Especially for parents of infants! Baby’s First Games

Especially for parents of infants!

Baby's First Games

Rhymes and Sound Awareness

Familiar and made-up lap games introduce infants to the exciting world of playful interactions with others.

What is the practice?

First games help a baby learn to play with others. They also teach little ones how to get another person to do fun and interesting things.

What does the practice look like?

Lap games are back-and-forth, your-turn/my-turn play between an infant and a parent. Lap games are silly sayings and short rhymes. The adult does something and the child does something. The parent and child go back-and-forth playing the game.

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How do you do the practice?

Here are some lap games that are sure to delight your young child. Search the Web using the term parent infant lap games to find more fun games for babies. The games in this practice guide get infants excited about playing and interacting with their parents. It is best to play games that include words and movements that especially interest your child.

Peek-a-Boo (also known as Peep Eye) Most babies like peek-a-boo. Cover something (adult's face, baby's face, a favorite toy) and say, "Where is ____? What should we do?" Then uncover the person or thing and say, "Peek-a-boo! Peeka-boo! I see you!" The game is often first played by hiding your own face with your hands. It can progress to covering your child's face with a small cloth or towel. You will be doing all or most of the game when first playing Peek-a-Boo. Try repeating the movement and words a few times. Then wait until your child does something to tell you to do it again. It won't take long for him to start removing a cloth from his face. Seeing you will likely get him to smile and vocalize to you.

So Big

Gently stretch your infant's arms above his head while saying, "How big is (child's name)? He is so,

so, sooo big. Someone's gonna get you. Here comes a pig." The game ends with you saying, "Oink,

oink" and kissing your child's tummy or neck. Infants will sometimes lift their arms to try to start or con-

tinue the game. Babies who can sit up on their own often

stretch their hands and arms over their heads. Whenever

your child tries to start the game, respond by playing the How do you know

game. Keep the fun going!

Ride a Little Pony Infants who can sit up with or without support delight in playing this game. Let your child sit on your knees facing

the practice worked?

Does your child try to start or continue a game?

you. Gently bounce him up and down. Say: "Ride a little pony down to town. Better be careful, so you don't fall down." As you say "don't fall down," pretend to let your child fall. Open your legs and let him slide down between them. Infants who enjoy this game will try to bounce when on the adult's knees to start or continue the fun.

Does your child smile or laugh when playing a game?

Does your child vocalize to express delight?

CELL p r a c t i c e s

CENTER for EARLY LITERACY LEARNING

Take a look at more of babies' first games ...

Peek-a-Boo to You!

Andy, 3 months old, and his father have found a fun way to play Peek-a-Boo. When Andy wakes up after sleeping, Dad hides behind Andy's favorite blanket and calls to his son. "Where's Andy? Where's Andy?" Hearing his father's voice, Andy starts cooing and wiggling with excitement. As soon as Andy "calls" back, Dad pops his head from behind the blanket and says, "Peek-a-boo! I see you!" Dad hides again and the game begins. Andy looks to the right and then to the left to see where his dad will appear next.

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Heigh-Ho!

Five-month-old Cindy and her dad play many different rough-and-tumble games. She has learned to make sounds to tell her dad to "let the games begin!" Cindy especially likes "riding" on her dad's leg. Her father puts her in a sitting position on his foot facing him while holding her hands. He bounces her up-and-down while saying, "Ride a horse. Ride a horse. Cindy goes around. Not too fast, not too fast or Cindy falls down." He pretends to have her "crash." She looks at her dad and makes all kinds of sounds to get him to play the game again.

Mommy's Pratfalls

Robert is 10 months old. He isn't able to stretch his arms above his head because of some physical difficulties. But this does not stop his mother from playing lap games with him. She takes what Robert can do and turns it into a fun game. With Robert lying on his back, she gently pushes his feet so his knees bend toward his chest. Mom says, "Robert is so strong. What a big frown! He is so strong. He pushes me down." She then pretends to fall over. He gets more and more bright-eyed each time the game is played. Robert has started to laugh out loud as he pushes his feet to see his mother's antics!

CELLpractices Is a publication of the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (H326B060010). The opinions expressed, however, are those of CELL and not necessarily those of the U.S. Department of

Education. Copyright ? 2010 by the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, Asheville, North Carolina ().

Especially for parents of infants!

Sure Winner Lap Games

Rhymes and Sound Awareness

Parent?infant lap games are a joy to babies. The lap games in this practice guide are often the first ones a baby plays. They will help your child vocalize and "talk" to you more and more.

What is the practice?

Lap games like Peek-a-Boo, So Big, and I'm Gonna Get You help infants learn about give-and-take during parent/child play. They are also a lot of fun! The more times your child plays the games, the more she will try to be part of the activity. The more she tries, the more likely she will squeal and make gleeful sounds.

What does the practice look like?

Lap games are a fun way to encourage a child to

watch, listen, and learn to play with others. Lap games are your-turn/my-turn activities. At first, you will do most

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of the work. When your child becomes more familiar with

a game, she will try to begin or do part of a game. Encourage your child to start or continue a game. This

will help her learn she can get someone to play with her.

How do you do the practice?

Here are several simple but powerful lap games. They will give you an idea about how to make your baby a "star player." You can find many other lap games by searching the Web using infant lap games.

Wait until your child is alert and well-rested. This will make the games more fun. Most infants like to lie on their backs or face-up on their parent's lap while playing these games.

Three lap games most infants enjoy are Peek-a-Boo, So Big, and I'm Gonna Get You. There are no right or wrong ways to play such games. The important thing about lap games is the give-and-take and back-and-forth play between you and your child.

Peek-a-Boo. Cover your infant's eyes with a cloth. Remove it, and say "Peek-a-boo, I see you." Repeat the game when your child seems to enjoy it.

So Big. Gently stretch your child's arms above her head while saying "so big." Kiss or blow raspberries on your child's tummy after her arms are stretched out.

How do you know the practice worked?

I'm Gonna Get You. Say "I'm gonna get you." Repeat the phrase three or four times. Move closer to your infant's face and finally kiss or tickle her neck.

Play lap games as often as your child seems to enjoy them. This will help your child learn how a game is played. Encourage her to do part of the movements of the game. This can be something like lifting her hands above her head while playing So Big. Any time your child vocalizes or makes any sounds, repeat them and make them part of the game.

Does your child try to start or do some part of the game?

Does your child squeal, make sounds, or laugh as each game ends?

Does your child seem to recognize how the game is played?

CELL p r a c t i c e s

CENTER for EARLY LITERACY LEARNING

Take a look at more infant lap games

Let's Play "So Big!"

Three-month-old Madison and her father have developed a unique way of playing So Big. She starts the game by raising her arms above her head and "hollering" to get her dad's attention. Dad then says, "Daddy sees Madison who is so, so big!" He tickles her under her arms. Madison squeals with delight and starts the game again. She and her dad repeat the game many times. Dad changes what he does by raising Madison's arms above her head and blowing raspberries on her tummy.

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Hey, This Is Fun!

Daniel, 10 months old, loves it when his mother plays I'm Gonna Get You. Mom starts the game by holding her hands out in front of her and closing and opening them. She says, "I'm gonna get Danny, I'm gonna get Danny." She moves her hands closer and closer to her son's stomach. She finishes by gently grabbing Daniel around his tummy and rocking him back and forth. Daniel gets her to "do it again" by looking at his mother and babbling happily.

What a Kick!

Eli, 9 months old, isn't able to use his arms and hands very well. But his mother has found a fun way to play Peek-aBoo with him. Eli loves to kick and does so often! His mother attaches a ribbon to a small towel. She ties the other end to Eli's ankle with a Velcro band. Mom gently bends Eli's legs while placing the cloth over his face. She asks "Where is Eli? Where is Eli?" Eli kicks off the towel. His mother exclaims, "Peek-a-boo! I see you!" Eli now bends his knees on his own to tell his mom he wants to play the game again.

CELLpractices Is a publication of the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (H326B060010). The opinions expressed, however, are those of CELL and not necessarily those of the U.S. Department of

Education. Copyright ? 2010 by the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, Asheville, North Carolina ().

Especially for parents of infants!

Made-Up Infant Lap Games

Rhymes and Sound Awareness

Made-up lap games can be just as much fun as tried-and-tested games. Here is an example of a game played by a parent whose infant has just learned to reach for things. It will give you some ideas about lap games you can make up and play with your own child.

What is the practice?

Lap games give infants opportunities to have adults repeat or start a game a child really likes or enjoys. These simple but very important activities help infants learn the your-turn/my-turn nature of adult-child interaction.

What does the practice look like?

Infants around 2 to 3 months of age become especially good at reaching for toys, food, and people. Infants are fascinated with what happens when they touch or swipe at something. Parents can use their baby's interest in reaching and turn it into a game. This will make the baby want to reach even more. Getting your child to do something he enjoys can be a fun learning activity.

How do you do the practice?

Here is how one father used made-up lap games with his daughter. See how she learned a fun way to play with her dad.

The father saw that his daughter was especially interested in reaching for and touching his mouth.

The first thing the father did was kiss his daughter's hands whenever she touched his mouth.

The father changed the game by pretending to "nibble" on his daughter's fingers. This made the little girl squeal with delight. He said "munch, munch" every time his daughter reached toward his mouth.

Finally, the father "made up" a rhyme to make the game even more fun. He said, "Daddy's getting hungry. He better eat some lunch. Can he eat (baby's name)'s fingers? Munch, munch, munch!" At the end of the rhyme he pretended that he was eating his daughter's fingers. The little girl hardly ever got tired of playing this game!

How do you know the practice worked?

Does your child try to get you to play a game again?

Does your child vocalize as part of playing a game?

Does your child get excited during special parts of a game (e.g., by getting bright-eyed)?

CELL p r a c t i c e s

CENTER for EARLY LITERACY LEARNING

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