20 Simple Baby Activities for New Parents to Try Today

Babies are natural explorers and are constantly curious about their surroundings. As your little one grows, you’ll want to find activities that help promote their development and skills while keeping them entertained.

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Though there are many fun and easy baby activities that you can do together with your little one to promote your baby’s growth and development, these 20 baby activities are a must-try!

1. Tummy time: This activity involves placing your baby on their tummy for a few minutes each day to promote neck and shoulder strength. Tummy time is essential for babies to learn how to crawl and sit up on their own.
2. Storytime: Reading to your baby not only helps to promote language development but also encourages a love of books. Choose age-appropriate books and read them with enthusiasm to keep your baby engaged.
3. Baby sign language: Teaching your baby basic sign language can help with communication. Start with simple signs like “milk” or “more” and watch as your baby starts to use them to communicate.
4. Baby yoga: Practicing gentle yoga poses with your baby can promote flexibility and relaxation. There are plenty of baby yoga resources available online that can guide you through poses that are safe and beneficial for your baby.
5. Soft play: Letting your baby play on a soft play mat or in a ball pit can promote gross motor development. This activity also helps to develop balance and coordination.
6. Sensory bags: Fill a ziplock bag with water and small objects for your baby to explore and touch. This activity promotes sensory development and helps your baby to learn about different textures and shapes.
7. Peek-a-boo: Playing peek-a-boo with your baby helps to develop their understanding of object permanence. This is an important milestone in a baby’s cognitive development.
8. Sensory bottles: Filling a clear bottle with water and objects for your baby to watch and explore can be a soothing and stimulating activity. The movement of the objects inside the bottle can be mesmerizing for babies.
9. Music time: Playing music for your baby and encouraging them to make noise with instruments can help to promote their love of music and rhythm. It also helps to develop their motor skills.
10. Mirror play: Letting your baby look at themselves in a mirror promotes self-awareness and helps them to recognize their own reflection.
11. Finger painting: Using non-toxic paint and letting your baby explore with their fingers is a messy but fun activity. This activity helps to develop your baby’s fine motor skills and encourages creativity.
12. Puppet show: Telling stories with puppets can encourage imagination and language development. You can create your own puppets or use store-bought ones.
13. Block play: Letting your baby play with soft blocks can promote hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. This activity also encourages problem-solving skills.
14. Sensory bin: Filling a bin with different textures, such as rice or beans, for your baby to explore promotes sensory development. You can add different objects for your baby to find and sort through.
15. Balloon play: Blowing up a balloon and letting your baby bat it around is a fun activity that promotes hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
16. Water play: Water play is an excellent way to keep your baby entertained and introduce them to the concept of cause and effect. Fill a tub with warm water and let your little one splash around and play with cups, bath toys, and sponges. The sensation of water on their skin and the different textures of the toys will stimulate their senses and promote their cognitive and physical development.
17. Texture play: Babies love exploring different textures, and you can create a sensory experience for them with simple items around the house. Let them touch and feel different fabrics, such as fur, silk, and cotton, or give them toys with bumpy surfaces, like rubber balls or textured blocks. This type of play helps your baby develop their tactile sense, which is crucial for their future learning.
18. Baby gym: A baby gym is an excellent investment for parents who want to keep their little ones active and promote their physical development. These colorful and interactive toys usually come with hanging toys, mirrors, and textures that stimulate your baby’s senses and encourage them to reach and grab. By playing with a baby gym, your baby can develop their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills, such as rolling over and crawling.
19. Singing and dancing: Singing and dancing are great ways to bond with your baby and encourage their love of music. Play some lively tunes and sing along while holding your baby or let them dance on their own. This type of activity helps your baby develop their motor skills, body awareness, and coordination. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time together and create happy memories.
20. Soft books: Soft books are perfect for babies who love exploring with their senses. These books are made of soft and colorful materials and often come with different textures, crinkly pages, and interactive elements. They help your baby develop cognitive and visual skills and promote a love of reading.

We really hope you loved our blog on 20 Fun and Easy Baby Activities! Spending time doing these activities together will create special memories that you’ll cherish forever.

We know it can be tough to find the time and energy to come up with new ideas. That’s why we’re excited to introduce you to Kindersteps — a free app with over 1500 early childhood developmental activities! From sensory play to learning games, there’s something for everyone. Click here to access the app!