ASQ Helpful Learning Activities for Infants 8-12 Months Old
Focus on: Cognitive Development

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Bath Time.
Let your baby play with plastic measuring cups, cups with handles, sieves and strainers, sponges, and balls that float in the bathtub.

Hide-and-Seek Games with Objects.
Let your baby see you hide an object under a blanket, diaper, or pillow. If your baby doesn't uncover the object, just cover part of it. Help your baby find the object.

Imitation Games.
Show pleasure at your baby's imitations of movements and sounds. Peek-a-boo and So Big are great examples. Babies enjoy playing the same games over and over.

Let Your Baby Make Choices.
Offer two toys or foods and see which one your baby picks. Encourage your baby to reach or point to the chosen object. Babies have definite likes and dislikes!

Making Noise.
Give your baby blocks to bang, rattles to shake, or wooden spoons to bang on containers. Show your baby how to bang objects together.

Make a Simple Puzzle.
Put blocks or ping-pong balls inside a muffin pan or egg carton. Make a Simple Toy. Cut a round hole in the plastic lid of a coffee can. Give your baby wooden clothespins or Ping-Pong balls to drop inside.

Moving Objects In and Out of Containers.
Give your baby plastic containers with large beads or blocks. Your baby may also enjoy putting socks in and out of the sock drawer or moving small cartons on and off shelves.

Pat-a-Cake.
Clap his hands together or take turns. Wait and see if your baby signals you to start the game again. Try the game using blocks or spoons to clap and bang with.

Taking a Look in the Mirror.
Mirrors are exciting at this age. Let your baby pat and poke at herself in the mirror. Smile and make faces together in the mirror.

Adapted from ASQ-3TM User's Guide by Squires, Twombly, Bricker, & Potter. © 2009 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.