Steps to play with a year old baby

Playfulness, curiosity and a readiness to experiment are the qualities that can make a 1-year-old a delightful companion. Here are som suggested steps on to play with a year old baby.

Step1
Fold a piece of cardboard and make a hill. Show her how to put a toy car on top and let it roll down.
Step2
Stack blocks: Large cardboard nesting alphabet blocks can be used as containers, building blocks and nesting toys.
Step3
Build a tower, and then give her a turn. But don't be surprised if she would rather knock down yours than build one on her own.
Step4
Play with sand. A soup strainer is a good sandbox toy because it's easy for her to manipulate, and she can watch the sand pour out from different heights.
Step5
Show her her shadow on a sunny day. Stand in hers and let her stand in yours.
Step6
Play with older children: If she doesn't have older siblings, invite some older kids over to play with. She'll mimic what they're doing, and you'll be surprised at how much she learns.
Step7
Give her a stroller or shopping cart and send her for a stroll. Pretending and language development go together.
Step8
Put a few items, such as a spoon, toy car and cup, in a shoebox. Name each one as she pulls it out of the box. The more you play naming games with her, the more opportunities she has to learn language.