Attachment theory is about building a healthy connection between parent and child such that it helps the child develop to his or her fullest potential. Read on for some fun games that everyone in the family can enjoy and bond with a six-month-old baby.
Peek-a-Boo Game with a Six-Month-Old
It’s the game that most people associate with having fun with a baby, and now is a great time to try it out. Most babies at this age will find it very amusing when parents covers their eyes with their hands and then opens them to say “Peek-a-boo.” Other variations include saying “I see you!” or “Where is _________ (baby’s name)? There you are!”
Baby Wants to Search Out Missing Item
Babies this age will have caught on to the “magic trick” of an object being hidden versus believing it has disappeared. If parents hide a toy under a nearby blanket or behind a back and a six-month-old is watching, the baby might go to lift the blanket or look behind the parent’s back to find the toy. The six-month-old realizes that even though he or she can’t see it, it still exists.
Flap Books and Peek-a-Boo Books for Baby
Six-month-old babies will likely not understand the words being read from a book, but the process of reading is interesting nonetheless. In particular, this is a time when infants will be interested in peek-a-boo books and lift-the-flap books. They will quickly catch on to the idea of these books and start to reach out and open the flaps.
Baby Likes to Bang Things
Give a baby this age a big plastic spoon and he or she will most likely start banging it on the floor and nearby objects. Babies like to reach and mouth objects to learn about them, and six-month-olds have added banging objects to their exploratory repertoire. Be careful about giving baby heavy or metal object though. Infants this age are still working on their coordination and they can be wobbly in their movements, because of this, baby could accidentally bang himself or herself in the head.
Play Ball With Baby
It’s not baseball or soccer yet, but it’s time to get the ball rolling with the little one. The six-month-old will likely need the support of a big pillow or cushion, but he or she is ready to play ball. Roll a medium-sized ball toward baby and watch as he or she tries to push it back or grab it.
Baby and Blowing Bubbles
Babies at this age will be excited to watch bubbles floating around them. They will also get to have a new experience to watch a bubble land on them and then pop. They might even try catching the bubbles and try to actively pop them.
Bath Time is Fun Time for Six-Month-Old
Playing in the bathtub is great fun for six-month-old babies. Sing songs to baby and dribble a little water over the baby’s body and face. Baby is likely to close his or her eyes while the water is running on him or her, and open them once the water stops. Because of this, it can be made into a bath time peek-a-boo game.
Meal Time Can Be Entertaining for Baby
A good idea is to make up little rhymes and songs as parents feed the baby. Have the spoon “zoom in for landing” or “choo-choo” into baby’s waiting mouth. Eating should be seen as a social and enjoyable event and this can help with babies who are fussy eaters.
There are many games to entertain six-month-old babies such as playing peek-a-boo, reading lift-the-flap books, rolling a ball to baby, blowing bubbles for baby or letting baby bang new objects. Six-month-olds will also enjoy searching for objects that are hidden in front of them. Caregivers can have fun with baby bath time and meal time.
Also check out What Can a Two-Month-Old Baby Do?, What Can a Four-Month-Old Baby Do? and Bonding with Newborn.
References:
Newton, Ruth. The Attachment Connection: Parenting a Secure and Confident Child Using the Science of Attachment Theory. New Harbinger Publications Oakland, California, 2008.
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