Baby Wave Hello and Goodbye
Teach baby to wave by modeling the gesture during greetings and farewells — a first step in social communication and connection.
What You'll Need
No materials needed — just daily hellos and goodbyes
How to Play
Look for natural greeting moments — someone entering the room, leaving for work, a neighbor walking by.
Hold baby so they can clearly see the person.
Wave your hand and say "Hi!" or "Bye-bye!" in an enthusiastic, sing-song voice.
Gently take baby's hand and help them make a waving motion while you repeat the greeting.
When the other person waves back, point it out: "Look, she's waving at you!"
Release baby's hand and wave again yourself, modeling the gesture clearly.
Celebrate any hand movement baby makes — even a little fist opening counts as progress.
Why It Works
Waving is one of baby's first intentional social gestures, typically emerging around 9-12 months. But the learning starts much earlier — every time you model the wave, baby is storing that information. They're learning that this specific hand movement has social meaning: it connects people. When baby finally waves on their own, it's a major milestone in communication. They're saying "I see you" without words.
Tips
Consistency is everything. Wave at every hello and goodbye, even quick ones. Repetition builds the connection.
Try waving with different people — family, the mail carrier, even pets. Baby will start generalizing the gesture.
Some babies open and close their hand facing themselves ("backwards wave"). That's perfectly normal and still counts.
Pair waving with the word so baby connects gesture and language. They'll understand the word before they can say it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 5 min, with 0 min of preparation time beforehand.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 0-12 months. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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