How to Play With a 5-Month-Old
Whether you speak baby talk or not, you can find ways to play with a 5-month-old. Five months is an interesting age for a baby because he is becoming more sociable. He is learning to repeat sounds, beginning to recognize familiar faces and developing an understanding of cause and effect. Five-month-old babies are also interested in the texture and look of objects, and they can often be seen staring at people or things.
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Instructions
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Play peek-a-boo with the baby. Either cover your face with your hands and open them to reveal your face while saying "peek-a-boo" or hide behind a wall or other object and jump out at the baby. This game is perfect for 5-month-old babies because they are just starting to realize that even when an object isn't in plain sight, it is still present, a concept called object permanence.
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Hide your baby's teddy in a fabric bag. Put the bag in another fabric bag. Put that bag in an additional fabric bag. Ask the baby, "Where is your teddy? Is it in here?" and open the outermost bag. Say "No, not in here." Then open the middle bag and say "Is it in here? No, not in here." Open the final bag and say "Oh, here it is." Use enthusiastic facial expressions to promote the baby's enjoyment.
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Play with rattles or other noise-making toys. Learning to manipulate the toys and produce sounds with them will help the baby develop fine motor skills.
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Take the baby for a stroll. Point out interesting objects that you see along the way, such as a stemmed flower or a large leaf. Collect these items in a basket. Pretty soon, your baby will likely point to items he wants added to the collection.
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Record your baby speaking or singing. Have her listen to it. Continue to make interesting sounds with her and play them back.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid playthings that could hurt your child, such as items that are too small and could be a choking hazard.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
