Play with your eleven month old baby

Play is an important part of the developmental process of every child. At eleven months, babies can display surprising capacities to learn new things by simply observing or imitating adults around them. As a parent, you can help by doing what your baby needs you to do the most – play!

• Language skills: Your baby is now more receptive to sounds and words than before. Foster this interest in oral communication by playing games that involve and focus on the same. Read out books with big, colorful pictures with rhymes and funny-sounding words. Children at this age like being addressed by their name.
  
  
  
• Physical Movement: At eleven months, many babies tend to stumble into their own first footsteps. Help your child discover new body movements. Make cardboard box tunnels, and let your baby crawl through them. A toy kept out of its reach will encourage your child to move towards it. Play lively, catchy music and dance! Remember that the play area should be kept safe for the child to move freely in without risk of injury.
  
  
  
• Emotional development: Encourage your child to develop a sense of humor. Make funny hats of paper and plastic. Place them on the infant’s head in front of a mirror and encourage them to smile at the reflection.
  
  
  
• Social capacities: Your infant needs to meet different people. Encourage your child to play with your friends or family members. Play games such as peek-a-boo to help the child deal with separation anxiety.

In addition to the above, keep your child supplied with safe toys such as empty cartons, cardboard boxes, dolls, tennis balls, soft toys, and blankets.