Play and Learn Family Activities

Pony Rides

As your baby increases her neck strength and head control, you can take her on some gentle pony rides. Choose a favorite nursery rhyme, or sing the ones below.

Materials

• Your knee
• Small, soft blanket or towel

Instructions

• Lay a small, soft blanket or towel over your knee, for your baby's comfort.
• Seat your baby on your knee, facing you, and hold her arms for support.
• As you recite a rhyme, gently bounce your baby up and down.
• Repeat the rhyme several times before moving on to another. Following are some rhymes to try:

  Humpty Dumpty

  Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
  All the king's horses and all the king's men,
  Couldn't put Humpty together again.

  To Market, to Market

  To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
  Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
  To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
  Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.

  One, Two, Bounce My Shoe

  One, two, bounce my shoe;
  Three, four, tap the floor;
  Five, six, give a kick;
  Seven, eight, legs stand straight;
  Nine, ten, start again.

Safety

Don't bounce your baby too hard, and always hold her so she doesn't fall.