Let's Play! Tow-Handed Clacking & Pile It On

1.Two-Handed Clacking

There comes a point when nothing amuses a baby so much as trying to bring his hands together. He looks from one hand to the other, moves each one, and then suddenly they're touching and he's ready for patty-cake.

Skills developed: hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: two wooden sticks, such as long cylindrical blocks, drumsticks, or kitchen spoons

Exploit the "handy" impulse by giving your baby a wooden stick or spoon to hold in each hand and showing him how to clack them together. At first he'll miss as often as he hits, but soon he'll get a rhythm going, and the satisfaction of each noisy contact will keep him happy through many a diaper change.

2.Pile It On

There's a reason your little one loves blocks, stacking cups, and simple building toys: She loves to see how things fit together. So why not build on that enthusiasm by letting her put her dinner together at the table?

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: a variety of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, potatoes, green beans), cooked thoroughly until very soft and cut into finger-size lengths

Settle your baby into her highchair, booster chair, or other comfortable place where she's used to eating. (She'll need a flat tabletop to work on, so a bouncy-seat won't work.) Sitting across from her, pile the vegetables in front of her, separating them by type — carrots in one pile, green beans in another, etc. Make piles for yourself, layering your own tower so your baby can see what you're doing. Begin by selecting the largest vegetable sticks and laying them lengthwise in a square to serve as the foundation. Choose another type (a contrasting color helps too) and lay them in a square on top of the first layer, overlapping ends like you were building with Lincoln Logs. Build upward, layer by layer, to make a colorful striped tower. Of course, both of you can eat as you go — in fact, that's the idea!

Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for this week's activities, don't worry — just try them again in a few weeks.

source from http://www.babycenter.com