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Tips and tricks for keeping little ones busy and learning

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Tips and tricks for keeping little ones busy and learning

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Fun and educational kids activities - slime, glow in the dark, play dough, science experiments, kids crafts, fun recipes, and more!

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Before I start, let me just apologize for the blurry photos. This is a moving game, so to get good shots of baby is almost impossible:)

I chose a few soft items: pillows, soft balls, plush toys and plastic bags inside a bigger bag. I layed it on the carpet like this:

W(13months) saw what I'm doing and already wanted to play. Also, a good thing he saw what is underneath, because later he "discovered" it again, making it fun!

I then, quickly, covered it up by using towels, a table cloth and blanket. Different textures to enhance the learning experience.

Don't be discouraged if your baby does not want crawl over the obstacles, but rather get around it. That just means, he/she is using his/her thinking skills to overcome that obstacle!

He was very glad when he discovered his favourite soft toy!

Toddlers will also enjoy this came. Let them guess what is underneath the towel, jump over the obstacles, make a road for cars between the obstacles etc.

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Soft obstacle course for baby on the move

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We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Before I start, let me just apologize for the blurry photos.

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Use an empty tissue box with some toys in it as a way to keep your kiddo busy for a few minutes.

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Need a game for Baby? Try this Hidden Toys baby activity.

Having a toddler and a baby can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Ok, a lot of times it can be overwhelming. And a lot of times I need a quick second to collect myself and breathe. That's when I reach for a simple game like Hidden Toys.

It's simple to set up and holds baby's attention (which makes Hidden Toys a hidden gem).

Making a Hidden Toys box is great for baby play time.
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I came up with Hidden Toys as I was taking an empty tissue box to the recycle bin. I was laughing just thinking about how much my baby, Kate (12 mos), loves pulling tissue out of those boxes. It's her favorite sport. But, sadly, she likes to eat the tissue so she's been banned from it.

I wanted to put a baby-safe twist on pulling all the tissues out. That's where the toys came in. I grabbed a handful of small cars and shoved them in the box. Kate has a big brother so she's obsessed with cars just like him. I knew she'd be excited to see them in her little tissue box.

I shook the box a little to peek her interest and she was immediately drawn to it. It was like a baby grab bag. "What will I pull out next?" She pulled them out one by one, inspecting and testing each car as she went.

Kate and I are loving this activity now. As silly and simple as it sounds, it's absolutely baby perfect. This holds her attention long enough for me get lunch ready or load the dishes in the dishwasher. Plus it's portable so we can take it room to room depending on where we go.

Hidden Toys has been great for her coordination and for her transferring ability. She's moving cars from one hand to the other which is a great skill for her to be working on. Varying the toys also gives this activity a good bit of spice: "What toys are hidden today?!

Having this tissue box to play Hidden Toys has seriously helped out around here. Just a minute with an occupied baby is like a precious minute from heaven. I'm cherishing mine!

Think Hidden Toys could occupy your baby?

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Hidden Toys Baby Activity - Busy Toddler

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Having a toddler and a baby can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Ok, a lot of times it can be overwhelming. And a lot of times I need a quick second to collect myself and breathe. That's when I reach for a simple game like Hidden Toys.

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Great way to work on squatting, pushing into stand, standing balance.

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I like to keep my activity supplies super minimal. I don't have time for one-off or gimmicky supplies - I have no space for that. But this one supply.... Oh, it has my heart. And though it's random, out there, and maybe not that normal, it helps make for one awesome taby sticky wall.

[Yes, I used the word taby and no, it isn't a typ-o. Taby is my made up word for that space in childhood between baby and toddler. So I call them tabies.]
RELATED: Need a bunch of activities for your taby? Check out my favorite list of 30+ taby approved activities.
What is the magic supply in a taby sticky wall?

Con-tact paper.

Aka the stickiest and bestest toddler activity supply and trust me, you'll get loads of uses from it.

Con-tact paper is sticky on one side and smooth on the other. It's often used to line shelves or cover text books. It's also amazing for kid activities.
The Materials List:
(this list contains affiliate links. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.)

You've got to make your taby a sticky wall!

I rolled out a good-sized section of con-tact paper, carefully removed the protective backing and hung it sticky side out on my wall.

I taped it to the wall with painter's tape, and made a basket of "stuff" for him to "stick" with.

What was in the "basket of stuff"?

Oh lots of things - construction paper shapes, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, and cotton balls. Basically, a random smattering of things I found in my laundry room supply area.

I sat with my taby (22 months old) and first we talked about the activity.
"This is your sticky wall!! Look how sticky it is!"
And we took a few turns poking the con-tact paper to get a sense of the feel.
"Let stick things to it!"
I modeled how to choose something from the bin and stick it to the con-tact paper.

And you won't believe how long he worked!

He stood there, quietly, carefully, and INDEPENDENTLY sticking items to his wall for 21 minutes. That's basically a taby activity PR for Matt.
I couldn't believe it!
A small section of con-tact paper and a basket full of "soon to be thrown away" junk made for the best activity.

It's not a fancy activity but it's a winner!

I always tell people that the less classy an activity is, the more likely it is to be a winner.

And that's how this taby sticky wall was.

It didn't look like much of anything but oh man, was it ever the perfect taby activity!

When will you make a taby sticky wall?

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Make an Easy Taby Sticky Wall - Busy Toddler

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I like to keep my activity supplies super minimal. I don't have time for one-off or gimmicky supplies - I have no space for that. But this one supply.... Oh, it has my heart. And though it's random, out there, and maybe not that normal, it helps make for one awesome taby sticky wall.

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Entertain a baby with Window Grab: an easy high chair activity.

I'm not trying to play favorites with activities but Window Grab might have changed everything today...

My baby, Kate, is at "that stage" right now: very mobile, very curious, very not able to follow directions yet (I say with a giggle and a wink). She's 9 months old, loving life, and I am chasing her around like a mad woman. Baby Kate: please just sit still for five seconds.

It's hard to find activities that a baby will sit and play - at least play long enough for me to catch my breath. What I needed was a way to "trap and contain" her AND keep her occupied.

Solved that problem: window grab.

Kate is OBSESSED with anything she can grab at. She's all grabby all the time right now so let's give the baby what she wants.

Setting up Window Grab is easy peasy.

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I set her in her high chair facing the sliding glass door. No one puts baby in the corner, but I definitely put her off to the side (tee hee hee). I took our Munchkin Bath Letters and Numbers (affiliate link) dipped them in water, and stuck them to the window.

She lost her baby mind for this, grabbing and pawing to get them off. Once she got one, she'd chew on her bounty for a while before dropping it and getting a new one.

Every now and then, I'd pick all the pieces up off the ground and start her over again. It kept her busy for 15 minutes. People. A baby was 100% occupied for 15 minutes. I lost my mommy mind for this. At no point was Baby Kate ever unsupervised. Remember to keep your baby close and supervised even in their high chair.

This was the perfect activity for Baby Kate. She was safely contained, happily playing, and fiercely independent during this. PLUS she worked on fine motor skills and hand eye coordination - oh me, oh my! Best.Baby.Activity.Ever.

Would your baby enjoy playing Window Grab?

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Window Grab Baby Activity - Busy Toddler

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I'm not trying to play favorites with activities but Window Grab might have changed everything today... My baby, Kate, is at "that stage" right now: very mobile, very curious, very not able to follow directions yet (I say with a giggle and a wink).

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These can stay closed for our smallest friends but can be opened and explored with supervision as kiddos get older.

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In addition to Nora's toys, I wanted to create a safe sensory experience for her. What better than mini-rainbow bottles for my rainbow baby.

I had seen this pin, around Pinterest and knew I wanted to do something similar. But, I wanted something smaller and more manageable for a young baby.

This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.

I used small plastic bottles. They are refillable craft bottles meant for sand art and other similar projects.

The objects are just things I had at home. Every bottle is different, but the objects included wooden beads, Pom-poms, foam pieces, buttons, ribbon, shredded paper, wrapping bows, fabric flowers, small scraps of fabric, paper clips, colored pasta, mini umbrellas, mini erasers, confetti, and other similar objects. Pretty much if it fit into the bottle and was the right color, it went in!

I loved that they all turned out a little different from each other. They are truly a unique sensory experience on their own and as a group. Henry has been obsessed with these -- especially the yellow -- since I finished them.

Nora has been completely mesmerized when I introduce a bottle to her. She also enjoyed studying the group as a whole. It turned out to be a great way for her to get some tummy time in. The bottle is an easy size for her to hold and to watch. They are pretty lightweight so I don't have to worry about her getting hurt if she drops it.

After the success of these, I can't wait to make some other themed sensory bottles for her!

Does your baby like sensory bottles?

When you are interested in Montessori, it can be difficult to know exactly what types of products you should get for your home. Or which types of "Montessori" materials are really worth the price. There are no rules about types of products can use the name Montessori which can add to the confusion. Not to mention, every toy manufacturer slaps the word "educational" on the package for good measure!
2019 UPDATE: This post has been updated to include a variety of brands and new product finds! Just a reminder that no one child will be interested in all of this or needs all of this. These toys are just here to spark ideas and give you a feeling for some Montessori-friendly options available!

So, with this post, I'm going to try to help with this confusion! Here's a list of Montessori-friendly toys and materials for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

First, let's clarify that there is no such thing as a "Montessori toy." Montessori never created to...

One part of my life that I haven't talked a ton about here on The Kavanaugh Report is how I'm a work-from-home parent. Eight years ago I started to work at home while parenting full time. For the first several years, I worked as a legal writer while maintaining this space on the side. When Gus was born, I moved into working on sharing our Montessori life full time. It has blossomed into a full time career sharing content here, teaching courses, and now the podcast! Through it all, my kids have been home with me.
This all seems more relevant to so many of us now that Covid-19 has closed schools and forced parents to stay at home and work while caring for children. I'm not going to lie - it's tough. It's hard to balance work and kids, especially when children are used to a completely different routine. But, it's not impossible! And, it can even be enjoyable.

As I talk about in my podcast Shelf Help, we block our days into 3 hours groups. It helps me remain fle...

As a Montessori parent, I try to provide a mix of materials in our home to engage my kids! That work that will spark joy, concentration, and repetition. It's not always an easy task, as Maria Montessori said, "Life is mysterious...only the choice of life can choose the work that the child truly needs. Therefore, the teacher respects this mysterious process and knows to wait with faith." So, there does sometimes feel like there is a bit of trial and error when it comes to choosing materials that your children need.

For us, the right balance is easier to find when I spend time deeply observing my children. Watching their interests, sitting on my hands if I have to, letting them struggle a little with things, and letting them get bored. And what I have personally found is that here at home, a combination of open ended materials and more structured work have been the right balance. Open ended toys wouldn't necessarily be found in a Montessori classroom, but they are perf...

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In addition to Nora's toys, I wanted to create a safe sensory experience for her. What better than mini-rainbow bottles for my rainbow baby. I had seen this pin, around Pinterest and knew I wanted to do something similar. But, I wanted something smaller and more manageable for a young baby.

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We finally did N's first sensory activity sitting up!

I'd long admired a certain image from Fun at Home with Kids' Super Easy Sensory Play: Cornstarch and Water. Go check it out, it's the last image in the post - her baby son holding goop in both hands, and it's dripping down into his lap. On a sheet. Indoors!

If you read my posts, you know that I'm not averse to a good mess, and in fact E has played with goop several times after age 2. {It's not even that I didn't want her to do it at a younger age but I simply didn't know about sensory activities back then.}

However, it never would have crossed my mind to let a baby play with goop if I hadn't seen this awesome AWESOME image! After all, he wouldn't know to keep it in the box, and it would be all over him, right?

And of course, that's exactly what happened. But you know what? It's actually totally not a big deal - dry goop can easily be vacuumed, or in our case, washed away with a hose. We did take this activity outside - always an option for when you know that things will get messy.

(N was 8 months old.)
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Materials for Baby Play with Goop:

Cornstarch.

Water.

Baking dish, sensory bin, cookie sheet, tray or similar to hold the goop.

Sheet, shower liner, blanket or similar to catch the overflow (optional).

Goop is a really simple sensory material, made from two simple ingredients but with pretty awesome characteristics. It's a non-Newtonian fluid: Solid under pressure, and a liquid when you release the pressure.

Note: As mentioned above, it's easy to clean up, especially once dry, but make sure not to pour larger amounts down your drain to avoid clogging it! Dispose of it in the garbage instead.

To make goop, mix approximately 2-3 parts cornstarch with 1 part water.

For the correct consistency, you want to go easy on the water and add more as needed. { Here 's an example of when I didn't follow my own advice - it's a good thing that you can still have all kinds of fun even with "failed" sensory materials 🙂 }

As usual with baby play activities, I kept it simple, and in this case, that meant keeping it plain and white. You can definitely add any color you want but I figure there's plenty of time for that later on in Baby N's life.

He immediately dug his hands in.

He touched the goop to his mouth several times, but he didn't actually try to eat it.

Things got very messy very quickly - but I'd definitely prepared myself for it 😉

In between exploring the goop, N came over to me and shared 😉

After he'd played with it for a while, I started picking up handfuls of goop and letting it drip down for him. He LOVED it and kept grabbing the portions that were dripping down

to inspect them further.

In case you had any doubts about the messiness of it all - yep, it was every bit as messy as I'd expected it to be! Of course, it was just as much fun as I'd expected as well 🙂

When N was done, I took off his clothes before easily rinsing the goop off his hands and face. Once the goop had dried, I shook as much as I could out of his clothes and put them into the washing machine. The goop on the ground was hosed off just as easily. And it was like there never had been any goop at all - except for the fun memories, of course 🙂

Has your child played with goop? Would you be open to letting a baby try it? Leave a comment below!

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Baby Play with Goop - Simple Fun for Kids

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We finally did N's first sensory activity sitting up! I'd long admired a certain image from Fun at Home with Kids' Super Easy Sensory Play: Cornstarch and Water. Go check it out, it's the last image in the post - her baby son holding goop in both hands, and it's dripping down into his lap.

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I regularly suggest that parents let their kids have a cupboard in the kitchen that they can explore. Bowls and pots make great drums and ways to learn.

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Age: approx. 6 months to 2 years

Materials: Cake tins of varying sizes/shapes, things for banging (wooden spoon, maraca etc.)

Set out some cake tins around baby and provide them with something to bang.

Let them explore themselves.

Let baby bang with their hands and various other materials to see the difference in sound

- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills

- Hand and eye coordination

- Cause and effect (ie. hitting the tin makes a sound)
- Expectation

- About sounds
- Different things make different sounds
- Beats and rhythm

- Emotions. Enjoyment & excitement.

- Sensory. Feel of the metal, different textures on the tins, smoothness of the wood, sounds etc

- Simplify this activity by sitting baby on your lap and giving them something to bang on a tin

- Extend this activity for older babies by changing some of the metal tins for plastic. What's the difference in sound? See the different sounds made when the tin is empty or full. What happens when you hit the tin hard or soft? Does the size of the tin make a difference?

- Mix it up by e ncouraging baby to try hitting the tins with lots of different materials, from hard things to soft materials. So many different sounds can be made with the same tins.

- Repeat this activity as often as you like as babies (and children) need repetition in order to consolidate their learning and understanding

- T alk to your baby about what they are doing. This will help them begin to understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as helping develop their vocabulary. "Wow, that was a loud sound!" "Listen to the rhythm baby"

- Play with baby. Once they have explored on their own you can show them what hitting the tins in different ways can do and have rock band together! Just have fun!

- Supervise. Babies need constant supervision.

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Age : approx. 6 months to 2 years Materials: Cake tins of varying sizes/shapes, things for banging (wooden spoon, maraca etc.) Set out some cake tins around baby and provide them with something to bang. Let them explore themselves.

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Age: approx. 6 months to 2 years

Materials: Waterproof high-chair tray or other large tray that could hold approx 1cm water & milk bottle tops.

Pour approx 1cm (or less) of water in baby's high chair tray (or other tray) and let baby touch and play with the water

Baby can barely see the water but it is there. Time to get a close look

Baby loves splashing! This is exploring the properties of water.

Add some milk bottle tops. They float and glide across the surface like a baby air-hockey table

Trying to grasp the milk bottle tops can be tricky, as touching them makes them glide away quickly

- Eye tracking (following an object with their eyes)

- Hand and eye coordination

- Cause and effect (ie. hitting the surface of the water makes it splash up and wet you etc.)
- Expectation

- About things that float
- About reflecting light
- About the see-through nature of water

- Emotions. Enjoyment & excitement.

- How to grasp small objects that move

- Sensory. Feel, temperature, wetness, reflection, light, etc.

- Simplify this activity by sitting baby on your lap and letting them dip their hands in and splash around with a small bowl of water. Float the milk bottle tops on the water and let baby bat at them or splash to move them.

- Extend this activity for older babies by talking about the colours of the bottle tops and trying to encourage baby to grab for specific bottle tops. If you only have bottle tops of one colour, try adding different coloured sticker dots to the top or something similar.

- Mix it up by providing different objects that can float on the water.

- Repeat this activity as often as you like as babies (and children) need repetition in order to consolidate their learning and understanding

- T alk to your baby about what they are doing. This will help them begin to understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as helping develop their vocabulary. "Wow, look at the top gliding across the water" "Yay, you got a blue lid. Well done!" etc.

- -***- Give your baby your time. It's the best gift you could ever give them.
If you are considering making things a little more interesting by adding a little bit of food colouring to the water to see it better... perhaps reconsider (haha). I did try this and those harmless little, invisible droplets of water that were being splashed around are suddenly NOT invisible little droplets and cleaning up little blue (or other coloured) splashes from, well, everywhere in the near vicinity, isn't so fun ;)
Supervise! Babies need constant supervision. Especially when near water regardless of how little (or big) an amount.***

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Age : approx. 6 months to 2 years Materials: Waterproof high-chair tray or other large tray that could hold approx 1cm water & milk bottle tops. Pour approx 1cm (or less) of water in baby's high chair tray (or other tray) and let baby touch and play with the water Baby can barely see the water but it is there.

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Take a look at our easy instructions on how to make sensory bags for babies and toddlers using laminator pouches and gel. We have 6 sensory bag ideas, each with something different inside to discover, look at and squish around. These sensory bag ideas for babies and toddlers take minutes to make and they are perfect for young children who are exploring their sense of touch and sight. You can have your own homemade baby sensory toys made in minutes!

If you are looking for easy sensory play ideas for babies and toddlers making laminator pouch sensory bags are perfect! These sensory bags are easy to make, they are small and flat so they can easily be stored and they are durable! We have had our laminator pouch sensory bags for a couple of years and never had any leaks!

Below you will find our easy step by step instructions to make your own set of sensory bags for babies and toddlers to enjoy.

I've supplied links to Amazon for easy purchasing! Just click the links below to be taken to the product pages! We are a participant in the Amazon Service LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliates sites.

Iron or hair straightners

Small objects to fill your bags with (for example):

How to make sensory bags for babies and toddlers using laminator pouches

STEP 1: Gather your sensory bag supplies

The fun thing about making homemade sensory bags is that there is no right or wrong way to do it! You can add anything you like to your sensory bags and your baby will love exploring them.

I would suggest taking some time to gather your supplies for your sensory bags and think about a few different sensory bag ideas before you begin. We have included 6 sensory bag ideas below that we think are perfect for sensory play for babies and toddlers.

STEP 2: Prepare laminator pouches for sensory bags

A4 laminator pouches are a little large for a babies or toddlers hands so I would suggest cutting them in half to make them A5 size. Once you are happy with the size of your laminator pouches you need to prepare them by sealing 3 sides of the pouches.

You can use an iron or hair straightners to seal the 3 sides of your laminator pouch. I used my iron on a medium heat and ran it slowly along the edge of the pouch. Leave the 4th edge open so you can fill the sensory bag.

STEP 3: Fill sensory bag with hair gel and small objects.

Spoon in a bit of hair gel into the open laminator pouch. I added two large spoons to each pouch. Then add a few exciting objects to the sensory bag for your baby or toddler to discover. The great thing about homemade baby sensory toys is that you can adjust the contents to your own child's interests. (There are 6 sensory bag ideas below)

STEP 4: Seal laminator pouch sensory bag

Wipe away any hair gel from the top of the laminator pouch (where you will seal it) and then seal the pouch by running your iron or hair straightners along the final side of the pouch.

Leave the sensory bag to cool for a minute and then squeeze the pouch to see if there are any weak spots where the gel could escape. If there are just re seal them using your iron or hair straightners.

STEP 5: Engage in sensory play for babies and toddlers

Six different sensory bag ideas

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How to make sensory bags for babies and toddlers

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Take a look at our easy instructions on how to make sensory bags for babies and toddlers using laminator pouches and gel. We have 6 sensory bag ideas, each with something different inside to discover, look at and squish around.

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I love the idea of making baskets or bins of similar items.

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A simple baby music bin creates a great sensory experience.

"Busy Baby" is at it again! Baby Kate is a member of the Busy Toddler farm system and is hoping to get called up to the big leagues soon (tongue in cheek). She is 9 months old now so she's still got a ways to go before she'll earn toddler status but girlfriend is trying hard to get there. Currently, she's loving a real activity made just for her: A baby music bin.

Baby Kate needed some solid occupying the other day and I needed a moment to breathe (she's been a bit of a clinger lately...). To appease us both, I threw together a quick baby music bin for her.

Setting up a baby music bin is fast and easy to do.
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Tray (this five pack isn't exactly what I used, but they're bomb)

Homemade rattles

Baby rings

Random noise makes

I promise you, this did not take long to set up. Let's say 3 minutes? No more than 5 for sure.

In Kate's baby music bin, I put a few of her noise making toys and added in some homemade rattles: I filled a bottle with rice and two Tupperware with Cheerios and cous cous, respectively. Isn't it funny what you can come up with on the fly?

I picked those food items because in the event she got a lid off or open, those are baby safe for Kate and I'm comfortable with her handling them. Always do what's best and safest for your baby (and never leave them unattended).

Kate loved this and, five days later, this tray of makeshift music items is still with us. She has especially loved the homemade rattles and banging on the tray with spoons. She's clearly going to be a gifted musician. I'm looking into an early entrance into Julliard asap.

Fun, simple, and easy to set up - just the way I like them! And even Busy Toddler Sam has loved having this tray around and has been caught more than once making his own music. It's been a happy little activity to have out for a bit.

What would you add to a Baby Music Bin?

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Baby Music Bin Sensory Fun - Busy Toddler

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"Busy Baby" is at it again! Baby Kate is a member of the Busy Toddler farm system and is hoping to get called up to the big leagues soon (tongue in cheek). She is 9 months old now so she's still got a ways to go before she'll earn toddler status but girlfriend is trying hard to get there.

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Playing in mirrors is so important for young children.

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I have never met a baby who didn't love to gaze at herself in the mirror. And I have never met a baby who didn't smile at least once at herself. Starting around 6 months, baby begins to recognize herself in the mirror and can begin to learn more about what she can do. Baby is also beginning to put language and vocabulary together. And a mirror is crucial to this process. Simply put: mirror time matters.

Just like tummy time for your little one, mirror time can be done everyday for at least 15 minutes (not necessarily continuously). We brought a full length mirror downstairs for our oldest (22 months) when she was around one year old for a preschool unit on the body. But she had a mirror in her bedroom that we used (and still use) everyday long before she was a year old to help her build awareness of her body. Our second little girl just turned 6 months old and has really started to enjoy her time in front of the mirror.

Watching your little one's eyes light up at the sight of herself or of another person is such fun! But after you have your baby and yourself plopped in front of the mirror and have smiled and said, "Hi," what's next? I have come up with a small list of the activities we do in front of the mirror with our little ones to get everyone smiling and laughing (and a little bit of learning, too)!

Clap your hands

This sounds so simple, but babies love to see this. And with babies, when you demonstrate a motion long enough, they will start to do it themselves. We simply clap our hands three times while saying, "Clap, clap, clap" and then take her hands to help her make a clapping motion and say, "Clap, clap, clap." Eventually, baby will be able to do it without help, but will still love to stand or sit in front of the mirror and see her hands clap together.

Sing songs with motions

Our two favorite songs to sing in front of the mirror are "Row, Row, Row your Boat" (we do rowing motions for the rowing part and swaying motions for the "merrily" part) and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." (with traditional motions). Other songs you might consider singing in front of the mirror are "If You're Happy and You Know it" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."

Make funny faces

Again this sounds like a simple one, but it can be so crucial to the emotional development of your child. Once you are sitting in front of the mirror, smile and say, "Look baby, Mama is smiling. Mama is happy." Then change the expression on your face to a sad expression and say, "Look baby, Mama is crying. Mama is sad." You can do this with the gamut of emotions.

Play peek-a-boo

There are a bunch of ways to play peek-a-boo with the mirror. We primarily do a couple of them. One is where you hold baby away from the mirror (or facing away) and then in front of the mirror (or turn around) and say, "Peek-a-boo." Also you could combine peek-a-boo with singing with this song: "Peek a boo, peek a boo. I see you, I see you. I see your button nose and your little toes. Peek-a-boo." (to the tune of "Are you Sleeping?") The motions for that are where you cover and uncover your eyes or baby's eyes and then point to the body parts indicated.

Stick out your tongue

Never underestimate the power of the humor in a good tongue-sticking out session. This is simple, but baby will love it and will start to mimic you very quickly!

Talk about body parts

This is where vocabulary is built. Take time to point out all the parts of the body to your baby. Show her on herself and on yourself. We did this by simply pointing to the body part (nose) and saying, "Baby's nose, Mama's nose, Dada's nose."

Brush your teeth

This may seem a little strange. But doing some of the activities you do everyday in front of the mirror can not only entertain baby, but also help them to recognize basic hygiene. You could also brush your hair, put on lotion, wash your hands. Talking to your baby about what you are doing while making eye contact with them through the glass will help with vocabulary too.

Play dress up

As baby gets older and is able to put on a hat or a scarf, sit them in front of the mirror and have a good old-fashioned dress up time. Baby might be hesitant at first (or completely against it, as ours was), but try it again the next day and the next day until she too is enjoying herself.

We just love these activities!

The last tip for mirror time is get everyone involved. The more baby has to look at and check out while in front of the mirror the better. Include the entire family and bond with baby while helping her to grow!

What do you do during mirror time with your little one? Any other suggestions?

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Baby Betterment: Mirror Time Matters - Simple. Home. Blessings

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I have never met a baby who didn't love to gaze at herself in the mirror. And I have never met a baby who didn't smile at least once at herself. Starting around 6 months, baby begins to recognize herself in the mirror and can begin to learn more about what she can do.

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This can also be done in a bath tub and with other types of toys.

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Make a cuddly sensory experience with a fluffy bin.

My youngest is just starting to sit up on her own which means she is ready for some super fun activities. She's got a soft spot for stuffed animal friend so this is a tailor made activity for my snuggle loving baby. She is obsessed with this fluffy bin and all the soft fun inside.

We love, love, love our kiddie pool and rarely use it as a pool. Here it is as a fluffy bin: a sensory exploration of all things cuddly. I needed to work in the yard, so I set Kate up with every single stuffed toy I could get my hands on. Plopped her down with them and she was in heaven.

Making a fluffy bin takes just a second!
Materials:
As I went about collecting the stuffed toys, I started noticing the different textures each had and the different feel of their fur. Even though they are all soft and cuddly, each had different fur, different lengths, different fabrics, etc. It was fantastic for Kate's baby hands and for her to explore.

Kate (8 months) loved this fluffy bin and it bought me the time I needed to get a little work done and not feel like I had completely neglected her. I fully expect to use the kiddie pool and the fluffy bin as an inside activity during the winter, because who doesn't need to snuggle up with some soft friends on a cold day?

When my toddler woke up from his nap, he actually joined Baby in the fluffy bin for a little toddler-stuffed animal cuddle time. Doesn't get much cuter than a toddler and baby in a sensory bin together.

Making this fluffy bin was the perfect sensory activity for my baby. It kept her entertained and busy while also exploring and learning about different textures. Definitely a two thumbs up activity!

Try making a fluffy bin for your toddler or baby!

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My youngest is just starting to sit up on her own which means she is ready for some super fun activities. She's got a soft spot for stuffed animal friend so this is a tailor made activity for my snuggle loving baby. She is obsessed with this fluffy bin and all the soft fun inside.