Infant Playtime with Lots of Toys
When you offer your baby different types of toys, they have even more ways to play—and you have even more ways to learn about your baby! Enjoy your time together. Be proud of how they are growing!
- Audience
- Caregiver
- Subject
- Open-Ended Play
- Age
- Infant
- Languages
- EnglishHaitian CreoleSpanish
Play is a natural way to support the parent-child bond. Try engaging your infant in playtime with lots of toys!
Get ready
Sit on the floor. Put two toys in front of your baby. Point to each toy and say its name, like “cup” or “ball.” You know your baby is ready to play when they look at you or the toys.
Try this!
Find the scarf
Put a scarf in a cup and say, “in.” Pull the scarf out and say, “out.” Then stuff the scarf back into the cup and give it to your baby. Do they pull the scarf out? Do they try to push it in? Put the cup with the scarf upside down on the floor. Does your baby find the scarf?
Things that roll
Roll a ball to your baby. Then roll a cup to them. Balls and cups move in different ways—and the cup might even move away from them! What does your baby do? Try this when your baby is sitting or crawling. Or if your baby is still very little, try it during tummy time.
Unwrap it!
Wrap a ball or cup in a scarf. Tie the ends of the scarf loosely around the toy. Hand the wrapped toy to your baby. Let them shake it and pull on it. As the scarf loosens up, they will find what’s inside! Tell your baby what they found, like “Ball!”
Safety tip!Tummy time can only happen when your baby is awake and you are watching them.
While you play...
Watch carefully. Give your baby just one or two toys first, then add another. Do they look at one kind of toy more than another? Do they spend more time playing with one than the other?
Practice together. As your baby plays with different toys, they may push or hand one to you. Say, “A ball! For me?” Then point to a different toy and say, “Can you give me the cup?” If your baby does not do it, that’s okay. They are just learning—and they might be too busy playing!
Say, “Yay!” When your baby discovers something, be excited with them. If they find a scarf in a cup, say, “Wow! A scarf in the cup!” You knew where the scarf was, but your baby did not!
Related Resources
CaregiverActivityInfant Playtime with a Stuffed Animal
You are the first person your baby connects with. Some babies take a long time to feel comfortable with others. A stuffed animal is a nice first friend that you and your baby can play with together.
CaregiverActivityInfant Playtime with Scarves
Playtime can often be exciting, but it is important to have calmer ways to play too. You can use scarves for both types of play. If your baby has a lot of energy, play with the scarves with lots of movement. If your child is just waking up or getting tired, play with the scarves more gently.
CaregiverActivityInfant Playtime with Cups
You are your baby’s first teacher. Your baby makes sounds with the cups and looks at you. By looking at you, they are saying, “Look what I did!” They also look at you to get new ideas, like how to put one cup on top of another.
CaregiverActivityInfant Playtime with a Ball
It takes two people to pass a ball back and forth. And it is a great way to connect with your baby. Even if your baby cannot speak yet, that give and take with a ball is a way of communicating back and forth!
CaregiverActivityPreschooler Playtime with a Stuffed Animal
Giving your child time on their own is important for both of you. Your child might want to play with or talk to their stuffed animal—and not you. That’s okay! Watch, wait, and listen. Be ready when it is your turn to play again.
CaregiverActivityToddler Playtime with a Stuffed Animal
You show your child you care when you play with them, make them lunch, put a band-aid on for them, and say “I love you.” Your child notices your caring actions and practices them too.
CaregiverActivityToddler Playtime with Scarves
Having a good time together helps make your relationship with your child stronger. Be silly—you can wear a scarf as a hat or do funny dances. Take turns. Make mistakes together. And laugh a lot!
CaregiverActivityPreschooler Playtime with Scarves
Sometimes you and your child might want to run. Other times you might need quiet moments together. Scarves are great for both types of play. Having a good time together helps make your relationship with your child stronger.