Clapping Games and Finger Plays

Now, when your baby is 12 months old, he/she understands many things and can do simple actions like clap hands and playing finder games.

To play this kind of games, you should use easy memorized rhymes and perform simple actions like finger counting, clapping hands, sit-stand, jump up and down.

As a starter, you can use such favorite nursery and counting-out rhymes as :

* Five little ducks
* Heads, shoulders knees and toes
* The wheels on the bus
* I'm a little teapot
* Incy wincy spider
* Jelly on a plate
* Old MacDonald
* Two little dicky birds

and many others gathered on the Nursery Rhymes, Tongue Twisters and Conting-out Rhymes site

Hello - Goodbye

To learn the meanings of the words Hello and Goodbye, you can play this game with your baby.

Each time you enter a room and see your baby, say "Hello" with a big smile on your face. Now leave the room and say "Goodbye" and wave your hand. In a moment, come back and say "Hello". Repeat it as many times as you like, till the baby understands the meaning of these two words. Then he can do the same with you and his toys.

Rag-Doll or Free Toy In Minute

Needle mothers can create great masterpieces by not just making a doll, but also sewing dress for it. But when you’ve no time, a simpler variant will do. Babies always want something new. A simple doll can be done in a minute.

The “Mama” doll.

Fill a light one-colored sock with wadding or dry hygienic wipes. Tie up the sock tightly thus dividing the head from the body, and also tie the doll’s bottom (the end of the sock will be the dress’ fringe).

Draw the face and hands with a soft-tip pen. You can also paint the doll’s dress (e.g. draw flowers or simple spots)