How your 6-month-old might play now

    • 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
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    Laugh & Learn™
    Learning Toolbench™

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
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    Brilliant Basics™ Rock-a-Stack®

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    Rainbow Snail Stacker

    Balance & Coordination Fine Motor Thinking & Problem Solving

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 color? Help your child make connections between words and concepts by talking about colors: “That's the big yellow cup.”
Toys to encourage crawling
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    Go Baby Go!™ Press & Crawl Turtle

    Balance & Coordination Curiosity & Discovery Sensory
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    Baby Gymtastics™ Monkey Chase

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, colorful 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.

Abracadabra

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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 favourite 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.

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