At this age, babies begin to build on the concepts they have learned and to explore them in greater detail. Various colors, patterns and shapes will grab the baby’s attention and as the baby explores them, lessons about touch, shape and texture will be learned. Babies also love to imitate their parents at this age. Interactive games such as peek-a-boo and patty-cake can be introduced at this point. Although the child may not be able to precisely repeat all the steps in these games, the simple act of trying is fun and beneficial.

Parents are urged to create a safe area where the child can play. This space should be big enough to incorporate the fact that by the end of this period, the child may be rolling over, sitting up and reaching for objects. This area should contain a variety of items of various sizes, shapes, colors and textures. It is acceptable to incorporate items not traditionally thought of as toys, such as wooden spoons and plastic cups. Any item can be used as a toy as long as it is safe for the child to handle. Using non-toy items for play also can help children learn about their use in everyday life. 

Babies this age are very likely to pick up objects and bring them to their mouths. For this reason, parents should be especially careful to make sure babies cannot reach (or even see) objects that are small enough to present a danger of choking.

Children also begin to develop a sense of object permanence at this time in their lives. This is the understanding that items continue to exist even when no longer in sight. Parents who partially hide a toy or other object may discover that their child will search for the object. In addition, babies often begin to drop objects in order to watch people retrieve them. This gives them a sense of cause and effect – when they drop something, a person reacts by picking it up.

Parents and caregivers can build on the techniques they used to play with the child during earlier stages of development. For example, when laying the child down on his/her stomach, parents can place a toy just in front of the child. This encourages the child to reach out and grasp the toy.

Incorporating new toys into a child’s play can enhance the learning experience. For example, toys that make noises when manipulated or see-through toys that show motion can help stimulate a child’s learning.