version of peek-
Phones – It is about this age that baby’s become fascinated with the phone. They realise that familiar voices come out of the phone. My daughter yells’ da da ‘every time it rings. Let them listen in on conversations and encourage them to say hello. For their own play time you can buy baby phones by Fisher Price and other major toy manufacturers. Though they do know the difference and nothing beats mummy’s phone. Depending on their age you could even offer them one of your old mobile phones to play with, but ensure the battery is out and that there are no loose parts that could become a choking hazard, and always supervise their play with objects not initially designed for babies.
Puppets – Buys some puppets or put on a show with her favourite cuddly toy. Let the toys talk and dance, or even have a tea party. It will teach your baby about communication and play.
Push toys – There are lots of push toys available to help with your child’s balance and walking skills. From the old favourite block filled wooden cart, to the plastic balls with a handle. Depending on your child’s balance he may even be able to pushed around on a small ride on bike or push cart. Just make sure they are always supervised though.
Puzzles – Whether it is a wooden jigsaw puzzle or other toy with shapes and slots, this will be another activity to improve your baby’s spatial relation skills.
Recordings -
Ring Stack – another favourite old toy is the ring stack. Your little one won’t be able to get them on in order yet but the game will be a great opportunity for them to practice.
Rip them up – My daughter absolutely loves magazines and catalogues. Once you have finished reading give your baby a few to play with. She will enjoy the pictures and the great sound of ripping paper. Just watch that the pieces don’t end up in her mouth though.
Rocking horse – Buy and old fashioned rocking horse and let your baby enjoy riding away the afternoon. Just stay close by in case your little jockey looses their balance.
Shape Sorting toys – There are plenty of shape-
Slide – Sick of the swing, then next time you go to the park, pop your little one on your lap and whizz down the slide.
Stacking blocks – Whether you stack blocks, Tupperware containers or plastic cups. Your baby will love to make things and knock them down again.
Talk in a tube – Here is another game you can play with an old paper towel or glad wrap tube. Hold the tube to your mouth and make funny sounds, talk or sing. Your baby will enjoy listening to these new sounds.
Teddy Bears Picnic – Take your baby and some toys out into the great outdoors. Enjoy a tea party and then head off for a walk to see the ducks, the birds or whatever other creature may be nearby.
Toys for Climbing -
Walk on your feet – place your baby’s feet on yours, hold their hands and let them walk with you. They will delight at this first attempt at walking.
Walker – If your baby is starting to want to walk try buying them something to assist with their balance. I really liked “baby’s first walker by Vretch” which provides a piano, musical toy and walker all in one.
Water fun – Depending on water restrictions in your area, get outside and have some water fun. Put on a sprinkler, grab a water pistol, play under a watering can or buy a water play table. Whatever you do, just get outside and get wet!
Zoo – It might be time to start showing your baby some animals. Try visiting a petting zoo or animal farm. Just make sure you watch those little hands don’t get them into trouble.
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Activities for your Baby Aged 9 - 12 months