Beyond peek-a-boo: Games for Growing Toddlers

As your child charges toward the toddler years, you’re probably beginning to gain a greater respect for the ages-old adage, “the only constant in life is change.” After all, babies don’t just adhere to this wisdom, they embody it. Less than one year ago, your child did little more than sleep, eat, cry, fill his diapers and sleep some more. Now look at him: a sprightly little pip who relishes waddling around the house, playing with blocks and launching various projectiles from his highchair. Yes, he’s come a long way—and don’t expect him to slow down anytime soon.

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. You’ll find, for instance, that your child’s appetite for playing games is as hearty as ever. Better yet, he can now handle more advanced activities and even control some of the action thanks to his newfound coordination and body control. Games also help little ones learn valuable cognitive skills, like cause and effect—if he hurls a block from his highchair, it will make a noise when it hits the floor.

Let the Games Begin!

Nurture your baby’s playful spirit with these five playtime activities:

1.  Clear for Takeoff: Leave small objects on the tray of your child’s highchair, and watch him fling them to the floor. He will then scream loudly for you to retrieve them so he can do it again. For your own safety, give him softer objects (beanbags or foam rubber balls are popular with tiny hurlers) of various size, color and texture.

2.  Obstacle Course: Cover the living room floor with pillows, couch cushions, cardboard boxes and stuffed animals. Watch how your baby navigates the room and interacts with certain objects. You’ll learn a lot from just observing, including which toys your child prefers and how adept he is at sidestepping or climbing over obstacles.