“I can make things happen!” That’s what your baby may be figuring out now. Here are some toys and activities to help your six-month-old learn about cause and effect, and encourage other learning through play.
She can sit up with only a little support—or maybe none at all
When he drops something, he looks for it
She enjoys simple games like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake
He can bang a toy and shout at the same time
She participates in activities that center around her
Action/reaction toys
Go Baby Go!™ Silly Sounds Frog
Laugh & Learn™ Love to Play Puppy™
Help your baby learn more:
Lights! Music! Action! Start by demonstrating some of the toy's specific features, showing baby how to start the action, lights, or music.
What will happen? As you play, encourage baby to do something with the toy … he'll be greeted with a fun surprise that will make him want to play again and again!
Stacking toys
Brilliant Basics™ Stack & Nest Pots & Pans
Brilliant Basics™ Stacking Action Blocks
Brilliant Basics™ Rock-A-Stack®
Help your baby learn more:
Describe it. Use stacking toys to introduce other simple words and descriptions, like big and little, or top and bottom. You can also use these toys to reinforce understanding of cause and effect.
What colour? Help your child make connections between words and concepts by talking about colours: “That's the big yellow cup.”
Toys to encourage crawling
Amazing Animals™ Press & Go™ Cheetah
Amazing Animals™ Press & Go™ Crocodile
Help your baby learn more:
Play active games to exercise gross motor skills. When babies’ feet press against a solid surface, they stretch out their legs. This is called the “walking reflex,” and you can use it to help your baby practice for crawling!
Place baby on tummy
Put a fun, colourful toy a few inches from baby’s head and call attention to it
Sit behind baby with your legs or hands pressed against her feet
Let your baby push against the pressure, causing her to move forward
Keep moving the toy and pushing against baby’s feet until she’s moved forward
Let’s roll! Roll or slide a toy back and forth across the floor to each other. It can be a good workout for baby's eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.
Toys to invite early role play
Laugh & Learn™ Click 'n Learn Remote
Laugh & Learn™ Smilin’ Smart Phone™
Laugh & Learn™
Say Please™ Tea Set
Help your baby learn more:
What’s that sound? Take baby on a "sound" tour of your house. Ring the doorbell, turn on the clock's alarm, start the computer. As you make your way through the house, tell baby what each sound means: "Company's coming! … Time to get up … I'm going to check my email."
Makin’ it happen. To foster awareness of cause-and-effect relationships, let your child turn a light switch or a faucet on and off and see how her actions make things happen.
Everyday play. Open the cupboard and pull out pots, pans and wooden spoons. Watch baby smile as he realises, "I made that sound!" As he plays, talk to him about what you see and hear. He'll enjoy the sound of your voice, and you'll be helping his speech develop.
Children develop at their own pace and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this website are approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
Abracadabra
Average Rating
out of 1 vote(s)
Play a magical game of “Where did it go?” with your baby, and make a toy disappear right before his eyes—without mirrors! He will soon be on to you, and will realise that the toy didn’t disappear, but is still in your hand.
Materials
A favorite toy
Instructions
Find a bright toy that will fit into your hand.
Lay your baby on his back and let him see the toy.
Let your baby hold the toy for a few minutes to explore it.
Gently take the toy from his hands and place it in your palm.
Close both hands and show your baby your closed fists.
Ask your baby, “Where did it go?”
When your baby looks puzzled, open your hand and show him the toy, saying, “Here it is!”
Repeat the game, alternating hands and toys.
Safety
Be sure the toy is not too small, so your baby won’t choke on it when he examines it.
What changes when baby's fine motor skills develop?
At around six months, your baby acquires fine motor skills, which leads to the milestone of learning to manipulate fingers. Babies go from grasping with a whole hand to holding small things between thumb and forefinger. With the developme
Read More
Your Baby's Mind: 6 To 8 Months
Between six and eight months, your baby's memory develops. He anticipates events based on his past experience. He thinks before he acts. He makes associations. He knows that his toy will make a sound when he drops it. When you put your coat on, he cr
Read More
Social skills
Before long, babies begin to realise that people are distinct individuals. This realisation is what first led to baby’s desire to imitate you, and this insight also paves the way for another—that baby is part of a human network. Your baby
Read More
