Your baby can bang a drum, shake a maraca, and bounce to a beat—music is becoming interactive play.
These musical activities develop intentional sound-making, rhythm coordination, and the cross-modal connections between hearing, seeing, and moving.
Your baby can sit independently now! This frees up both hands for exploration, so offer baskets of safe objects for them to discover.
Peek-a-boo is more than a game—it teaches object permanence, the understanding that things still exist when hidden. Play it often.
If you're starting solids, let mealtimes be sensory play too. Squishing, smearing, and tasting are all learning experiences.
Fill a sealed water bottle with rice or pasta for a homemade baby shaker — a taste-safe rattle your little one can grip and shake to make music.
Help your baby tap on different household surfaces — a wooden table, a cushion, a pot lid — to discover that different textures make different sounds.
Gently ring a chime or bell near your baby and watch them turn toward the sound — a simple activity that builds listening skills and head control.
Toss lightweight scarves into the air while singing — your baby will love tracking the colors as they float down in time with the music.
Turn diaper changes into a musical moment by singing a special song each time — your baby will learn to anticipate the routine and connect with your voice.
Wind up a music box and hide it under a cloth for your baby to find — combining the magic of music with early object permanence exploration.