[Childcare] Play and games for 0-year-old babies: Fun developmental and educational activities
Just looking at tiny, adorable babies makes you feel happy, doesn’t it?
We tend to think that newborns spend most of their time sleeping, but it’s also a period of remarkable growth.
Interacting closely and playing together with familiar people provides babies with plenty of stimulation and has very positive effects on their physical and mental development, as well as on attachment formation.
Let’s actively incorporate lots of play not only at daycare but at home, too.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of activities you can enjoy together with your baby.
From bonding games and sensory play to activities using educational toys, a wide variety of play ideas are gathered here!
Find the perfect activities that match your baby’s age in months and developmental stage.
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[Childcare] Play and games for 0-year-old babies: Fun developmental and educational activities (11–20)
Interactive Play: “The Cucumbers Are Ready”
Play the parent-and-child game “We’ve Got a Cucumber,” pretending the baby is a cucumber.
First, gently sway the baby’s legs to show a cucumber growing on the vine.
Then get ready to harvest and eat the cucumber.
Do the preparation steps using motions on the baby’s body: sprinkle “salt” by moving your hands over the baby’s tummy, and “slice” the cucumber with pretend knife motions.
When it’s ready, say “Let’s eat!” and show munching by giving little tickly touches.
The slightly ticklish movements are sure to make your baby happy!
Interactive play “French Bread”
“French Bread” is a playful activity where you imagine a baby’s chubby, adorable arms and legs as a tasty baguette and gently touch them.
As the lyrics mention spreading butter or jam on the baguette, you softly stroke the baby’s arms and legs.
Once you’ve ‘spread’ various toppings and made a delicious-looking baguette, celebrate by twinkling your fingers in front of the baby.
When it’s time to ‘eat,’ wiggle your fingers in a tickly way over the baby’s body to show munching.
It turns into a very soothing massage for the baby!
Hand play ‘Musunde Hiraite’
Let’s have fun with babies using the classic hand-play song “Musunde Hiraite” (“Close Them, Open Them”)! Follow the lyrics with the matching motions to the rhythm—clenching little fists tight, then opening hands wide.
At the end, place both hands on top of the head or on the knees.
There’s also a clapping part; babies will be captivated by the way hands roll and move to the rhythm and melody.
For the final hand placement, it’s also recommended to deliberately place them on the baby’s head or tummy.
It’s exciting to think about the day they’ll sing it themselves and do the hand play on their own.
nursery rhyme play
It’s a game you can play with a handkerchief or a towel.
Move the handkerchief to the rhythm of a song, or let it touch the baby’s face and body.
Those little things can feel incredibly fun for your child.
Even adults find it ticklish when a handkerchief brushes their skin, right? For a baby, it might even be a first-in-life experience.
Plus, the fluttering motion provides visual stimulation.
There are endless songs to choose from—try finding the ones your child loves.
Interactive play “Head, Shoulders, Knees – Pon”
Gently touch your baby’s body in time with the lyrics in “Head, Shoulder, Knee—Tap.” It’s like a simplified version of the English song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” where you touch your own body in time with the words.
You touch the same body parts mentioned in the lyrics.
Besides the three spots in the title, it’s also great to sing about various other parts to the melody and touch your baby there as you go.
There’s also a part where you clap your hands, so your baby can feel the rhythm while you interact.