Clueless on Fun, Developmental Activities to Do with My 9 Month Old

The best thing you can do for your child you are already doing. All a baby wants and needs is your time and attention. You are your baby's favorite toy right now.

With that said, I also found myself questioning if I was doing enough. I signed my daughter up for Gymboree and the class was fantastic! I learned so much and got so many great ideas on interacting with my baby. We are also doing Little Gym right now, and it really has seemed to help her mobility. Recently, I learned through another mom on mamasource of a program called Playwisely. We use flashcards to exercise their minds and then we do physical activities. I feel like all of the programs have been really beneficial for my daughter. You can find out more about the programs that I have listed at www.gymboreeclasses.com, www.littlegym.com, and www.playwisely.com or you can message me and I'd be happy to tell you more about my experiences.

1 mom found this helpful

You're doing exactly what you need to do! You're doing the best by and with your child. Keep up the good work. :)

Here is a list of some baby play books from Amazon. I don't think you really need them, but they probably have some cute ideas you haven't thought of
http://tinyurl.com/2nhk9v

Also, our toddler loves loves loves to climb. We got her these blocks and she has a great time with them.

http://tinyurl.com/2wazua

1 mom found this helpful

Wow! There are some great suggestions out there! Some of the things I did were to walk around w/your baby, wherever you might be(ie, the store, a restaurant, your yard, their room, etc) & let them see what we see. Let them get a good, upclose look at leaves on a tree, for example, & let them touch & feel stuff as you say the name of the item. Later maybe you can start adding more information like the color, or show them the birds that live in the tree, etc. Also, I've read alot of stuff on holding your baby skin-to-skin (daddies too) when they are really young,& talking to them in expressive ways while making eye contact is good for them. Remember you will be the most important teacher they will ever have so just start introducing them to the world a little at a time! Sounds like you're doing a fine job! S.

1 mom found this helpful

I am a certified early childhood teacher but I now stay home with my kids. I think what you are doing right now is great for your little guy. Children learn so much through play! One of the best things you can do for him right now is to imitate what he does. If he makes noises, you can make the same noises. If he pounds on the table, you can pound on the table. Right now he is exploring his world, and things that are so common to us are completely new to him each day.

Curriculum is basically the plan or guide of what a teacher or school is going to teach their students. Some schools purchase a curriculum, others make up their own.

I think what you are doing sounds great! Lots of play...try to expose your son to different environments and activities. Keep reading...even if he is snacking on the books! Maybe you could give him a little book to hold while you read another. Children's books are usually written with rhythm similar to songs. Listen to lots of music, when he gets a little older let him bang the pots and pans and make his own music. Talk to him a lot! People used to look at me like I was crazy at the grocery store because I basically narrated our trip to my kids. "We are going to get some apples. I wonder which color tastes the best. These green apples are pretty, but I want to get shiny red apples. Look at the crunchy carrots....."

I'm sure that was more than you wanted to know! Just remember to have fun, and your son will learn more than you'll ever be able to plan!

1 mom found this helpful

Get this book...

Brain Games-for babies, toddlers and twos
BY: Jackie Silberg

It is GREAT!!! My brother got it for me for Christmas in 2004 when my first was 3 months old. I used it with him and then on my little girl who is now 16 months old. I LOVE it!!!

Great Job, it sounds like you are doing a lot of good activities with him. If you want something a little more than you can get the book Slow and Steady Get Me Ready, you can get on Amazon and it gives you very easy activities to do from birth to 5 years and they are usually simple household items, they tell you what the activity helps with like hand-eye coordination and I have used it with my boys. It gives you a fun activity that also builds skills. Have fun.

I think he is too little yet. But talk to him all the time. My son was delayed in talking right because he had muffeled hearing and until we got tubes in him ears and realized it, he was behind. Talk to him about everything. Give him words to put with things. Also older children we solve problems but some times children do not know how we arrive at solutions until we basically think outloud. Just like mentoring with actions we also need to problem solve outloud. Later get the blocks that are colored. Tell him you are putting in the yellow round shape. Red square shape. As they learn there are different words to every thing the words mean something and putting them together make meaning.

I have a Day Care and find that around 2 and half is when the kids are really getting into puzzles and colors and shapes. My 3 yr old learned the alphabet and how to write her name not always in order but by doing it on a chalk board over and over she got it. Repetition is important. We would spell her name outloud over and over all day. She then started repeating it. At 18 months my friend had a child that knew all his colors, sang songs like, "Take Me Out to The Ball Game". The more I am around these children the more fun it is to teach. At the pool, moms watch the children. I am teaching them to throw a ball that floats and to reach and pull the water and kick.Learnig to swim at a young age could save their lives later. At 2 you can teach how to dial 911. Make sure they do not do it as one of my kids decided to do when I was not looking. Always have a key some place you can get to it. My children have locked me out 30 years ago when I had my own children at home.Hugs and loving is the most we can give our children to know because it models loving and if they repeat your actions later on, the greatest gift is to love others. So keep up the great job. G. W

I teach Kindermusik in Arlington, and I would love to talk to you about my classes. We focus on educating the whole child while helping the parents bond with their children. At the same time, we have absolutely the most FUN time EVER!!! You can check out my website at www.artschild.com or email me at ____@____.com and we could talk more about the program.

Hi A., Sound's like you are doing great. One thing that may give ya'll a little break from routine would be to join a SAHM's group. I don't know where you live but there are several out there and they are usually easy to find online or in a local magazine. I am a part of the MOMS Club and joined when I too was getting a little bored with our routine and looking to change things up a bit. Joining the group gave my little one friends, a calendar of options for things to do with others, and friends for me to get ideas from. Good luck and keep doing what you are doing! http://momsclub.org/

I think you are doing a good job. Babies don't need "school", the world around them is so new that they learn by seeing how you interact with others and your environment. It sounds as if you guys keep pretty busy and that is fine for this age. At least you don't just plunk him down in front of the tv. =) You will be amazed at how quickly he will pick up things and start to respond. Try logging onto babycenter.com and signing up for their newsletter. You can enter your baby's age and there are all sorts of age appropriate activities and games to help them learn. But the bottom line is, you seem like a devoted mama who spends time with your little one and that's what he needs most.

You might try Savvy Source's new activity encyclopedia. It's full of educational, developmentally appropriate activities, and it's sorted by age. Go to www.savvysource.com and click on "activities." I hope that helps.

You sound like you are doing a great job to me, Super Mom!! Not exactly what you were looking for, but GOOD JOB on keeping him active and social.

It sounds like what you're doing is great. Kids learn through play at that age, especially things like cause & effect. Don't worry about forceing him to learn things at such a young age...and curriculum isn't needed until much older. He'll even learn colors and shapes just by you playing with him and saying things like "Oh look! Here's a circle, catch the circle." while rolling the round block to him. Or "wow, look at this red bird" ... things like that and he will start learning colors and shapes. Anyway, don't worry too much. You're doing fine!

It sounds like you are doing what matters most, love, cuddles and laughing is in short supply for many babies and toddlers.

We have a newly developing moms group that love to share creative ideas and play time with the kids here at The Nestingplace, as well as a wonderful sign language class for babies and toddlers that really gives some structure to your daily playing and a new form of communication can be developed that is a private language that you and your son understand well. He is at the perfect age for it. We also have Mommy and Me Yoga, Musikgarten is starting up for a new semester and scrapbooking so that there are activities that combine moms and babies, and offer a "curriculum" as well.
These are just a few ideas, I hope they spark your creative juices and if you are interested in any of these classes feel free to call The Nestingplace.
K.

Infants need your love and attention. All this push for early learning is, IMO, ridiculous! Your child right now is learning the basics of the world around him...who and what he can and cannot trust. He's probably just now starting to figure out that when something goes out of his eyesight, it still exists (object permanence). The more secure a child is in his surroundings and in the love and comfort of the people around him, the more of a success he will be, no matter how much more or less 'ahead' or 'behind' he is with parents who use flashcards and sign language, etc. Does reading at 3 really give a child an advantage in kindergarten? The curriculum is the same for every student...let your son be an infant and just snuggle and love on him as you are right now. It sounds like you're doing fine.

I know how you feel! Sometimes i wonder if i'm doing enough to stimulate my 9mo old too. I forget how exciting the littlest things are for them. I think you are right on track with what you are doing, right now the reading is basically to get them used to the activity more then to fill them with information. Some social interaction with other babies is good.

There are alot of classes around town that can get you and your little one doing something new. There is a music class for babies that introduces them to instruments and sounds at the Dallas School of Music (they have a website you can google) also the Dallas School of dance has movement classes.

One thing that i enjoy doing, that is free, is to take my little girl to the closest pet store. She enjoy slowly walking around looking at the fish, cats, and birds.

Hey A.,

what a coincidence?! This sounds so much like my story except my son is almost 6 months. I am trying and eager to learn new things to teach and entertain my son with. I don't know where your located, but I would love to meet up and have a "play" date. Our situations are so similar, we may be able to learn alot from one another. Hope to hear from ya.