Playtime with Zeke

When Zeke learned how to clap his hands on his 8th month, I felt so proud that I nearly told everyone. Then he learned how to clap his hands on command then started waving goodbye, all before he reached 10 months.

Now, Zeke can point using his index finger. Somehow, I feel like the proudest mom in the entire planet! I can also feel that with so many of his milestones, it has created a virtuous cycle: Zeke was pleased with himself and has seen that I am pleased too, so he'll do it again and again. Maybe that's the reason why he's happy all the time; it brings positive vibes around the home.

my little giant

This month, I've realized another emerging milestone in Zeke's life --- more playtime. He's becoming more and more energetic and would rather play in his playard or seat in his swing than to sleep. I've found this list in Netmums about playtime with babies:

Playtime with your baby

Did you know that the simple business of playing with your baby can help promote bonding and boost development - as well as being a great way for you to relax and enjoy each other's company? Even as a newborn, your baby will respond to opportunities to 'play' with you - so it's never too early to start!
Don't worry if you're not sure how to enjoy playtime with your baby. It's not always obvious how it's done. Try to let your baby lead the way - and cherish the moments you play together! Here are a more few tips and ideas:

Playtime with your 0-3 month-old

• Make eye contact with your baby. Smile and pull faces, poke out your tongue and a blow a raspberry. If she's in the right mood, she'll find it hugely amusing and will try to copy you.  This is known as baby mirroring. 
• Newborns love to be touched, so include tickling, massage, and toe-counting in your playtimes!
• Don't forget that talking and singing to your baby are vital ways of boosting her language and communication skills. So it's never too early for rhymes and action games, such as 'This little piggy'.
• Find the right time to play with your baby. Wait until a moment when she's relaxed but alert, and isn't tired, hungry, overstimulated or irritable.
• In the first month or two, your baby won't appreciate toys that much (however many she may have been showered with as gifts at birth). But she might enjoy looking at the shapes and colours of a mobile or cot bumper, especially if they're in bold colours or in black and white designs as these are easier for babies to see. Babygyms and textured playmats are also great idea, and will usually buy you a few valuable moments to get the odd job done as well as providing interest and stimulation for you baby. Be wary though - once she starts to roll over you'll need to keep a careful eye out.

Playtime with your 3-6 month-old

• Now that her grabbing and grasping skills are coming on, your baby will start to make the most of some of those toys she's got. She'll love to explore anything that's brightly coloured, noisy, or highly textured, and anything with a mirror is likely to be popular as she'll love to see her own reflection.
• Your baby may become attached to a special soft toy or doll now - a favoured toy like this can become a comfort object, and a useful aid to settling her at night. (The flipside is that if she wakes and it's out of her reach you might have to get up to help her find it. Worse still, it could get lost altogether!)
• Place toys just out of her reach and you'll encourage her to roll over, later, crawl.
• Bath time is a great opportunity to play! Give her a selection of appropriate toys, or just make your own fun with pouring, splashing and singing games. Try blowing bubbles - your baby will be mesmerized and it's likely to begin an interest in this simple childhood pleasure that will last a long time. Don't forget to make sure she's always firmly supported in the bath and never leave her unsupervised for even a second.

Playtime with your 6-9 month old

• About now, your baby's skills are blossoming and play can help. You can boost her fine motor skills (the smaller movements, of the fingers and hands for instance, which will eventually help her to master vital life skills, such as feeding, writing, tying shoelaces and many other things) by providing her with appropriate toys - activity centres, blocks, or stacking rings for example - or just ordinary household items, such as pots and pans and empty boxes. Make sure whatever you give her is safe, and be especially careful not to let her have anything with very small parts, and always be vigilant - once she can pick up small items, she can put them in her mouth!
• She'll love action rhymes, songs or games like Incy-Wincy Spider, Round and Round the Garden, Pat-a-Cake, or This is the Way The Farmer rides. And she'll gain lots more than just fun from playing these things will you - they'll also help boost her gross and fine motor skills, language and understanding, and intellectual development, too.
• Be wary of flashcards, educational DVDs and electronic toys that promise you a baby genius - the very best stimulation is the sort that you give her yourself!

Playtime with your 9-12 month-old

• Your baby will adore a game of 'peek-a-boo'! Pop out from behind the sofa, or just pull your hands over your eyes and then lift them away with a big smile! Or try 'Where's Teddy?', hiding her favourite toy under a cushion or blanket, before whipping it away to reveal all.
• Those toys really start to come into their own now. There are hundreds of well-designed and stimulating products for babies on the market, but you don't have to fork out for them.
• Toys aside, babies and small children often get the most fun of all from nothing more than what you've got lying around at home - and a little imagination! Give her some saucepans and a wooden spoon - but only if you can handle the noise! Alternatively, give her an item that will fit into the pans. She may spend ages putting it in and taking it out again. Or, set her up outside with some plastic cups and a large bowl or sandpit full of water, and let her get splashing. (Never leave her unsupervised with any amount of water, though, even for a moment.) Let her crumple and rip a magazine you've finished with it - she'll love the noise it makes. And although it's early days for craft activities, older babies can have a surprising amount of fun with finger paints and crayons.For a fun physical game, set up an obstacle course made of cushions for your baby to negotiate - then give her a huge clap and a cheer when she reaches the finishing line. Or try 'vroom-vrooms', pushing her round the sitting room in a cardboard-box 'car'.
• Once your baby is steady on her feet, a sturdy push-along toy will offer lots of fun, as well as helping to encourage her walking skills.

I'll post some of his funny videos when I have the time. For now, still need to plan for his upcoming first birthday this July! I can't wait! ☺