"the word-of-mouth survival guide for SAN FRANCISCO parents"
I found this artical and wanted to share it :)Where Did It Go?
Take
a koosh ball or other soft ball and squish it into a small container
with a lid. Close the lid. Ask your baby, "Where did the ball go?"
Encourage him to open the container and watch the ball spring out,
jack-in-the-box style. The popping ball is sure to get his attention,
and the game is an exciting way to learn about object permanence -- the
fact that an object still exists even if you can't see it --Kitchen Stack-Ups
Empty
cereal boxes, plastic yogurt containers, and unbreakable bowls are
perfect building materials for teetering towers. As you stack each
item, describe its size and shape. Once your homemade skyscraper is
complete, you and your baby can take turns knocking it down. This
activity, Epstein says, will teach your baby about shapes and sizes as
well as cause and effect ("Wow, when I push on these boxes, they come
down with a big boom!").I Can Hear It
Another
way to reinforce the concept of object permanence is by hiding a squeak
toy beneath a blanket or towel. Start by partially covering it with the
blanket. Squeak the toy, and encourage your baby to find it. Once she
gets good at that, up the ante by completely covering the toy. Again,
squeeze it so it makes a noise. Cheer for her when she finds it.Wet and Wild
Turn
bathtime into aquatic exploration. Equip your child with cups of
different sizes, a small plastic teapot or watering can, and a handful
of plastic measuring spoons. Let her pour water from one container to
another so she can see what happens. Take a turn pouring the water for
her, and let her try to "catch" it in her hands. Another fun idea: Let
her have a wet sponge so she can watch the water drip from the sponge
onto other objects, Epstein suggests. Show her how to twist and squeeze
the sponge to make even more water drip.Mommy Is Sleeping
Sit
close to your baby (he can be seated or lying down, depending on his
age). Say "Mommy is going to sleep now," and close your eyes. After a
few seconds, open your eyes and enthusiastically say "Hi!" or "Good
morning!" (You can switch it up with "Good afternoon" or "Good evening"
to reflect the time of day.) Seeing Mom's eyes pop open and hearing her
greeting usually elicits a laugh. After a few rounds, pause longer
before opening your eyes to see how your baby reacts. Chances are
babies about 6 months and older will start to vocalize or bat at your
face to "wake you up."Fall for Foliage
Head
outside and gather leaves in a variety of colors and sizes. Give them
to your baby and let him pick them up and explore them with his hands
(with your supervision, of course). Crinkle some of the leaves so he
can experience the sound and learn that the action of crinkling the
leaf makes that crunchy noise. Use a leaf big enough to cover most of
your face for a new take on traditional peekaboo.Roll Play Seat
your baby on the floor across from you, and roll a toy car to her.
Encourage her to roll it back to you. Try to keep the activity going.
This back-and-forth game teaches the concept of taking turns, which
will be necessary later for conversations, and it sets the stage for
sharingPaint with Purees
This
game is a little messy, but it's guaranteed to be a hit! Settle your 8-
to 12-month-old into his high chair, or set him on the floor with a
cookie sheet in front of him. Present him with a variety of colorful
foods -- try colored yogurts and baby food -- and let him finger paint
a masterpiece that would make Jackson Pollock proud. As he dips his
hands into his edible "paint," describe the food with words like "red,"
"cold," "squishy," or whatever fits. If your pediatrician has given the
green light, you can also supply some Cheerios or similar finger foods
to add more texture to your child's artwork.Get a Feel for It
Give your 10- to 12-month-old a variety of textured items to explore, suggest Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones, authors of Great Expectations: Baby's First Year
(Sterling Publishing). Gather items from around the house or the
outdoors -- a silky scarf, a piece of cardboard, tickly blades of
grass, or a handful of sand, for example -- and let her touch each one.
(Just be sure she doesn't put things she shouldn't into her mouth.) The
two of you will discover which textures are most pleasing to her. Will
she like the softness of fleece or prefer the bumpiness of corduroy?
There's only one way to find out!Collect Colors Another
winning activity in my house involves exploring colors by creating
collections of similarly shaded items. Start by scavenging the toy box
for baby-friendly objects in solid colors such as red, blue, yellow,
and green. While sitting with your baby on the floor, group the items
into sets based on their color. For example, you might gather a red
ball, a red plastic stacking ring, and a red rattle. Let baby handle
the items as you say the color and name of each one, such as "red
apple, red rattle, blue ball, blue block."
10 First-Year Games for You and Baby Seattle- Stores, Restaurants, Services, Products, Activities, Events