From the very beginning, babies are learning and exploring the world through play. These early experiences spark curiosity, builds connections, and support early development. Whether it’s singing a song or making silly faces, these simple moments can bring joy to both you and your baby.   

Here are some fun baby activities to try together: 

1. Tummy time. Lay your baby on their tummy and sit beside them for support and safety. Place a few baby-safe objects just within reach to spark their curiosity and motivate gentle stretching and reaching.  
   
   Why it matters: Tummy time is a great way to help your baby build both fine and gross motor skills, laying the foundation for crawling, rolling, and more! 
2. Mirror play. Sit in front of a mirror with your baby and explore together! This simple baby activity offers many developmental benefits:
   - Self-awareness: Point to your baby’s reflection and say their name or ask, “Who’s that?” to help them begin recognizing themselves.  
   - Language skills: Name and point to different facial features like “nose”, “eyes”, or “mouth” to support vocabulary development. 
   - Social-emotional learning: Make different facial expressions and encourage your baby to copy you. This will help them start recognizing and understanding emotions. 
3. Treasure baskets. One of the easiest and most enriching ways to bring learning from our Bright Horizons classroom into your home is through treasure baskets. These baskets are filled with simple items that are safe for babies and offer a variety of textures, shapes, and colors to explore.
   
   You can even try creating themed baskets to keep things fun: 
   - Kitchen Basket: Include baby-friendly items like tin muffin tray, whisk, measuring cups, spoons, and spatulas.
   - Colored Basket: Choose toys and household items that are all the same color to help your baby begin understanding similarities. 
   - Fall Basket: Fill it with seasonal items like mini pumpkins, soft leaves, and rattles in fall colors for a festive sensory exploration.  
   
   Tip: Rotate the items in the baskets regularly to encourage continued exploration and discovery.
4. Music and song. Singing to your baby is a simple yet powerful way to nurture their development. Whether your voice is in tune or not, it is soothing and familiar, helping your little one feel safe and connected. Nursery rhyme songs help introduce rhythm, repetition, and new vocabulary, which supports early language development. 
   
   Whether it’s a lullaby at bedtime or a silly song during bath time, music turns simple moments into meaningful bonding experiences.  
5. Baby sign language. Many teachers use simple sign language with babies because it supports early language development and gives them a way to express themselves before they can speak. Teaching your baby a few basic signs like “more”, “all done”, “milk”, or “play” can help your baby communicate their needs and ease frustration.  
6. Sensory play. Fill a zip-lock bag with clear hair gel and add colorful craft materials like pom poms, glitter, or foam stickers. As your baby squeezes, presses, and moves the material around, they are exploring texture, color, and cause-and-effect in a safe, hands-on way. 
   
   Why it matters: Sensory play supports fine motor development, encourages curiosity, and provides a calming, focused activity that is both fun and beneficial.  
7. Reading. Reading to your baby is one of the most powerful ways to support future learning. It’s also comforting, fun, and super easy to make a part of your daily routine. Whether it’s a quick story before bedtime or a quiet moment on the couch, these shared reading experiences help build language skills, spark imagination, and create lasting memories.
   
   Tip: A short story during mealtimes can also help keep your baby focused and seated at the table!
8. Nature walks. You don’t need to go far to explore nature! Sometimes, the best discoveries are right outside your door. Take a walk down your street, visit a community park, or explore your own backyard.
   
   You and your baby can:
   - Look under rocks 
   - Touch fallen tree branches
   - Smell flowers
   
   With curiosity, everyday places can become fun and magical adventures.
9. Baby art. Babies can enjoy art too! Simple and safe baby activities like zip-lock bag painting allows your baby to explore color and movement without the mess. Add a piece of paper and a few drops of paint into a sealed bag. Tape it to the floor, table, or wall for squishy, colorful fun!
   
   Tip: If you want to enhance learning for your baby, you can print out a picture of your baby and add it to the zip-lock bag. Proceed to add paint and let your baby color their own pictures. This allows for creativity while enhancing self-awareness and recognition. 
   
   You can also help your baby create fun projects by painting their feet or hands and stamping them onto paper, creating homemade cards or decorations for your friends and family. 
10. Dance party. Shake off stress and boost your mood by turning up the music and having a dance party! Whether it’s a morning boogie in the kitchen while flipping pancakes or a mid-day diaper change shimmy, dancing with your baby is a fun way to connect, laugh, and let loose. 
    No rhythm required! Just move, groove, and have fun! 

Playtime doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. With a little creativity and intention, these simple activities can help your baby grow, learn, and feel loved—while giving you both plenty of reasons to smile. 

At Bright Horizons®, we understand the importance of your baby’s earliest experiences. Our early education programs are thoughtfully designed to nurture development, spark curiosity, and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. 

Learn more about our early education programs to explore how Bright Horizons can support your family’s journey.