Give your child daily opportunities to learn through play

• Children learn by playing, observing, copying, and trying new things starting from the moment they are born. Your child enjoys and learns through playing with you! All your child needs is you
• Give your child opportunities to explore the world around him or her through play. He and she will enjoy playing with his or her fingers and toes, your face, and household objects. Follow his or her lead, encouraging play with safe objects that interest him or her. Observe his or her body language and sounds and do not force your child to play with something when he or she is not interested.
• Give your child challenging but achievable tasks. Guide your child’s actions and build on what he or she can do to make the task slightly more difficult. Accidents are more common when children are cared for by someone younger than 12 years old or are left alone.

Birth up to 6 months:

• Slowly move colorful objects for your baby to see and reach for. Watch his or her eyes move side to side as he or she follows the object
• Place your baby on his or her tummy with a colorful object out in front of him or her. Watch your child reach for it and praise him or her when he or she picks it up! He or she learns by putting objects in his or her mouth so make sure the object is clean, not sharp, and not too small that he or she could swallow it. 

6 up to 9 months:

• As you introduce new foods for your baby, he or she is learning new textures and tastes. Encourage him or her when he or she tries new foods!
• Give your baby clean, safe household objects to pick up, touch, feel, bang, and explore. Examples of simple toys to play with include small containers or a pot with a spoon.
• Draw or make simple picture books to develop your baby’s curiosity and help him or her learn new things        

9 up to 12 months:

• During mealtimes, give your baby small finger foods and encourage him or her to try new, healthy foods. He or she is starting to learn how to pick up things with his or her fingers and chew. He or she will often make a mess and that is okay! He or she is learning to feed him or herself and exploring different types of foods! 
• Play games like “Jack, where are you?” with your baby. While he or she is looking at you, cover your face with hands or fabric. Say, “Where am I?” Open hands and say, “Boo! Here I am!” Laugh with him or her as he or she sees you! He or she is starting to learn that you do not disappear when he or she does not see you.

12 up to 24 months:

• Play with your child and encourage him or her to try harder tasks. Encourage him or her to stack objects, knock them over, and start again. 
• Give your child more objects to stack. Help him or her if he or she gets stuck. Encourage your child’s imagination using sock puppets. Make up a story using the puppets.