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Easy-peasy baby play ideas
Our Learning & Play Expert, Ruth, shares some simple play time activities suitable from 6 months+ that you can do at home with your little one.
In their first few years of life your baby will grow and change so quickly and it’s so true that if you blink you’ll miss it! We have so many things to juggle and think of as new parents that I’ve lightened the load with one area when it comes to your baby’s learning, play and development - I’ve sorted it all for you! The My Mummy Teacher Learning Through Play Activity Cards are full to the brim of playful learning activities you can do with your baby at home. They’re quick to set up, use items you’ve most likely already got around the home and align to the Early Years Framework and Developmental Milestones so you know you’re doing the right thing, at the right time, to help your baby develop through play.
Here are some activities from the Newborn+, 6 months+ and 1+ activity packs to get you going:
Newborn+
Tape a square of tin foil to your baby's play mat using duct tape and let them explore during tummy time.
Challenging: Wrap their favourite toys up in foil for them to unwrap and discover. Easier: Wrap a larger piece of cardboard in foil and show your baby their reflection.
Lie your baby on a sensory foil blanket, scrunched up newspaper or wrapping paper and let them hear the noises as they kick.
Challenging: Include other materials such as bubble wrap, cardboard and artificial grass. Easier: Scrunch up materials for your baby to listen to the different sounds.
6 months+
Push scarves or ribbons through the holes in a pizza oven tray then practise matching the colours of the scarves as your baby pulls them out.
Easier: Hang the colourful scarf pizza tray as a visual during tummy time and let your baby pull the scarves and ribbons through.
Challenging: Cut a cardboard roll into circular sections then thread onto the sensory scarf or ribbon for your baby to pull off.
Make gloop to play with! Pour gloop into a plastic tub or on a tuff tray and let your baby explore by sitting in it. Recipe - 2 cups of cornflour to 1 cup of water & a splash of food colouring.
Easier: Pour into a freezer bag to make a sensory bag to squish.
Challenging: Freeze the gloop in giant ice cube trays, then place in a tub or on a tuff tray for your baby to explore as they melt.
1 years+
Stick dried spaghetti into playdough then get your little one to stack Cheerios on to the spaghetti.
Easier: Let your little one explore rolling, scooping and manipulating Cheerios in a tray.
Challenging: Stack Cheerios without the spaghetti.
And a few bonus ones here:
You’ll notice that each activity is adapted for a wide range of abilities. This is because child development is not neat and linear, you’ll find that children develop some skills quicker than others and as a child development specialist I can’t tell you enough how important it is to meet your baby where they’re at in terms of their play. So simply choose the starting point for that skill that suits your baby best! Don’t forget to shop the full range of My Mummy Teacher Learning Through Play Activity Cards to continue your playful learning journey with your baby!
Advice & tips
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Important notice: Breastfeeding is best. Follow on milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet from 6 months. Talk to a Healthcare professional.
