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Your baby is busy learning new things. She is learning that she can cause things to happen. Every day, she is learning to explore. You can help your baby make things happen.
- Give her a ball. When she drops it, she'll see it bounce or roll across the floor. Pick the ball up and give it back to her. Talk to her about what it is called and how it "rolls" and "bounces."
- Let her play with a toy called a "busy box." Some people call it an "activity board." She can push a button to make a bell ring, or pull a cord to make an animal sound.
- Give her pots and pans, measuring cups or spoons. She'll find out that she can bang them together and make lots of noise. In the kitchen, keep one cupboard near the floor as the baby's cupboard. Put in old pots and pans and some toys so that she can play in the kitchen safely when you are working there to prepare meals.
- Hold your baby and let her switch the room's light on and off. She'll enjoy making the room bright or dark. Say the word "light" when she turns it on and "all gone" when she turns it off.
You can also do things to help your baby explore.
- Give safe toys to your eight-month-old. Safe toys include balls, blocks and nesting toys such as measuring cups, busy boxes, rattles and stuffed animals.
- Let her watch you hide objects under a towel or blanket on the floor. Help her find them. Ask her "where is it?" Praise her when she finds them.
- Give her a box of large items that she can take out and put back in.
Next » Your Baby's Brain
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Month By Month has been adapted for Fathers from Healthy Start, Grow Smart, Your Newborn, Washington, D.C. 2002 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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