Jackie Silberg - Games to play with babies

Dedication This book is dedicated to the joy that babies bring into our lives. Acknowledgments Thanks to Kathy Charner, the most wonderful editor an author can have. She makes the words come alive. And to the Gryphon House family who work together to produce the beautiful product that you are looking at now. Copyright 2001 Jackie Silberg Published by Gryphon House, Inc. 10726 Tucker Street, Beltsville, MD 20705 Visit us on the web at www.gryphonhouse.com All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Silberg, Jackie, date Games to play with babies / Jackie Silberg ; illustrator, Laura DArgo. 3rd ed. p.cm. Includes index. Games. 2. 2.

Motor ability in children. 3. Infants. I. Title. GV1203.S536 2001 790.1922dc212001018976 Illustrations: Laura DArgo Cover photograph: The Stock Market/Norbert Schafer, 2000 Disclaimer The publisher and the author cannot be held responsible for injury, mishap, or damages incurred during the use of or because of the activities in this book.

The author recommends appropriate and reasonable supervision at all times based on the age and capability of each child. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Developing Trust One way infants learn about relationships is by the way they are touched and held. Gentle touching at this tender age helps develop their sense of trust. Hold your baby close to you and speak softly as you tell her how much you love her. Gently stroke her face as you say loving words to her. Always include her name in the words that you speak.

This provides her with an identity that is important. Whenever you hold your baby and speak to her, keep the same tone of voice. Soon she will know that your voice means good things. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Bonding Infants often move about looking for something to suck or cuddle as they try to quiet themselves and relax for sleep. Help the process along and make it easier for the baby to fall asleep. Put a soft stuffed animal (one that is safe for infants) or a blanket into the crib.

Take your babys hand and put it on the toy or blanket. Say, Good night, baby, sweet dreams, baby in a soft voice. Soon your baby will know that when she feels that toy or blanket, she will be comforted. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Bonding While your baby is nursing or drinking a bottle, gently massage her fingers and toes. Softly sing songs such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Keep repeating this song as you massage the babys fingers and toes.

This game will help the baby associate feeding with your loving touch. Singing to babies while they are nursing or drinking a bottle is pleasurable for both you and your baby. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Bonding Rock your baby gently in your arms. Dim the light in the room so it is soft and muted. Kiss the baby on the forehead and say: I love you, I love you, I love my little (childs name). Kiss the baby on her fingers and repeat the words.

Continue kissing the baby on different parts of her body as you repeat the words. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Trust Caring tenderly for babies makes them feel loved and accepted. Singing lullabies while swaying with the baby in your arms is a wonderful way to develop trust. Some traditional lullabies that you can sing are: Hush Little Baby Rock-a-bye Baby All the Pretty Horses Hush-a-bye Think of lullabies. Sing or say them to your baby as you rock her and hold her close. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Body Awareness This game is lovely to play as you dress the baby or change her diaper.

Say, I love your nose, nose, nose, nose. Kiss the baby on her nose. Say, I love your tummy, tummy, tummy. Kiss the baby on her tummy. Name other parts of her body and kiss them. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Bonding When your baby is nursing or drinking a bottle, it is important to hold and cuddle her. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Bonding When your baby is nursing or drinking a bottle, it is important to hold and cuddle her.

The babys arms and hands should be free to let her touch and explore as she feeds. Place your babys hands on your face. Move her hands across your nose, mouth, hair, and eyes. Hold her hands and gently massage them. Stroke her arms and speak softly to her. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Trust Newborns respond to touching and sounds.

Each time you pick up your baby and speak to her, you are establishing trust between the two of you. The tone of your voice and the strength of your arms will become familiar to your infant. Be consistent in the way you hold your baby, the things that you say to her, and the tone of your voice. Soon your baby will coo and smile at you. This is her way of communicating her love. WHAT YOUR BABY WILL LEARN:
Language Skills The language of infants is cooing.

When an infant sees something of interest, she responds with a coo. Play a cooing game with your baby. Hold a brightly colored object in front of the babys eyes. When the baby responds with a coo, answer her with a coo and a hug. You will soon find out what pleases your baby. When babies learn that their sounds please another person, they will make more sounds.

This encourages early language development and talking.