125 Brain Games for Babies: Simple Games to Promote Early Brain Development, Revised by Jackie Silberg with contributions from Keith Pentz Illustrated by Kathi Dery Also by Jackie Silberg: 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos: Simple Games to Promote Early Brain Development, Revised 300 Three Minute Games: Quick and Easy Activities for 2–5 Year Olds 500 Five Minute Games: Quick and Easy Activities for 3–6 Year Olds All About Me Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning Brain Games for Babies, Toddlers, and Twos: 140 Fun Ways to Boost Development The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Young Children: Over 600 Selections, with Pam Schiller The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants: Over 700 Selections, with Pam Schiller Games to Play with Babies, 3rd Edition Games to Play with Toddlers, Revised Games to Play with Two-Year-Olds, Revised Go Anywhere Games for Babies Hello Rhythm: Rhythm Activities, Songs, and Games to Develop Skills Hello Sound: Creative Music Activities for Parents and Teachers of Young Children Higglety, Pigglety, Pop! 233 Playful Rhymes and Chants The I Can’t Sing Book: For Grownups Who Can’t Carry a Tune in a Paper Bag… But Want to Do Music with Young Children I Live in Kansas I Love Children Songbook Learning Games: Exploring the Senses Through PlayThe Learning Power of Laughter Let’s Be Friends Lollipops and Spaghetti Activity Book: Developmental Activities My Toes Are Starting to Wiggle and Other Easy Songs for Circle Time Peanut Butter, Tarzan, and Roosters Activity Book Reading Games Sing Yeladim Sniggles, Squirrels, and Chickenpox: 40 Original Songs with Activities for Early Childhood Songs to Sing with Babies ©2012 Jackie Silberg Published by Gryphon House, Inc PO Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023 800.638.0928; 877.638.7576 (fax) Visit us on the web at www.gryphonhouse.com All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or technical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher Every effort has been made to locate copyright and permission information The author of this book, Jackie Silberg, is an acclaimed speaker, teacher, and trainer on early childhood development and music You can arrange to have her speak, present, train, or entertain by contacting her through Gryphon House, PO Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023, 800.638.0928, or at jsilberg@interserv.com Cover photograph courtesy of iStockphoto Illustrations by Kathi Dery Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Silberg, Jackie, 1934– 125 brain games for babies / Jackie Silberg 2nd ed p.cm ISBN 978-0-87659-440-7 Ability in infants Ability in children Intellect–Problems, exercises, etc Learning, Psychology of–Problems, exercises, etc Infant psychology Child psychology I Title BF720.A24S57 2012 649′.122–dc23 2011049681 Bulk Purchase Gryphon House books are available for special premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising use Special editions or book excerpts also can be created to specifications For details, contact the Director of Marketing at Gryphon House Disclaimer Gryphon House, Inc cannot be held responsible for damage, mishap, or injury incurred during the use of or because of activities in this book Appropriate and reasonable caution and adult supervision of children involved in activities and corresponding to the age and capability of each child involved is recommended at all times Do not leave children unattended at any time Observe safety and caution at all times Table of Contents Introduction Birth to 3 Months Newborn Games Heartbeat Sounds! Falling in Love Baby Talk The Blowing Game Here’s My Finger Hello Where Did It Go? Follow the Action The Hat Game Sensory Experiences Shadows Daydream Believer Bicycle Bend Those Knees Working Out Together Mouth Sounds Diaper Songs We Are the World A Diaper Game Crisscross Roll, Roll Soothing Smells Developing Touch Up Down All Around What’s Your Name? Connecting Neurons Repeating Sounds Tummy Time 3 to 6 Months Look What I See Who Is That Baby? Sock Magic Let’s Watch Giggle Box Where’s My Baby? Uppity Uppity Up I Can Make Music Baby Bounce Going Up the Escalator Talking Together Connect with Conversation Ba Ba Baby-O Roll Olympics Pop! Goes the Weasel Let’s Bounce I Love the Music Choo-Choo Train Swinging Wiggles and Scoots Push the Baby Moving Target Changing Hands Where’s the Toy? Nurturing Curiosity The Scarf Game Communicating with Your Baby One Thing at a Time Learning Words Reaching Out The Wonders of Music 6 to 9 Months Mirror Games Sounds Everywhere Live in Concert What Did You Say? Rum Tum Tum Shake It, Baby! One, Two Tommy Thumb I’ve Got Power Rolling Along Puppet Peekaboo I Know You’re There—Somewhere Ahh-Boom! Surprise! Surprise! Peekaboo Fun Peekaboo Music The Big Squeeze Touching Textures Another Pop Game Sing and Say Abracadabra A Goodnight Rhyme Love Those Keys! Waving Listening Fun Reading Tips Let’s Climb The Signing Game Upsidoodle Rock and Sing Read It Again! Nose to Nose Conversational Signing 9 to 12 Months Outside Exploring Seek and Ye Shall Find Where Is _? I Touch Quite Puzzling This Is Bill Wash the Toy All Things New Again One, Two, Three, Kick Rolling Silly Antics Fun with Stacking Toys Humpty Dumpty ‘Round and ‘Round Copy Me Let’s Pull Fast and Slow Rhythms Mouth Songs New Zoo Revue I’m a Big Kid Now Changes The Teeth Rhyme Jack in the Box Bursting Bubbles A Stroller Game Discovering Books Grocery Shopping Mary Mack Where Is Teddy? Yes, I Can Sink or Float Game Look Out, Here Comes —! References and Resources Index Introduction Your beautiful, precious newborn is here! So fragile, so innocent, and so sweet—what can you do to help your baby grow and develop? When do you talk to him, rock him, and sing to him? The answer is every day! When will she be able to understand what you are saying? When will she recognize who you are? The answer is now! Every time you talk to, rock, sing to, and touch your baby, you are helping his brain develop The neurons in your baby’s brain are connecting and becoming pathways There are many things that a newborn baby can already do: Focus on faces that are within eight inches of her face; Recognize your voice and turn his head toward the sound of your voice; Respond to being touched; Suck; Yawn, sneeze, and hiccup; Grasp things that are placed in her hands; and Communicate with crying By the time a child is three years old, the brain has formed one thousand trillion connections—about twice as many as adults have Some brain cells, called neurons, are hardwired to other cells before birth They control the baby’s heartbeat, breathing, and reflexes and regulate other functions essential to survival The rest of the brain connections are waiting to be “hooked up.” The connections that neurons make with other neurons are called synapses One single brain cell can be connected to more than ten thousand other cells While parts of the brain develop at different rates, study after study has shown that the peak production period for synapses is from birth to about age 10 During this time, the Mary Mack The jump-rope chant “Miss Mary Mack” is fun to say, in part, because the ending word repeats three times Say the rhyme, and on the word that repeats, hold your baby and jump If your baby can stand, hold her around the waist and help her jump Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack All dressed in black, black, black With silver buttons, buttons, buttons All down her back, back, back Say the poem again On the words that repeat, pick your baby up high in the air What brain research says The prime time for language learning is the first few years of life Children need to hear you talking, singing, and reading to them during these early years Respond to their babbling and language efforts Where Is Teddy? Babies usually love to search the floor for dropped objects Play this game with your baby Hold your baby’s favorite teddy or stuffed animal in your arms, and then gently drop it to the floor Ask your baby, “Where is teddy?” Encourage him to move his body to get the teddy If he’s showing you with sounds and gestures that teddy is out of reach, help him get teddy by bringing it close enough for him to grab This builds his confidence When he retrieves it, ask him, “Shall we do it again?” Walk around the room, and gently drop teddy to the floor in a different place Keep playing the game as long as your baby is interested Ask him to drop teddy, and you can retrieve it What brain research says Babies need a safe environment to explore in order to develop their motor skills and the brain connections that go with them Yes, I Can This is a bathtub game Give your baby her own tightly wrung-out washcloth Make up your own melody, and chant or sing, “Can you wash your face?” Take the baby’s hand, and rub the washcloth gently on her face, then sing or chant, “Yes, I can Yes, I can.” Continue playing this game as you name all parts of the body: hands, feet, cheek, nose, ears, and so on Next ask the baby to wash your face, your hands, your nose, and so on To dry the baby, play the same game by giving the baby a towel with which to dry herself What brain research says Provide lots of time and opportunities for practice and repetition Few things build a child’s brain and open avenues for learning more than consistent repetition of healthy activities and experiences Sink or Float Game You can play this game in the bathtub or with a large container filled with water Note: Never leave your baby alone unattended in the bathtub, near a container of water, or near any water source You will also need several items that will sink or float in the water Put one of the floating items in the water, and ask, “See how it floats?” Next put a sinkable item in the water, and say, “Watch it sink to the bottom.” Repeat with the remaining items, alternating between the floaters and sinkers Let your child pick one of the items and start experimenting Try other toys to see if they will sink or float What brain research says This is a great game to develop cognitive thinking The growth of babies’ brain cell connections depends a lot on their environment and their experiences Look Out, Here Comes _! Creating an obstacle course for your baby will develop his coordination and confidence while he learns to crawl and walk You can create a straight-line course by placing pillows and cushions of various heights between two solid barriers such as a couch and a wall Place your baby at one end, and sit at the opposite end with a toy in your hand Say, “Look out, here comes (child’s name)!” and encourage him to climb over each pillow and cushion When he reaches you, give him the toy, and say, “Hooray, (child’s name) climbed over all the pillows!” What brain research says Height awareness and balance are improved with this game Games that encourage infants to learn control and coordination set the stage for all further development The neurons are “happy” that these skills have been accomplished References and Resources Books Bergen, D and J Coscia 2001 Brain research and early childhood education: Implications for educators Olney, MD: Association for Childhood Education International Brown, S 2009 Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul New York: Penguin Caine, G and R Caine 2009 Making connections: Teaching and the human brain Chicago: Addison-Wesley Carnegie Corporation of New York 1994 Starting points: Meeting the needs of our youngest children New York: Carnegie Corporation Eliot, L 1999 What’s going on in there? How the brain and mind develop in the first five years of life New York: Bantam Eliot, L 2009 Pink brain, blue brain: How small differences grow into troublesome gaps—and what we can do about It New York: Mariner Books Elkind, D 2000 The power of play: How spontaneous, imaginative activities lead to happier, healthier children Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press Gardner, H 1983 Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences New York: Basic Books Gerhardt, S 2004 Why love matters: How affection shapes a baby’s brain New York: Brunner-Routledge Goodwin, S and L Acredolo 2005 Baby hearts: A guide to giving your child an emotional head start New York: Bantam Gopnik, A., A N Meltzoff, P K Kuhl 2000 The scientist in the crib: What early learning tells us about the mind New York: HarperCollins Gordon, M 2005 The roots of empathy: Changing the world child by child Toronto: Thomas Allen Publishers Hirsh-Pasek, K and R M Golinkoff.2004 Einstein never used flashcards Emmaus, PA: Rodale Howard, P J 1994 The owners’ manual for the brain: Everyday applications from mind-brain research Austin, TX: Leornian Press Kotulak, R 1996 Inside the brain: Revolutionary discoveries of how the mind works Kansas City, MO: Andrews and McMeel Langer, E J 1997 The power of mindful learning Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press Medina, J 2008 Brain rules: 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school Seattle, WA: Pear Press Medina, J 2010 Brain rules for baby: How to raise a smart and happy child from zero to five Seattle, WA: Pear Press Riley, D., R.R San Juan, J Klinkner, and A Ramminger 2008 Social & emotional development: Connecting science and practice in early childhood settings St Paul, MN: Redleaf Press Schiller, P 1999 Start smart: Building brain power in the early years Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House Shore, R 1997 Rethinking the brain: New insights into early development New York: Families and Work Institute Silberg, J 2001 Games to play with babies, 3rd edition Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House Silberg, J 2002 Games to play with toddlers, revised Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House Silberg, J 2002 Games to play with two year olds, revised Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House Silberg, J 2009 Baby smarts: games for playing and learning Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House Sylwester, R 1995 A celebration of neurons: An educator’s guide to the human brain Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Websites Better Brains for Babies http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/bbb BrainNet http://www.brainnet.org The Dana Foundation http://www.dana.org/ Talaris Institute http://www.talaris.org Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org DVDs and Videos Can you pass the all-time great parent test? Chicago: McCormick Tribune Foundation 49 min Brazelton, T B 2004 10 things every child needs for the best start in life Kuhl, P The linguistic genius of babies Filmed October 2010 TED video, 10:18 Posted February 2011 http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_kuhl_the_linguistic_genius_of_babies.html Perry, B “Dr Bruce Perry, childhood development on LIVING SMART with Patricia Gras.” YouTube video, 26:41, from HoustonPBS Living Smart, posted by “Houston PBS,” March 15, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vakiDwZJY8 Reiner, R The first years last forever From the I Am Your Child video series Produced by Parents’ Action for Children and Rob Reiner May 1, 2005 DVD, 30 min Articles Caine, R N., G Caine, C L McClintic, and K J Klimek 2004 12 Brain/Mind learning principles in action—One author’s personal journey New Horizons for Learning Highfield, R 2008 Harvard’s baby brain research lab The Telegraph, April 30 Swidley, N 2007 Rush, little baby Boston Globe, October 28 Index A Anticipating 3–6 months, 56 6–9 months, 83–89, 94, 102 9–12 months, 116, 130 Attachment birth–3 months, 35 3–6 months, 46 6–9 months, 97, 105 Auditory development birth–3 months, 20, 28 3–6 months, 68 6–9 months, 75–79, 96, 98, 104 9–12 months, 109 B Balance 3–6 months, 47, 57 9–12 months, 116, 139 Balls, 61, 63, 83 Bath time, 114, 137–138 Bedtime, 95, 99 Bells, 49, 76 Bilingualism birth–3 months, 30 6–9 months, 77, 106 Body awareness birth–3 months, 16–18, 32, 26, 36 3–6 months, 42–44, 51, 59 6–9 months, 80–81, 85 9–12 months, 111, 129, 137 Books, 99, 104, 106, 133 Bouncing, 3–6 months, 50, 57–58 C Cause and effect 3–6 months, 49 6–9 months, 82 9–12 months, 128 Chairs, 36–37, 116 Changing hands, 3–6 months, 64 Clapping, 42–43, 52 Climbing, 6–9 months, 100, 139 Comforting, 45, 95 Conversations 3–6 months, 50 6–9 months, 78, 100, 103 9–12 months, 98–99, 106 Coordination, 6–9 months, 116, 120, 122, 135, 139 Core muscle development birth–3 months, 40 3–6 months, 47, 55 Crawling 3–6 months, 47, 57, 61–62 6–9 months, 100 9–12 months, 108, 121–122, 139 Cross-lateral movement birth–3 months, 32 3–6 months, 55, 58 D Dancing, 3–6 months, 72 Descriptive language, 99, 131, 132, 134 Dramatic speech, 59, 70 Dressing skills, 9–12 months, 85, 115 Dropping/retrieving, 6–9 months, 82 E Eye contact, birth–3 months, 14–15, 28, 37, 40 Eye-hand coordination birth–3 months, 17 3–6 months, 64, 71 6–9 months, 78, 91 9–12 months, 112, 115, 117, 119, 131 F Facial expressions birth–3 months 20, 28 3–6 months, 68 6–9 months, 74 9–12 months, 118 Fine motor skills birth–3 months, 17 3–6 months, 64 6–9 months, 78–79, 81–82, 90–91, 96, 99, 104, 106 9–12 months, 112, 115, 117, 119, 130, 133, 138 Fingerplays 6–9 months, 81 9–12 months, 130 G Gentle stimulation, 12, 52 Grasping birth–3 months, 19, 32 3–6 months, 56, 64 6–9 months, 78–79, 82, 90–91, 94, 96, 99 9–12 months, 115, 119, 123, 131, 136, 138 Gross motor development birth–3 months, 25–27, 31, 33, 36, 40 3–6 months, 47–51, 55, 58, 61–63 6–9 months, 100 9–12 months, 116, 118, 122–123, 130, 135 H Head control, 6–9 months, 103 Height awareness, 9–12 months, 139 Humor birth–3 months, 20 3–6 months, 46 9–12 months, 118 K Kicking 3–6 months, 63 9–12 months, 116 Kissing birth–3 months, 16 3–6 months, 64 L Language development birth–3 months, 8, 14–15, 28, 30, 37–39 3–6 months, 43–44, 46, 51–54, 63, 65, 68, 70 6–9 months, 77, 80–81, 91, 93, 98 9–12 months, 108–111, 115, 125–126, 130–135 M Mealtimes, 6–9 months, 98 Memory skills 3–6 months, 58–59 6–9 months, 94 9–12 months, 110, 118, 131–132 Mimicking birth–3 months, 25, 28 3–6 months, 46, 52, 68 6–9 months, 84 9–12 months, 118, 122, 126, 129 Mirror play 3–6 months, 43 6–9 months, 74 9–12 months, 118, 122 Music play 3–6 months, 49, 56, 58, 60, 72 6–9 months, 75–76, 78–79, 89, 92–93 9–12 months, 120, 124–125 O Object permanence 3–6 months, 42, 65 6–9 months, 83–84, 88–89 Obstacle courses, 9–12 months, 139 Outdoor games, 9–12 months, 108, 131–132 Overstimulation birth–3 months, 24 3–6 months, 69 P Parentese birth–3 months, 15, 37 3–6 months, 70, 72 Patterns 6–9 months, 76, 104 9–12 months, 120, 125, 130 Peekaboo games 6–9 months, 84, 88–89 9–12 months, 114 Play, 8 3–6 months, 44, 51, 55, 58 6–9 months, 83 Poems “Back and Forth,” 60 “Choo-Choo Train,” 59 “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands,” 42 “Exercise Is Fun!” 36 “Going Up the Escalator,” 51 “Goodnight, Sweet Baby,” 95 “Hats, Hats, Hats,” 21 “Hello, Hello,” 18 “Humpty Dumpty,” 120 “I Have a Little Pony,” 57 “I Touch,” 111 “Jack in the Box,” 130 “Miss Mary Mack,” 135 “One, Two, Three,” 80 “Push, Push, Push,” 62 “Rolling Little Hands,” 117 “Rum, Tum, Tum,” 78 “Squeeze the Cheese, Louise, Please!” 90 “The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson, 60 “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,” 55 “Teeth Rhyme,” 129 “This Is Bill,” 113 “Tick, Tock, Goes the Clock,” 109 “To Market, To Market,” 57 “Tommy Thumb,” 80 “Uppity, Up,” 48 Praise 3–6 months, 61, 71 9–12 months, 112, 139 Problem solving, 9–12 months, 117 Puppets, 44, 84 Puzzles, 112, 115 R Rattles, 32, 64 Reaching birth–3 months, 17, 19, 31–32 3–6 months, 61, 71 6–9 months, 78–79, 91, 94, 96, 99, 104 9–12 months, 133 Reassurance, birth–3 months, 35 Relaxation, birth–3 months, 33 Releasing, 6–9 months, 82, 96 Repetition, 8 birth–3 months, 38–39 3–6 months, 48, 54, 70 6–9 months, 99, 104 9–12 months, 133, 137 Restlessness, birth–3 months, 19 Rhyming birth–3 months, 18, 30 6–9 months, 77, 80–81 9–12 months, 111, 113, 129, 135 Rhythm sticks, 56, 124 Rhythm 3–6 months, 56–58, 60, 72 birth–3 months, 27 6–9 months, 78–79, 93 9–12 months, 124 Rocking, 7 birth–3 months, 14, 33, 39 3–6 months, 57 6–9 months, 74, 95, 103 Rolling 3–6 months, 55 9–12 months, 108 S Scarves, 19, 21, 67, 94, 109, 123 Scooting, 3–6 months, 61–62 Security birth–3 months, 35 3–6 months, 45 6–9 months, 86, 105 9–12 months, 117 Self-confidence 3–6 months, 47, 61 6–9 months, 105, 118 9–12 months, 121, 127–128, 134, 136–137, 139 Sensory development birth–3 months, 16, 22, 34–35 3–6 months, 44, 70 6–9 months, 91, 104 9–12 months, 108, 114, 120, 126, 131–132 Shakers, 78–79 Signing, 101, 106 Singing, 7 birth–3 months, 15, 20, 25, 27, 29–30, 33, 35, 39–40 3–6 months, 54, 60 6–9 months, 77–79, 81, 89, 92–93, 97, 103 9–12 months, 114, 120, 124–125, 135 Sitting up, 6–9 months, 102 Skin-to-skin contact, 3–6 months, 13–14, 35 Social/emotional development, 8 birth–3 months, 14, 29 3–6 months, 45, 52 6–9 months, 92, 97 9–12 months, 110, 118, 127–128 Songs “Are You Sleeping?” 89 “Ba Ba Baby-O,” 54 “Bending, Bending, Bending,” 26 “Change a Diaper,” 29 “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” 125 “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” 79, 101 “Pop! Goes the Weasel,” 56, 92 “Ride, Ride, Ride Your Bike,” 25 “Roll, Roll, Roll the Ball,” 33 “This Old Man,” 125 “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” 125 “Wash the Toy,” 114 “Wave to Daddy,” 97 “The Wheels on the Bus,” 124 Sound/distance awareness, 6–9 months, 82 Spatial awareness, 3–6 months, 63 Spatial-temporal reasoning skills, 9–12 months, 124 Stacking rings, 115, 119 Stress, 8 3–6 months, 67, 69 6–9 months, 102 Stringing beads, 115 Stuffed animals, 67, 120, 136 Surprise 6–9 months, 83, 85, 87–89, 94 9–12 months, 115, 130 Swinging, 3–6 months, 60 T Taking turns 3–6 months, 53 6–9 months, 88 Teddy bears, 55, 136 Teething, 9–12 months, 129 Throwing, 9–12 months, 131 Touching, 9 birth–3 months, 12–14, 18, 22, 35, 38 3–6 months, 44, 50–51, 59, 69–70 6–9 months, 80–81, 86, 91–92, 95, 104–105 9–12 months, 111, 113, 115, 117 Toys, 32, 42, 61, 63, 65–66, 87, 114–115, 139 Tracking skills birth–3 months, 17, 19, 31–32 3–6 months, 42, 55, 65–67 Tummy time birth–3 months, 40 3–6 months, 55, 61–62 6–9 months, 100, 103 V Vestibular sense, birth–3 months, 32 Visual development birth–3 months, 19–21, 23, 31–32 3–6 months, 42–43, 45, 49, 65, 67 6–9 months, 74 9–12 months, 108, 110, 131–132 W Walking skills 3–6 months, 57 9–12 months, 116, 121–122, 139 Water play, 9–12 months, 114, 137–138 Waving, 6–9 months, 97 Wooden spoons, 56, 78, 124