How to Play With a 5-Month-Old Baby

Video Transcript

"You have a 5 month old little boy or little girl, and you're wanting to think of some activities to do to play with him. I'm Dr. Donna with some tips on what to do. Balls, love balls. But one thing you can do to make it a little more enticing with balls, is get these little, they're kind of like little hooks, I forget what you call them, just little square hook on hooks, and you can hook balls. Hook these onto their highchair, their car seat, stroller, and they can toss and try to start retrieving. If they're not, they'll still enjoy throwing them off, or pushing them off, all kinds of opportunities there. Break out all your kitchen, and pots and pans, and any types of musical instruments. Let him start just pounding and making music, make up silly songs to play with, they will love that activity. Great time to start bringing out picture books, start reading to your child. I'm a big believer in, that children will learn to love books if you start them early. They can be picture books of colors and shapes, and animals, and people, doesn't matter, just bring them out and start playing with your child, and books. Beach ball is a great prop to use. If your child is still working on some upper body strength, maybe they're not sitting yet, you can work on (can't grab the beach ball here) but lay them on the beach ball, let him rock back and forth, great for upper body strength, they will love the whole sensation of being on there. You can bounce them, you can rock them, a wonderful opportunity. Also get somebody to start rolling the ball to your child, and they will love that converging experience on them. You can also go to, like a Target, a Walmart, you name it, and get these tunnels. Tunnels are great to start working on spacial awareness. Take some balls and roll them through. You can sit your child on one end, and let him roll back and forth the balls, or you can roll them to, they will enjoy having that opportunity. And also bubbles are a great way to play with your child. They may start to reach and grab for them, and they will love bubbles. I'm Dr. Donna with some tips, on how to play with your 5 month old."