• Babies learn through play.baby playing image by KaYann from Fotolia.com
  
  Play is an important part of an infant's life; it's how they learn. Play time is also a great time to get to know your baby better. The activities a baby will enjoy depend on their age and interests. Make time to play and read with your baby, and also give him the chance to entertain himself through independent play activities.
  
  

Interactive Games

• Babies love interaction with other people, especially their parents and other kids. Some well-known interactive games are Patty Cake, Peekaboo, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Babies love sing-alongs. You can also make up simple games to play with your baby like clapping or making funny faces and having your baby try to copy you. An older baby will like coloring with you. Good choices to color with are crayons and finger paints.
  
  

Independent Play

• Learning to play by themselves is a step towards Independence for infants, and also will give parents much needed free time. Install a mobile or mirror onto your baby's crib, and this will keep a younger baby occupied for a while. Once your baby can hold onto things, give her toys she can grab onto easily and explore. Rattles are great toys because your baby will learn the concept of cause and effect. When she moves her hand, she is rewarded by her rattle making a noise. When she can sit up, she will enjoy activity centers. Towards the end of her first year, your baby may start liking imaginative play toys, such as dolls or playsets.
  
  

Reading

• Books and reading should be a big part of a baby's life. Reading stories with your baby now creates a love for reading later on. Reading also makes a great transition to bedtime, as it is a quiet activity and is great to do while cuddling. Read simple books, with one picture and word per page, to teach your baby new and familiar objects. Also read bigger books with more words. Even though your baby may not understand everything you're saying, he will enjoy the sound of your voice as you read to him. An older baby will also enjoy interactive books, such as touch-and-feel books or lift-the-flap books.
  
  

Learning Activities

• Play time is a great time for learning. Almost any game can be turned into a learning experience. As you play with toys, name each toy. Name animals for her and teach her the sounds they make. You can also start teaching an older baby about colors. A good way to do this is with crayons or other drawing materials, or with a set of objects that look the same but are different colors. Count with your baby as you build a stacking cup tower, or as you clean up toys together.