Sit and Topple the Tower

Soft stacking blocks or lightweight cups (nothing hard or heavy)

A blanket or play mat for cushioned sitting

Sit your baby on a blanket in a stable sitting position. If they need support, use a nursing pillow behind them or sit behind them yourself.

Gather your soft blocks and place them within arm's reach of your baby.

Start stacking blocks into a tower while your baby watches. Build slowly and narrate: "One block... two blocks... three blocks..."

When the tower is 3-4 blocks high, say with excitement: "Can you knock it down?" Point to the tower.

Your baby will likely reach out and swat at the tower. When it topples, react with joy: "Crash! You did it!"

The crash is the reward. Your baby learns that their actions make things happen — that's cause and effect in action.

Rebuild and repeat. Babies never tire of this game. Each round, try placing the tower slightly to one side so your baby has to rotate their trunk to reach it.

For an extra challenge, let your baby try stacking one block themselves before knocking the whole thing down.

Use soft, fabric blocks or lightweight plastic cups rather than wooden blocks. When the tower falls on or near your baby, you want soft materials only.

Placing the tower slightly off-center forces your baby to twist and reach across their body, which is excellent for core strengthening and eventually for crawling readiness.

If your baby isn't interested in knocking the tower over, try making it fall yourself a few times first. The crash sound and your reaction will hook them.

This game naturally teaches patience too — your baby learns to wait while you build before they get the satisfying crash.

Once your baby starts stacking blocks themselves (around 9-12 months), let them build and crash their own towers.