Infant Stimulation Activity 106: hand & finger puppets

Puppets are fun for all ages, and the fun can begin as early as 2 months old. Soft hand puppets that do not have small parts that can come loose are best - think sock or knitted puppet or even finger puppets.

Move the hand puppet up and down, back and forth, and around in a circle within baby's line of vision. Sing songs, tell stories, or just talk to each other. The movement will give baby practice in tracking with his eyes and help develop visual skills; the songs and chatter are of course helpful in rhythm and language skills; and the interaction with you and the puppets . . . well, that is just fun!

Infant Stimulation Activity 105: you're over there!

The idea of stimulation is that your baby is interacting with you and is experiencing something that, in fact, will stimulate him. One idea is to talk to your baby from different places in a room. Your baby will begin to look for you as he begins to coordinate sights and sounds.

Infant Stimulation Activity 104: warm breaths

Blow warm breaths over different parts of your baby's body. You can choose body parts that he is progressively learning to control. Since babies develop motor skills from the top down you may first want to focus on his face, then his arms, tummy, then legs as your baby develops from month to month.

Infant Stimulation Activity 103: pompon drop

This stimulation idea incorporates touch, vision and tracking, and cause and effect: with your baby lying on his back hold up a large pompon. Say, "here comes the pompon" then let it drop onto baby's belly. You can then tickle his belly and then give him a kiss. Your baby will not only be stimulated, but very happy to be interacting with you!

And be sure baby gets a chance to check out the pompon. You wouldn't want someone dropping something on your belly unless you knew what it was!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM BABYSMARTEES

Infant Stimulation Activity 102: greetings

Of course your baby recognizes your voice when you are right in front of him or in the same room. By 3 months try something new: call out to your baby before you enter the room. This will teach him to recognize your voice and anticipate your entrance.

When you can, have someone in the room with baby to observe his reaction to your voice before you enter the room.

Infant Stimulation Activity 101: bouncing object

Attach apiece of elastic to a small stuffed animal. Make the animal jump and bounce. At one moth he will probably mostly enjoy the interaction with you. Eventually he will start to try and hit, catch, and grasp it - by that time, remember not to leave your baby alone with the elastic string.