People love to play with babies. Whether it’s a game of peek-a-boo or simply making faces until the baby laughs, playing with your infant is a great way form of entertainment. And most of the games we play with babies have the added benefit of stimulating their growing minds and bodies, said Dr. Jeffrey Penso, a pediatrician with Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Listed below are five all-time favorites: Make some moves Adults are fascinating mysteries to babies. Initially, everything we do interests them, and their pleasure when mommy or daddy suddenly starts dancing is contagious. Even if you can’t two-step, your baby is guaranteed to think you are light on your feet if you hold them close and sway to whatever music you happen to be listening to. Dancing is a great way to bond with your baby. Your body contact will reassure them and your movements stimulate their senses and will help them develop a sense of rhythm.
Sing a song Your singing may sound atrocious to you, but to your baby it is a sweet lullaby. Children love music. Listening while their parent or caregiver sings a song is entertaining and exciting. It also can be comforting, said Dr. Penso. Babies thrive on familiarity. If you sing the same nursery rhyme enough times, they will start to anticipate the words and motions that come next.
Peek-a-boo A quick game of peek-a-boo has staved off many an airplane temper tantrum. While the pilot may not want to play along, the inquisitive baby across the aisle from you will be fascinated every time you cover your eyes and then magically reappear. It seems far-fetched, but peek-a-boo is more than a distraction. Pediatricians agree that the game can build infant confidence — teaching babies that you are still there and will reappear even if they can’t see you. It also encourages large motor coordination when older babies begin to imitate the game’s hand movements.
Man in the mirror Babies love to look in the mirror. It isn’t vanity, however, that drives them to examine their images. Instead, babies are simply fascinated by watching their own facial expressions. Looking in the mirror encourages babies to make a wide range of expressions, especially if you make funny faces while holding them.
On the move Babies love to move their arms and legs. Initially, however, they lack coordination. By gently moving your baby’s arms and legs in circular motions while singing a song like “Wheels on the Bus,” you can encourage coor-dination and muscle control.
Pediatricians like Dr. Penso agree that playing games with your baby can be an important part of their development. Games encourage everything from motor control to self-discovery. Most importantly, time spent playing with your baby is time you are focusing on them and their needs, and babies of any age are sure to enjoy that.
Experts like Dr. Penso are on hand to help you learn how to care for your baby. To find a physician, log onto the Saint John’s Web site at www.stjohns.org. Select “Find a Physician” and respond to the computer prompts. Browsers can choose from a wide range of specialists, which are then sorted by location, gender and language.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 1, 2005. Read the original PDF.