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Games for Babies & Children

Put a smile on your baby's face with an inventive game.

Purposeful games for babies and children not only help them develop gross
and fine motor skills, they also help them learn to socialize and
interact with their playmates. There's no need to purchase expensive play
sets from a store or load the house with battery-operated blinking lights
and sounds, just use what you already have in an innovative, creative way.


1.

Tunnel Crawl


* Make a tunnel for children and babies to crawl through.
Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images

By creating a tunnel in your living room, not only can you stir your
children's imagination, you also create a game that will help
improve their gross motor skills. Babies and young children through
the age of 6 love crawling into tight space and hiding away in
secret spaces. Gather tall-backed dining room chairs, turn the couch
around and find any extra chairs you may have in the house. Line up
the chairs or couch back to back with about 2 feet of space between
them. Cover the space between the backs of the chairs with sheets
and clip the sheets in place with clothespins. Never stabilize a
sheet with a heavy or fragile item. Watch as your young children and
babies walk or crawl through the tunnel. Add challenge to the course
by placing pillows along the way.





Swinging Shoes


* Make a homemade pendulum in the backyard. Jupiterimages/Polka
Dot/Getty Images

Pendulums can be hypnotic to adults and children alike. Much can
also be learned from a free weight swinging back and forth. Tie one
end of a ball of craft yarn to the shoelaces of your child's tennis
shoe. Throw the shoe over a horizontal hanging branch in the yard
while holding the yarn ball. Catch the shoe, cut the yarn from the
ball, and tie the other end of the yarn to the shoe. Watch as your
curious toddler or early elementary-aged child begins exploring.
They will swing the shoes to create an obstacle course, put little
figurines inside and simulate going on a spaceship ride, or swing
the shoes in opposite directions and watch them smash into each
other. For babies, tie one stuffed animal with craft yarn, lay the
baby underneath, and gently sway the stuffed animal. Allow your baby
to reach for and bat at the toy.





Big Bubbles


* Bubbles are as fun to make as they are to watch. Seiya
Kawamoto/Lifesize/Getty Images

Exploring and playing with floating bubbles in enchanting to any
aged baby or child. Mix together 1 part Dawn Ultra or Joy Ultra, 15
parts distilled water, and 1/4 part glycerin or corn syrup. Gently
stir the ingredients. Your young children will enjoy experimenting
with bubbles sizes using a variety of kitchen utensils. Babies will
develop their hand-eye coordination by batting at bubbles you gently
blow in front of them. Always stay within arm's reach when young
children play with water. Any level of water poses a drowning risk.





Sticky Balloons


* Have a little fun with gravity, static electricity and some
balloons. Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images

Playing with balloons can teach young children and babies the
beginnings of principles involving gravity, air pressure and static
electricity. Blow up several latex balloons. Rub them on your hair,
your child's hair, or a piece of wool. Carefully place the balloon
on a flat wall and watch it defy gravity. Static electricity will
cause the balloon to hold to the surface of the wall. Invite your
child to try to knock the balloon down from the wall. Set multiple
balloons on the wall. Encourage your baby to hold a large balloon
using two hands, or practice cross-hemispheric movements by helping
her pass a small balloon from one hand to the other. Always
supervise young children with balloons as they can pose a choking
hazard when popped.






References


* Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images;
Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images; Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty
Images; Seiya Kawamoto/Lifesize/Getty Images;

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