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While pregnancy is one of life’s changing events, parenthood is something you’ll never forget, especially if you’re a first-time mom. Our post on activities for an 8-month-old can help you keep him entertained. At this age, your baby is developing crucial skills such as sitting up, crawling, and learning to communicate. Engaging in the right activities can enhance these skills while providing joy and bonding opportunities for both of you. The thrill of watching your baby develop, laugh, respond to your conversations and try to crawl and sleep near you is magical. Every month, your child develops, and it is your responsibility as a parent to keep your little one occupied with fun activities (1). The activities should be enjoyable and beneficial for their cognitive development (2). We’ve created a list of activities to help you discover on your way.
Key Pointers
- Water play during bath time can enhance hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
- Sticky ball activity can help to promote exploration and fine motor skills development.
- Allow your baby to discover various textures by exploring the contents of your closet.
- Foster communication skills by conversing with your baby about daily experiences and surroundings.
- Promote physical activity and language development through singing, dancing, and hand puppets or props.
Top 12 Activities For 8-Month-Old Baby
By now, most babies become skilled in sitting and probably crawling too. They remain active and energetic; always moving around and exploring. Now is the right time to introduce certain activities, keep them busy and help them bond with others.
Addie Dwyer, a mother of three girls, shares her personal experience in her channel, where she demonstrates different activities with her eight-month-old. At this age, babies often learn to recognize the sounds of objects. Dwyer puts a basket filled with different objects like a hollow container, spoon, etc., and when her baby bangs or handles them, they produce different sounds (i).
Here we bring you a list of some really good eight-month baby activities to try that will help them achieve a new milestone of development.
1. Water play
It’s time to make bathing time more memorable for your little kid. Get him to the bathroom and place a container filled with water beside him.
- Allow your baby to splash, grab and pat at the water… most babies love the mess this creates!
- You can also add some bathroom toys and ask your baby to try and grab them as they float over the water; this is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
- Interact with your kid while he plays in the bath – introduce simple words like water, tap, mug etc.
- Remember never to leave them unattended.
2. Sticky ball
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Use a simple plastic ball (a medium sized to make sure that your baby doesn’t try to swallow it) and wrap it with sticky tape.
- But wait! Here’s the catch; you have to make sure that the sticky side of the tape is out!
- Once you’ve covered the ball firmly, hand it over to your kid. Observe him explore and try to separate the ball stuck to his hand
- Through this activity, your child is actually accomplishing and learning as he moves the ball back and forth between hands.
3. Have conversations
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If you haven’t done that already, now’s the time to introduce the art of conversation to your kid to nurture a great life skill. Take a few minutes from the day, get him on your lap, and talk to him about his experiences.
- Did he play with the ball today? Talk to him about it… how he chased the ball from the living room to the bedroom.
- It’s also a great idea to introduce him to his day to day activities. As you take him for a bath, explain to him how the water will clean his body.
- Colors, shapes and places play great importance now. Using a picture book, introduce him to animals, simple objects and food items.
Do remember4. Climb the mountain
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Using pillows and cushions create a mountain on the bed or on a mattress and ask your kid to climb on it. This is one of the best cognitive activities for infants.
- You may have to help him out occasionally, but allow him to do a majority of the climbing himself.
- This exercise will help your kid develop more balance, coordination and strength.
- It will also give him an exposure to new challenges.
5. What’s inside?
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Pick up a cardboard box that has an opening on the top. It should be large enough for you to place his toys inside and remove them.
- Now carefully carve out a small opening on top of the box for your kid to insert his hand inside and pull his toys out and ask him: what’s inside?
- Your kid will enjoy the mystery of pulling out unknown objects.
- Trying these simple activities will help your baby develop and grow into an active and smart kid.
6. Into mom’s closet
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Little kids love exploring new stuff, and there’s nothing better than getting him engrossed and entertained while you clean up your closet.
- Pile up all your clothes, shoes and accessories on the floor.
- While you sort out the ones you’d like to discard or keep, your little one can check out all the stuff.
- Little kids particularly love exploring something that’s glittery, shiny or embellished… so make sure you hand over some of these.
Did you know?- Watch out for choking hazards.
7. Dance & sing
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Your kid is on his way to development, and you’ve got to support him through that, and there can be nothing better than trying some singing and dancing.
- This will stimulate physical activity and improve your child’s motor skills as they listen and enjoy the entertainment.
- Also, singing some nursery rhymes will encourage your kid to speak and learn new words.
- You can mimic different animals’ sounds or use a hand puppet or similar props to entertain.
8. Crawling through the tunnel
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The first few months of your kid mark a tremendous growth in his social and personal skills. He will now be learning to crawl and draw your attention towards him.
- To keep such a child busy can be quite a task, but setting up a cute little tunnel right in the comfort of your home may do the trick.
- Pick up a few cardboard boxes and open them from opposite ends. Place some props (toys, balls, etc) inside and get your child to crawl through, exploring everything that comes his way.
- Make sure you place kid-safe materials inside!
Dwyer further also touches upon crawling in her video. She says that since babies at this age learn crawling, you can incorporate it into a fun activity. She demonstrates this by placing some obstacles, like pillows, in front of the baby and letting the baby crawl by removing them. This will make the baby stable in her movements.
Point to consider9. Bubbles everywhere!
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There’s something practically magical about bubbles… just the sight of them is enough to draw attention to them!
- If your kid is making a fuss and is really bored, you could easily get him busy by blowing some soap bubbles.
- This also works if your kid is one of those who doesn’t really enjoy bath time.
- You can easily pick up the bubble soap liquid at local stores or even make one yourself!
10. Investigating the spaghetti
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Kids love to chew and taste spaghetti! So why not combine your food with activity and enthrall your child for some time?
- A cool trick to get your kid interested is to get some colorful spaghetti from the market (alphabetical and star shaped ones work well too).
- Boil the spaghetti, and place them in a bowl. Add some interesting ingredients like olives and cheese.
- Get your kid to touch and explore the contrasting colors and the slimy strands.
11. Messy play
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Babies love to make a mess! Make use of this inclination to engage your baby in a messy play activity and indulge them in a special treat at the same time.
- Spread yogurt or applesauce on a high chair tray or plastic mat.
- Encourage exploration as they squish, smear, and taste the food.
- Whether it’s applesauce or yogurt, this simple and enjoyable sensory experience allows your little one to discover various textures in a delightful and tactile way.
12. Walking practice
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Is it time for your baby to start taking their first wobbly steps? Boost your baby’s walking journey by turning it into an engaging developmental activity.
- If your baby is starting to stand, guide them with hand support, encouraging those initial steps.
- For those standing independently but not yet moving, provide hand support for slow exploration around the room.
- If your baby is still crawling, assist them in standing by offering steadying hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I promote language development in my 8-month-old?
Activities such as singing rhymes and nursery songs, talking, reading picture books, and imitating and responding to their babble and cooing can help promote language development in your 8-month-old (3).
2. What are some social activities that my 8-month-old can participate in?
Your 8-month-old can participate and enjoy social activities, such as dancing, singing, reading, and games such as “peek-a-boo” and “my turn.”
3. How can I help my 8-month-old learn cause and effect?
Activities such as playing with building blocks, noisy toy games, and ball games can help your 8-month-old learn cause and effect.
4. How can I incorporate music and movement into my 8-month-old’s daily routine?
You can incorporate music and movement into your 8-month-old’s daily routine in various ways, such as when playing or before bed. You can also play music and engage in dance with your baby in your free time if your baby is awake.
5. How can I help my 8-month-old develop a sense of object permanence?
According to Piaget’s stages of development, object permanence is the understanding that develops in babies around seven to eight months of age. It states that objects continue to exist even when out of sight. You can hide their toys and play hide-and-seek to develop their sense of object permanence (4).
6. What are some safe household items to play with my 8-month-old baby?
Safe household items for play with an 8-month-old include cardboard boxes, which can be used for crawling in and out, and soft fabrics like old blankets or towels for sensory exploration. Plastic cups are great for stacking and knocking over, while lightweight balls made of soft material can encourage rolling and tossing. Additionally, sturdy kitchen utensils, such as wooden spoons, provide safe objects for banging and clattering, helping develop fine motor skills and auditory awareness. Always supervise playtime for safety.
Most babies learn to sit and even crawl by the time they are eight months old. As parents, you can support your 8-month-old’s development by indulging them in fun yet beneficial activities. They are full of energy and need to be kept engaged with activities that improve their motor and cognitive skills. Simple activities for an 8-month-old baby may include water splashing, climbing a pillow and cushion mountain, crossing a cardboard tunnel, or singing and dancing. Each activity helps the baby explore their surroundings and learn new things while providing a lot of entertainment.
Infographic: Fun Activities For 8-Month-Old Baby
Your eight-month-old baby can do much more than you may imagine. At this age, they have better control of their movements and responses. Hence introducing them to different activities can keep them entertained and aid their development. The activities below can help enhance their reasoning abilities and motor skills. Read on! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Activities For 8 Month Old Baby - 12 Fun And Interesting Ones
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Do you want to engage your 8 month old baby with fun and stimulating play activities? Wait no further! Discover how to help your baby’s development through play.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. How to play with an 8 month old baby| Developmental Activities for an 8 month old baby;https://youtu.be/D9YONfAdfb8?feature=shared
References
- Indoor play ideas to stimulate young children at home.
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-care/games-child-development - Growing minds with cognitive development activities for toddlers.
https://www.eccm.org/blog/cognitive-development-activities-for-toddlers - Language Development: 8 to 12 Months.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Language-Development-8-to-12-Months.aspx - Cognitive Development: 8 to 12 Months.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Cognitive-Development-8-to-12-Months.aspx
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