You can play many fun, free games with your child to help him master new skills. Starting at about 6 or 7 months, you can try any of the games described below, although most babies won't be ready for them until they're closer to 9 months.

Peek-a-Boo
Playing peek-a-boo with toys helps teach infants about object permanence -- the understanding that an object has not disappeared permanently just because it isn't visible now. He'll eventually learn that permanence applies to people also, and you can reinforce this lesson by hiding yourself around corners or behind furniture.


Pat-a-Cake
Clapping hands to the pat-a-cake rhyme gives your baby practice in coordinating actions with words. Other ditties to rehearse include \";Itsy-bitsy Spider\"; and \";Where is Thumbkin?\";

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Teach your baby the names of all those body parts by having his hands follow along with the song lyrics.

This Little Piggy
Wiggling your baby's toes provides more than fun and games. He'll love the age old chant (starting with his big toe): \";This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none, this little piggy ran wee wee wee wee all the way home.\"; He'll squeal with delight when you reach the little toe and \";run\"; your fingers up his body.

Cause-and-Effect Play
An awareness of cause-and-effect relationships begins at about 7 months. You can foster this awareness during your daily activities by explaining, for instance, how turning a faucet lets the water flow. At around 9 months a toddler will enjoy his own experiments with causal relationships. Letting him repeatedly turn on the water or lights will thrill him more than most store-bought games.

Simmi replied. Hi Avi. Thanks so much for sharing these games and article. Looks like we will have our active member back in action once you return to college..dont get too busy studying there...at home I know you won't have much time as u would be engrossed with Nikhil.
Enjoy.
Simmi Arshiya replied. Hey Avi,

Thanks for sharing this article with us. It's very good. Also thanks for sharing games babies play.

Arshiya Avi replied. do check this out too when you get a chance..... it's a good article about language dev't in babies..

http://www*family*msn*com/tool/article.aspx?dept=raising&sdept=rks&name=bc_talk