Pushchair Games
Playing pushchair games with your child is not only an amusing activity, but can also be educational. It helps with interaction and encourages communication between you and your child who may at this point not be able to speak if he is a baby or just be learning if he is a toddler.
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To and Fro
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Push the pushchair backward and forward while either reciting a nursery rhyme or singing a song. Keep eye contact with your child and you could tickle him as you pull forward. Use the same nursery rhyme or song every time you do this and eventually he will learn the words and be saying the words or singing along with you.
Hide and Seek
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On a rainy day, your child will be bundled up in her pushchair with the hood up. If you have a pushchair with the child facing forward, you can pop your head over the top and say "peep bo." Children love this game and will giggle every time you pop your head in front of them; they never tire of it. Go over the top or peep around either side. Keep them guessing which way you are going to appear. If your pushchair has your child facing you, run around the back and start from there. Another version of this as the child gets older is to sit in front of the pushchair and hold a large sheet with a letter on it in front of your face and when you peep around it say the name of the letter; this can help with reading. Also you can hold up pictures and say, "Teddy" or "Dog" and so on.
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Wheelies
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As with motorbikes, pushchairs can do wheelies too. Clearly you need your child safely strapped in for this exercise. If you have a front facing pushchair, tilt it on the front two wheels and run with it in this position making appropriate noises. Your child will be tilted forward and enjoy this new elevated position. Some children may not care for this one so take care. If your pushchair is backward facing, tilt it on the back two wheels so you are looking down at your child. She will like this new experience and enjoy looking at you from a different angle. Again, if she shows any anxiety, stop.
Educational Toys
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The "Hop Along Toy Bar" or "Stroll Buggy Arch" can be attached across the front of the pushchair for your child to play with as you walk. Both of these products have good reviews and amuse babies and toddlers. Sitting with him, you can talk through each item on the bar and encourage him to spin them and look in the mirror. As he gets older, talk about the colors.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit baby in a pushchair034 image by kana109 from Fotolia.com
