Creative Play Activities You Can Do With Your Baby

When it comes to your baby’s development, playtime is more than just a fun activity. Play is the way babies learn about the world around them, build new skills, and form strong bonds with their caregivers. With that in mind, it’s always good to incorporate creative play into your daily routine. You can do any of these creative play activities with your baby with items you have around your home.

Sing, Dance, and Play With Musical Instruments

Babies love music, so introducing them to different sounds and rhythms is a great way to stimulate their brains. Since you don’t want to overstimulate them, especially when they’re newborns, start with calming lullabies or sing-along songs. Watch how your baby responds to gauge how comfortable they are with these new sounds.

If your baby is smiling or unphased, you can continue. Clap, tap, or shake different objects to create different sounds and engage your baby’s senses. Offer toy musical instruments during tummy time or after they learn how to sit up so they can participate as well. Also, don’t be afraid to get silly and dance around with your baby. The goal is to have fun and bond with your little one. Combining music with movement can help you do just that.

Play Peek-a-Boo with Stuffed Animals

Babies’ eyes develop a lot in the first few months of life, enabling them to perceive colors and objects further away. At the same time, their brains are also developing the idea of object permanence. You can contribute to this visual and mental development with a fun game of peek-a-boo.

Use something they already love, such as a stuffed animal. Simply hide the stuffed animal behind a blanket or your hands and then reveal it with a big “ta-da!” Your baby will love the surprise and excitement and will want to play again and again. You can also use different stuffed animals and hide them around the room for a scavenger hunt game. You can either do it together or set it up at floor height once your baby starts crawling.

Create Sensory Bins with Everyday Objects

Sensory play is an important part of your baby’s development, as it helps them explore different textures, colors, and smells. Create a simple sensory bin using everyday objects your baby can touch, smell, and taste. Just remember to maintain close supervision since babies like to explore with their mouths, and many popular sensory items pose a choking hazard.

Fill a plastic tub with different materials, such as dried beans, uncooked pasta, cotton balls, or pom-poms. Let your baby explore the bin with their hands, and watch their curiosity and wonder unfold. Consider picking your baby up and placing them in the bin so that their feet and other parts of their body have an immersive sensory experience.

These are just a few examples of the many creative play activities you can do with your baby. The key is to have fun and follow your baby’s lead so that they have fun, too. If you’re looking for special stuffed animals for peek-a-boo and other fun moments, Bunnies by the Bay offers collectible baby gifts. Our baby gifts include personalized stuffed animals and lovies, as well as other items your baby will love their entire life.