125 brain games for babies

125BrainGames
forBabies:
SimpleGamestoPromote
EarlyBrainDevelopment,
Revised
byJackieSilberg
withcontributionsfrom
KeithPentz
IllustratedbyKathiDery





AlsobyJackieSilberg:
125BrainGamesforToddlersandTwos:SimpleGamestoPromoteEarlyBrain
Development,Revised
300ThreeMinuteGames:QuickandEasyActivitiesfor2–5YearOlds
500FiveMinuteGames:QuickandEasyActivitiesfor3–6YearOlds
AllAboutMe
BabySmarts:GamesforPlayingandLearning
BrainGamesforBabies,Toddlers,andTwos:140FunWaystoBoostDevelopment
TheCompleteBookofActivities,Games,Stories,Props,Recipes,andDancesforYoung
Children:Over600Selections,withPamSchiller
TheCompleteBookofRhymes,Songs,Poems,Fingerplays,and
Chants:Over700Selections,withPamSchiller
GamestoPlaywithBabies,3rdEdition
GamestoPlaywithToddlers,Revised
GamestoPlaywithTwo-Year-Olds,Revised
GoAnywhereGamesforBabies

HelloRhythm:RhythmActivities,Songs,andGamestoDevelopSkills
HelloSound:CreativeMusicActivitiesforParentsandTeachersofYoungChildren
Higglety,Pigglety,Pop!233PlayfulRhymesandChants
TheICan’tSingBook:ForGrownupsWhoCan’tCarryaTuneinaPaperBag…ButWant
toDoMusicwithYoungChildren
ILiveinKansas
ILoveChildrenSongbook
LearningGames:ExploringtheSensesThroughPlayTheLearningPowerofLaughter
Let’sBeFriends
LollipopsandSpaghettiActivityBook:DevelopmentalActivities
MyToesAreStartingtoWiggleandOtherEasySongsforCircleTime
PeanutButter,Tarzan,andRoostersActivityBook
ReadingGames
SingYeladim
Sniggles,Squirrels,andChickenpox:40OriginalSongswithActivitiesforEarly
Childhood
SongstoSingwithBabies



©2012JackieSilberg

PublishedbyGryphonHouse,Inc.
POBox10,Lewisville,NC27023
800.638.0928;877.638.7576(fax)

Visitusonthewebatwww.gryphonhouse.com.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicor
technical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageorretrievalsystem,withoutpriorwrittenpermissionof
thepublisher.Everyefforthasbeenmadetolocatecopyrightandpermissioninformation.

Theauthorofthisbook,JackieSilberg,isanacclaimedspeaker,teacher,andtraineronearlychildhooddevelopmentand
music.Youcanarrangetohaveherspeak,present,train,orentertainbycontactingherthroughGryphonHouse,POBox
10,Lewisville,NC27023,800.638.0928,orat
CoverphotographcourtesyofiStockphoto
IllustrationsbyKathiDery
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Silberg,Jackie,1934–
125braingamesforbabies/JackieSilberg.--2nded.
p.cm.
ISBN978-0-87659-440-7
1.Abilityininfants.2.Abilityinchildren.3.Intellect–Problems,exercises,etc.4.Learning,Psychologyof–Problems,
exercises,etc.5.Infantpsychology.6.Childpsychology.I.Title.
BF720.A24S572012
649′.122–dc232011049681
BulkPurchase
GryphonHousebooksareavailableforspecialpremiumsandsalespromotionsaswellasforfund-raisinguse.Special
editionsorbookexcerptsalsocanbecreatedtospecifications.Fordetails,contacttheDirectorofMarketingatGryphon
House.
Disclaimer
GryphonHouse,Inc.cannotbeheldresponsiblefordamage,mishap,orinjuryincurredduringtheuseoforbecauseof
activitiesinthisbook.Appropriateandreasonablecautionandadultsupervisionofchildreninvolvedinactivitiesand
correspondingtotheageandcapabilityofeachchildinvolvedisrecommendedatalltimes.Donotleavechildren
unattendedatanytime.Observesafetyandcautionatalltimes.


TableofContents
Introduction
Birthto3Months
NewbornGames
HeartbeatSounds!

FallinginLove
BabyTalk
TheBlowingGame
Here’sMyFinger
Hello
WhereDidItGo?
FollowtheAction
TheHatGame
SensoryExperiences
Shadows
DaydreamBeliever
Bicycle
BendThoseKnees
WorkingOutTogether
MouthSounds
DiaperSongs
WeAretheWorld
ADiaperGame
Crisscross
Roll,Roll
SoothingSmells
DevelopingTouch
UpDownAllAround
What’sYourName?
ConnectingNeurons
RepeatingSounds
TummyTime
3to6Months

LookWhatISee
WhoIsThatBaby?
SockMagic
Let’sWatch
GiggleBox
Where’sMyBaby?
UppityUppityUp
ICanMakeMusic
BabyBounce
GoingUptheEscalator
TalkingTogether
ConnectwithConversation
BaBaBaby-O
RollOlympics
Pop!GoestheWeasel
Let’sBounce
ILovetheMusic
Choo-ChooTrain
Swinging
WigglesandScoots
PushtheBaby
MovingTarget
ChangingHands
Where’stheToy?
NurturingCuriosity
TheScarfGame
CommunicatingwithYourBaby
OneThingataTime
LearningWords
ReachingOut

TheWondersofMusic
6to9Months
MirrorGames
SoundsEverywhere
LiveinConcert
WhatDidYouSay?
RumTumTum
ShakeIt,Baby!
One,Two
TommyThumb
I’veGotPower


RollingAlong
PuppetPeekaboo
IKnowYou’reThere—Somewhere
Ahh-Boom!
Surprise!Surprise!
PeekabooFun
PeekabooMusic
TheBigSqueeze
TouchingTextures
AnotherPopGame
SingandSay
Abracadabra
AGoodnightRhyme
LoveThoseKeys!
Waving
ListeningFun
ReadingTips

Let’sClimb
TheSigningGame
Upsidoodle
RockandSing
ReadItAgain!
NosetoNose
ConversationalSigning
9to12Months
OutsideExploring
SeekandYeShallFind
WhereIs_________?
ITouch
QuitePuzzling
ThisIsBill
WashtheToy
AllThingsNewAgain
One,Two,Three,Kick
Rolling
SillyAntics
FunwithStackingToys
HumptyDumpty
‘Roundand‘Round
CopyMe
Let’sPull


FastandSlowRhythms
MouthSongs
NewZooRevue
I’maBigKidNow

Changes
TheTeethRhyme
JackintheBox
BurstingBubbles
AStrollerGame
DiscoveringBooks
GroceryShopping
MaryMack
WhereIsTeddy?
Yes,ICan
SinkorFloatGame
LookOut,HereComes—!
ReferencesandResources
Index


Introduction

Yourbeautiful,preciousnewbornishere!Sofragile,soinnocent,andsosweet—whatcan
youdotohelpyourbabygrowanddevelop?Whendoyoutalktohim,rockhim,andsingto
him?Theansweriseveryday!Whenwillshebeabletounderstandwhatyouaresaying?
Whenwillsherecognizewhoyouare?Theanswerisnow!
Everytimeyoutalkto,rock,singto,andtouchyourbaby,youarehelpinghisbrain
develop.Theneuronsinyourbaby’sbrainareconnectingandbecomingpathways.
Therearemanythingsthatanewbornbabycanalreadydo:
Focusonfacesthatarewithineightinchesofherface;
Recognizeyourvoiceandturnhisheadtowardthesoundofyourvoice;
Respondtobeingtouched;
Suck;

Yawn,sneeze,andhiccup;
Graspthingsthatareplacedinherhands;and
Communicatewithcrying.
Bythetimeachildisthreeyearsold,thebrainhasformedonethousandtrillion
connections—abouttwiceasmanyasadultshave.Somebraincells,calledneurons,are
hardwiredtoothercellsbeforebirth.Theycontrolthebaby’sheartbeat,breathing,and
reflexesandregulateotherfunctionsessentialtosurvival.Therestofthebrainconnections
arewaitingtobe“hookedup.”Theconnectionsthatneuronsmakewithotherneuronsare
calledsynapses.Onesinglebraincellcanbeconnectedtomorethantenthousandother
cells.Whilepartsofthebraindevelopatdifferentrates,studyafterstudyhasshownthat
thepeakproductionperiodforsynapsesisfrombirthtoaboutage10.Duringthistime,the


brain’sweighttriplestonearlyadultsize.Scientistsbelievethestimulationthatbabiesand
youngchildrenreceivedetermineswhichconnectionsforminthebrain.

HowDoestheBrainKnowWhichConnectionstoKeep?
Thisiswhereearlyexperiencecomesintoplay.Throughrepetition,brainconnections
becomepermanent.Conversely,aconnectionthatisnotusedatall,oroftenenough,is
unlikelytosurvive.Forexample,achildwhoisrarelyspokentoorreadtointheearly
yearsmayhavedifficultymasteringlanguageskillslateron.Or,achildwhoisrarely
playedwithmayhavedifficultywithsocialadjustmentasshegrows.Achild’sbrain
thrivesonfeedbackfromhisenvironment.Thebrainwiresitselfintoathinkingand
emotionalorganthatisformedbywhatthechildexperiences.Chancesareachildwhohas
alanguage-richenvironmentwilllearntospeakverywell.Ababywhosecoosaremet
withsmilesratherthanapathywilllikelybecomeemotionallyresponsive.

Thecarethataninfantreceiveswillhavedefinitiveandlong-lastingeffectsonhowhewill
developandlearn,copewithstress,andmanagehisemotions.Babiesthrivewhenthey
receivewarm,responsiveearlycare.

Scientistscontinuetolearnmoreeachyearabouthowthehumanbrainworks!Weknow
thatearlychildhoodexperiencesprofoundlyshapebabies’brains.Researchalsosupports
thelong-heldbeliefsthatanindividual’scapacitytolearnandthriveinavarietyofsettings
dependsontheinterplaybetweennature(hergeneticendowment)andnurture(thekindof
care,stimulation,andteachingshereceives),andthatthehumanbrainisuniquely
constructedtobenefitfromexperienceandfromgoodteaching,particularlyduringthefirst
yearsoflife.


Theverybestwaytodevelopbabies’brainconnectionsistogivebabieswhattheyneed,
whichisanenvironmentthatisinterestingtoexplore,thatissafe,andthatisfilledwith
peoplewhowillrespondtotheiremotionalandintellectualneedsbysingingtothem,
huggingthem,talkingtothem,andreadingtothem.Alltheseinteractionsdevelopthe
brain’spotentialforfuturelearning.
Allthegamesinthisbookdevelopbabies’braincapacity.Theyarethebuildingblocksof
futurelearning—agood,solidbeginningforbabies.Andtheyarefun,too!
Revisingthisbookhasbeenaneye-openingexperienceformeasIlearnedallthenew
brainresearch.Thereareseveralnewbooksmentionedinthebibliographythatprovidethe
latestinformation.

I’mforevergratefulfortheopportunitytolearnaboutourpreciouslittleonesandhowtheir
brainsgrow.I’vealwaysbelievedthatbabieswhoare10daysoldarejustasintelligentas
collegegraduates.Theyjustdon’thavetheabilitytoexpressthemselvesyetandlack
experiencestobuildon.Playthegamesinthisbookwithyourbaby,andIbetyouwill
agreewithme!


Birthto3Months

NewbornGames

Newbornsrecognizethevoicesoftheirparents.Ifyoupattedyourtummyandtalkedto
yourbabywhileshewasinthewomb,shewillknowthesoundofyourvoice.
Whileyourinfantisonherback,walktoonesideandsoftlycallouthername.
Keepsayinghernameuntilshemoveshereyesorherheadtowardthesoundofyour
voice.
Walktoherotherside,andsayhernameagain.
Gentlymassageherbodyasyousmileintohereyesandsayhername.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Themoregentlestimulationyougiveaninfant,thegreaterthenumberofbrain
synapsesthatareformed.


HeartbeatSounds!

Holdyourbabyagainstyourchestsohecanhearandfeelyourheartbeat.
Payattentiontoyourownbreathingandthebreathingofyourbaby.
Letyourbabyexperiencethefeelingofskin-to-skincontactandthenaturalrhythmsof
yourbody.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Whileinutero,babieshearandinternalizetherhythmicpatternstheyhear.Yourbaby
willfeelcomfortedandsoothedbythenatural,rhythmicsoundsofyourbreathingand
heartbeat.


FallinginLove

Makeeyecontactandbodycontactwithyourbabyaslongassheseemstoenjoyand
desireit.
Holdyourbabyinyourarms,androckherbackandforth.
Sayyourbaby’snameand“Iloveyou.”
Makesureyourbabyexperiencesmanymomentsofbeingheld,talkedto,comforted,
andsoothed.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Nurturingandlovingyourbabyfromthemomentofbirthhelpsestablishheremotional
well-beingandherresponsestolaterlifeexperiences.


BabyTalk

Whenyouspeak“parentese”(talkinginahigh-pitchedvoice)toinfants,youare
communicatingwiththemandencouragingtheirvocalresponses.Thiswayoftalking
tobabiesdevelopstheirlanguageskills.
Saythingssuchas,“You’resuchasweetbaby”or“Lookatthose10littletoes”in
parentese.
Asyouspeak,holdyourbabyclosetoyourface,andlookdirectlyintohiseyes.
Sing,laugh,andmakefunnynoises,too,toattractyourbaby’sattention.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Babiesrespondto“parentese”—thehigh-pitchedvoiceadultsusewhentalkingto
babies.Inaddition,infants’braincircuitsforhearingbenefitwhentheyhearavariety
oftones,pitches,andsounds.


TheBlowingGame

Thisgamehelpsaninfantbecomeawareofthedifferentpartsofherbody.
Blowgentlyonyourbaby’spalms.Asyoublow,saythefollowingwordsinasingsong
chant:
Herearethebaby’spalms.
Kissyourbaby’spalms.
Blowonotherpartsofherbody,andthennamethosepartsofherbodyinthechant.
Mostbabieslikegentleblowingontheirelbows,fingers,necks,cheeks,andtoes.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Experiencesusingthefivesenseshelpbuildtheconnectionsthatguidebrain
development.Earlyexperienceshaveadecisiveimpactontheactualarchitectureofthe
brain.


Here’sMyFinger

Thisgamestrengthensababy’shandsandfingers.
Holdyourinfantinyourlap,facingyou.
Holdyourindexfingerinfrontofyourbaby’sface.
Heprobablywillgraspyourfinger,asthisisanaturalreflexwithnewborns.
Eachtimehegraspsyourfinger,saypositivewordssuchas,“That’smywonderful
boy!”or“You’resostrong!”
Thisgamealsodevelopstrackingskills.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Thesimpleactofreachingforanobjecthelpsthebraindevelopeye-handcoordination.


Hello

Whenyourbabyseesyourface,shewillbecontent.
Saythefollowingpoemwithyourfaceabouteighttotwelveinchesfromyourbaby’s
face:
Hello,hello,Iloveyouverymuch.
Hello,hello,myfingerstheycantouch.
Hello,hello,I’lltouchyourlittlenose.(Touchbaby’snose.)
Hello,hello,I’llkissyourlittlenose.(Kissbaby’snose.)
Repeatthispoemandchangethelasttwolinestodifferentpartsofyourbaby’sface—
ears,eyes,cheeks,lips.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Atbirth,babiesseebestifobjectsarebetweeneightandtwelveinchesfromtheireyes.


WhereDidItGo?

Holdabrightlycoloredscarfinfrontofyourbaby.
Slowlymovethescarfaround,andtalkabouthowbrightitis.
Whenyouaresurethatyourbabyislookingatthescarf,slowlymoveittooneside.
Keepmovingthescarfbackandforthtoencourageyourbabytofollowitwithhiseyes
oreventuallytotryreachingforandgraspingthescarf.
Note:Aswithanygame,watchforsignsthatyourbabymaybetiredofthegameand
readytorestorplaysomethingdifferent.Someofthesignsareyawning,notbeing
interestedinthegame,crying,andrestlessness.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Neuronsforvisionbeginformingduringthefirstfewmonthsoflife.Activitiesthat
stimulatebabies’sightwillensuregoodvisualdevelopment.

FollowtheAction

Babieslovetolookatfaces,especiallyfacesofpeopletheylove.
Trydifferentfacialexpressionsandsoundstodevelopyourbaby’svisionandhearing.
Herearesomeideas:
Singasong,andusebigmovementswithyourmouth.
Blinkyoureyes.
Stickoutyourtongue.
Makecontortionswithyourmouth.
Makesoundswithyourlipssuchassmackingyourlips.
Coughoryawn.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Bytwomonths,babiescandistinguishfeaturesonaface.Asyourbaby’sbraingrows,
thiskindofgamewillhelpdevelophersenseofhumor.


TheHatGame

Yourfaceisoneofthefirstthingsyourbabyrecognizes.
Tryplayingthishatgamewithyourinfant.Whenherecognizesyourface,youwillbe
stimulatinghisvision.
Selectdifferenthatstoputonyourhead.Asyouputonthedifferenthats,saythe
following:
Hats,hats,hats,hats;(Slowlyshakeyourheadbackandforth.)
(Mommy,Daddy,nameofperson)hasahat.
(sameperson)loves(nameofbaby)Whenhewearshishat.
Ifyoudon’thavemanyhats,putascarforribbononyourhead.

Whatbrainresearchsays

Aone-month-oldbabycanseeasfarawayasthreefeetandisveryinterestedinthe
environment.


SensoryExperiences

Exposingyourbabytomanydifferentsensationswillbroadenherawarenessofherself
andtheworld.
Trygentlyrubbingyourbaby’sarmswithdifferentfabrics.Satin,silk,wool,and
terryclotharegoodfabricstostartwith.
Giveyourbabyanopportunitytoexperiencedifferentsmells.Gooutsideandsmella
flower,orenjoythesmellofafreshlycutorange.
Talktoyourbabyaboutthevarioussights,sounds,smells,andtexturesaroundher.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Whatbabiesseeandsmellcreatebrainconnections.Theexternalsenses—vision,
hearing,smell,andtouch—driveemotionalresponses,which,inturn,eventuallywill
haveanimpactonlearning.


Shadows

Infantswakeupmanytimesduringthenight.
Shadowscastonthewallbyanightlightmakeinterestingshapesandformsforyour
babytolookat.
Ifyoucanarrangeamobilesothatitcastsshadows,youwillbehelpingyourbaby’s
visualdevelopment.
Whenyourchildgetsalittleolder,makeshadowdesignswithyourhandsforyourbaby
towatch.

Whatbrainresearchsays
Theneuronsforvisionbeginformingduringthefirstfewmonthsoflife.Stimulating
yourbaby’svisionwillhelpmakevisualconnectionsinthebrain.