Games With Babies

Games are wonderful ways for families to spend time together. When played with love, patience and fun as the main ingredients, a closeness and trust develop in all family members. This ‘tie' can begin in interactions with a baby. It can be played out with toddlers, and it will help you deal a new hand with your children as they age.

As babies begin to interact actively with their parents and siblings, they begin to test the game of ‘what happens when I ...." A baby may need that flying airplane or wide mouth with noise to open up her self to that spoon of food. He may need that silly sound, crazy face, or ‘yucky' kiss to laugh at each interaction. But mostly, I believe the baby learns that she can communicate in a way that gets a positive reaction when we continue to ‘play' her game.

Two months ago when my baby turned one, he had developed a unique responsive laugh to each of his three siblings, mom, and I, each occurring from a different type of tickle. And he did not like to laugh if we attempted to tickle him like another family member does. He also had developed a method to interact with his siblings by lowering his head, with a slight butt and slide down the face to request kisses and gentle attention.

Now at fourteen months he has decided to ask for attention by crawling between my legs, lying prostrate on the floor, and his anticipation often is visible in his tapping a leg on the floor. This grew from my attention of squeezing him when he tried to crawl past me through my legs. I would capture him, shake him gently and then as he laid down I would bend over to tickle him. Mom was surprised when he crawled between her legs, laid down and kicked. I had to show her how to respond, and now he can seek attention in his special way from both of us.

My six year old still on occasion will ask to play a game from years ago. He tries to kiss me, while I ‘fight' to keep his ‘yucky' kisses away, acting somewhat horrified when he plants one on my arm or face. I only hope we can continue to share games that are ours alone, a connection that only we can share. And I hope that I never forget these ‘games' with my kids, they are part of the love I received, and shared.