Activities for 6 - 12 Months
Water Play
Water play is a winning activity for children of all ages, whenever in doubt get in the bath – that’s our motto anyway. This little water play activity is perfect for babies as young as 6months. Fill a shallow tray with a little water and watch them splash around. Make sure that you always stay vigilant when your baby is playing with water. Never leave a child unattended around water.
Vertical Grab
You can pick up some felt shapes/ sheets anywhere on the internet. Felt is a great texture and material for young babies – they can mouth it without anything coming away into their mouths. Try attaching some masking tape to the back of some felt shapes and stick them to the wall. Watch your little one grabbing and grasping for the shapes.
Edible Finger Paints
Edible finger paints can be done in lots of different ways but this way is definitely the most delicious and fun. When you begin your weaning journey, your baby will be enjoying lots of different textures and tastes. A great way to get them enjoying their food is by experiencing some taste safe sensory play. Grab some yoghurt and food colouring, mix them together and enjoy a little ‘painting’ session.
Busy Board
Whilst you have bought lots of baby toys, I bet your baby prefers to play with things they shouldn’t. Keys, toilet roll, door stops etc. Try attaching some household objects, locks, chains, timers and phones to some plyboard. Your little one will have hours of fun playing with all the objects on this busy board.
Feely Walk
At around 10-11months your little one may begin to start pulling themselves up on furniture/ couches. To entice them to cruise the furniture and explore movement try making some feely bags. Fill a ziplock bag/ laminating pouch with different sensory bases such as; water, oil, hair gel. Your little ones will have so much fun feeling each of the bags as they cruise along the furniture.
Free the Bugs
Tape some bugs/ animals/ cars (whatever toy you can find) to a tray and prompt your little one to remove each of the toys. This will encourage your little one to use their pincer grip which is using their thumb and index finger to pick up small objects.
Post and Retrieve
Find a cardboard box and cut a hole in the top. Find some objects that fit perfectly into the hole. Teach your little one to post the objects through the hole and then show them how you can get them back out to enjoy again and again.
Ribbon Pull
Fill an empty pringles tube with some ribbon and cut a hole into the lid. Pull out a small piece of ribbon and prompt your little one to remove the rest of the ribbon. They will love finding more and more ribbon from the tube.
Yoghurt Finger Paints
As soon as you begin weaning your baby, play opportunities become even more available to you. Experimenting with food and different textures is great for babies. Why not add a little food colouring to some plain yoghurt and show your baby how to paint with them? The colours will excite your little one and will create their very first painting.