Babies are constantly learning. From the moment they’re born, they begin absorbing the world around them. At first, they focus on the small blurry space right around them, but as the months go by they begin to notice more details—sounds, sights, smells, and textures in both familiar and new environments.
In the early weeks, babies may be entertained simply by watching a mobile above their crib or chewing on a teething toy. But as they grow, their curiosity expands and their interests become more complex. Here are 10 fun activities for babies between 6 and 12 months that can stimulate their curiosity and encourage healthy development.
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Tummy Time 180°
We all know how important tummy time is for strengthening a baby’s muscles. To make it more exciting, place five or six toys in a circle around your baby and encourage them to reach for objects that are not directly in front of them. -
Pasta in a Bottle
Take an empty plastic bottle and fill it with dry pasta to create a homemade rattle. Secure the cap tightly or glue it closed. Babies will enjoy exploring the sound and movement of the pasta inside the bottle. Colored pasta adds even more visual excitement. -
Stacking Cups
Nesting cups or measuring cups from the kitchen make excellent stacking toys. Babies love stacking them, knocking them over, rolling them, and figuring out how they fit together. -
Post-it Exploring
If your baby is crawling or starting to stand, place Post-it notes around a room and encourage them to find and remove them. Place them low for crawlers and gradually higher as your baby becomes more mobile. -
Clapping Together
Most babies learn to clap between six and eight months. Once they discover how fun it is, they will want to do it constantly. Nursery rhymes like “Patty Cake” are perfect for practicing clapping together. -
Exploration Bag
Fill a clear bag with small toys or safe household items your baby can take out and examine. This activity works well during car rides, in waiting rooms, or anytime your baby needs quiet entertainment. -
Reading Together
Reading helps develop language and listening skills even from a very young age. High-contrast books are especially engaging for younger babies. As they grow, they enjoy turning pages and lifting flaps to discover hidden pictures. -
Couch Surfing
As babies begin standing and cruising, place toys along the length of the sofa and encourage them to move along while holding onto the couch for support. -
Colander Play
Take a kitchen colander and some pipe cleaners. Insert the pipe cleaners through the holes of the colander. Babies can practice pulling them out, and as they grow older they can learn to place them back in. -
Find the Block
Use two cups and a small block. Place the cups upside down and hide the block underneath one of them. Slide the cups around and see if your baby can guess where the block is hiding.
Remember that all baby activities should be done with adult supervision to ensure safety.
Do you have any favorite activities for babies between 6 and 12 months? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
