Birth to 1 month:

• Hang brightly colored objects near your infant.

• Hang black and white mobiles.  

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant.

• Play music.

• Rock your infant, take him or her for walks.

2 to 3 months:

• Likes bright objects.

• Enjoys pictures and mirrors.

• Likes rattles.

• Enjoys infant swing.

• Enjoys car rides.  

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant.

• Play music.

• Rock your infant, take him or her for walks.  

4 to 6 months:

• Likes brightly-colored objects.

• Likes to hold toys.

• Enjoys rattles or bells.

• Likes to splash in the bath.

• Likes swings and strollers.  

What you can do as a parent:

• Talk to your infant.  

• Encourage your infant to crawl and sit by placing him o her on the floor.

6 to 9 months:

• Enjoys large toys with bright colors that move.

• Likes to play peek-a-boo.  

What you can do as a parent:

• Call your infant by name.

• Speak clearly to your child and encourage different sounds.

• Name body parts, foods and people.

• Tell your infant simple commands.

• Play pat-a-cake.

• Begin saying words that tell what you are doing.

• Encourage your infant to crawl by placing toys beyond his or her reach.

9 to 12 months:

• Enjoys looking at books.

• Likes hearing sounds of animals.

• Enjoys large toys that can be pushed and pulled.  

What you can do as a parent:

• Take your infant to different places and outings.

• Play ball with your infant.

• Read to your infant.

• Tell your infant names of body parts.  

Toys for infants:

• Birth to 6 months:

• Mobiles.

• Mirrors that will not break.

• Music boxes.

• Bells and rattles.

• Stuffed animals.

• Swings.

• 6 to 12 months:

• Blocks.

• Brightly colored toys.

• Books.

• Balls.

• Cup and spoon.

• Jack-in-the-box.

• Rattles.

• Teething toys.

• Toys that can be pushed and pulled.