Copy Cat Game / Body Parts Poem

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can help the brain pathways make new connections.

Activities for Infants

 

Copy Cat Game
Put your baby facing you so that he can study your face as you go through a variety of facial expressions.

 

Start with a smile, then stick out your tongue, show your teeth and point to them and say “teeth.”

 

Lift your eyebrows upward with your hands so that your baby will be more aware of what you are doing. Pull your ears as you say “ear.”

 

Make different sounds and shapes with your lips.

 

If the baby starts to copy you, copy him back. 

 

This game is wonderful for observation skills and bonding.

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – Repeat the facial activities and then the sound activities. Whenever your baby responds, acknowledge the response by repeating his response or praising him.

For developing the idea – Make up a story using the different facial expressions and sounds. Keep the story short at about 4 to 5 sentences.

For moving forward – Repeat the story and encourage your baby to join you in the different activities.

 

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Body Parts Poem
Say the following poem with your little one and do the actions.

Five fingers on this hand - hold up one hand
Five fingers on this hand - hold up other hand
A sweet little nose - point to nose
A mouth like a rose - point to mouth
Two cheeks so tiny and fat - point to each cheek
Two eyes, two ears - point to each
And ten little toes - point to toes
That's the way the baby grows.

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – Say the poem several times while holding the baby’s hand and touching each body part.

For developing the idea –Say to the baby as you hold up your hand “here is my hand.” Now take the baby’s hand and hold it up as you say “here is (name of child) hand.”

For moving forward – Say the poem as you touch the body parts on a doll or stuffed animal.