How to Play "This Little Piggy" With a Baby

If you are at a loss at what to do with a baby, nursery rhymes are always a great idea. Even infants like their rhythms and rhymes. Many of us need to relearn them, but this is easy and fun to do. Babies especially like them combined with simple actions. A simple nursery rhyme to start with is "This Little Piggy."

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Speak slowly in an animated voice, while gently taking hold of one of the baby's toes with each line. Begin with the big toe. Say "This little piggy went to market..."
2. Grab hold of the next toe and say, "This little piggy stayed home..."
3. Grab hold of the middle toe, saying, "This little piggy had roast beef..."
4. Wiggle the next toe a bit, with "This little piggy had none."
5. And then for the most exciting line, grab hold of the littlest toe and wiggle it while raising the child's foot. Say triumphantly, "And this little piggy went 'wee wee wee' all the way home!" Squeal the "wee wee wee" part for extra giggles. Feel free to tickle or nuzzle the baby a bit at this point.

Tips & Warnings

• After doing the rhyme several times, babies learn to anticipate the punch line from the beginning. Enjoy her mounting excitement.
• You may use fingers instead of toes, but toes are classic.
• For vegetarians, replace "roast beef" with "tofu" if you like!