17 activities
Nesting Cups
Fit cups inside each other by size to learn big and small.
1. Set out 3-4 nesting cups (or regular plastic cups of different sizes) on the floor.
2. Show your child how the small cup fits inside the big cup: "Look — the little one goes IN the big one!"
3. Take them apart and let your child try. Any combination attempt counts as learning.
... See full activity in the app
3-4 nesting cups or plastic cups of different sizes
Easy
Cup Shuffle
Hide a toy under one of two cups and let your baby find it.
1. Place two overturned cups on the floor in front of your child.
2. While they watch, hide a small toy under one cup: "Where did it go?"
3. Let your child lift a cup. If they find the toy: "You found it!" If not: "Try the other one!"
... See full activity in the app
2-3 cupsSmall toy
Moderate
Cause and Effect Drop
Drop a ball into a tube and watch it come out the other end.
1. Find a cardboard tube (paper towel roll) or a clear bottle with a wide opening.
2. Show your child: drop a small ball in the top and watch it roll out the bottom. "In... and OUT!"
3. Hand your child the ball and point to the top of the tube: "Your turn! Drop it in!"
... See full activity in the app
Cardboard tubeSmall ball or toy car
Moderate
Which Hand?
Hide a toy in one fist and let your baby guess which hand.
1. Show your child a small toy. Then close both fists with the toy hidden in one hand.
2. Hold out both fists: "Which hand? Where's the toy?"
3. Let your child tap, pull, or pry open one fist. If they pick the right one: "You found it!"
... See full activity in the app
Small toy that fits in a fist
Easy
Lid Match
Match lids to containers by size and shape.
1. Gather 3-4 containers with different sized lids — plastic food containers, small pots, jars.
2. Remove all the lids and mix them up in front of your child.
3. Pick up a container and try a lid: "Does this one fit? No, too big! Let's try another."
... See full activity in the app
3-4 containers with matching lids of different sizes
Easy
Shape Drop
Drop shapes through a single large opening to practice aim and release.
1. Cut a large hole (about 3 inches) in the lid of a shoe box or container.
2. Give your child large, safe objects that fit through the hole — blocks, balls, large wooden shapes.
3. Show them how to hold the object over the hole and drop it in: "Drop! It disappeared!"
... See full activity in the app
Shoe box with hole cut in lidLarge blocks or balls
Moderate
First Telephone
Pretend to talk on a toy phone — the very beginning of symbolic play.
1. Hold a toy phone (or a TV remote, or a banana) to your ear: "Hello? Hi Grandma! Yes, your child is here!"
2. Offer the "phone" to your child: "It's for you! Say hi!"
3. Watch if they hold it to their ear. Even a brief attempt shows they understand what phones are for.
... See full activity in the app
Toy phone or household object
Moderate
A-B Search
Hide a toy in one spot, then move it to another — and see where baby looks.
1. Show your child a toy and hide it under blanket A (on their left). Let them find it. "There it is!"
2. Repeat 2-3 times — always hiding under blanket A.
3. Now, while your child watches, hide the toy under blanket B (on their right) instead.
... See full activity in the app
Small toy2 blankets or cloths
Advanced
Bucket Fill
Let your baby practice putting objects into a container and dumping them out again.
1. Set a sturdy bucket or large container on the floor in front of your child.
2. Scatter 4-5 safe, graspable objects nearby: soft blocks, large plastic rings, cloth balls.
3. Pick up one object and drop it in the bucket: "In it goes! Plop!"
... See full activity in the app
bucket or containersoft blocks or safe objects
Easy
Cloth Trick
Place a toy on a cloth and see if your baby pulls the cloth to bring the toy closer.
1. Sit your child at a table or on the floor.
2. Place a lightweight cloth (a dish towel or receiving blanket) in front of them.
3. Put an interesting toy on top of the cloth, just out of your child's direct reach.
... See full activity in the app
lightweight clothinteresting toy
Moderate
Remember and Do
Show your baby a simple action, wait a few minutes, then see if they remember and copy it.
1. Choose a simple, novel action with an object: pushing a button on a toy, banging a block on a surface, or opening a small box.
2. Demonstrate the action clearly while your child watches: "Look! Push the button!" Do it 2-3 times.
3. Take the object away and engage your child in a different activity for 2-3 minutes.
... See full activity in the app
simple toy with an action (button, lid, flap)
Advanced
Group Together
Give your baby a mixed set of objects and see if they put similar ones together.
1. Gather 6-8 objects in two clear categories: 3-4 large soft balls and 3-4 blocks (or spoons and cups).
2. Mix them together on the floor in front of your child.
3. Pick up a ball and put it in one spot: "This is a ball!" Pick up another ball and put it with the first.
... See full activity in the app
3-4 balls3-4 blocks
Advanced
Stick Reach
Show your baby how to use a spoon or stick to pull a toy closer — the beginning of tool use.
1. Place an interesting toy just out of your child's reach on a table or floor.
2. Hand them a large wooden spoon or a sturdy stick (smooth, no splinters, at least 8 inches long).
3. Demonstrate: use the spoon to push or drag the toy closer to you. "Look! The spoon helps me get it!"
... See full activity in the app
large wooden spooninteresting toy
Advanced
Three Cup Hunt
Hide a toy under one of three cloths and let your baby search to find it.
1. Place three different-colored cloths (dish towels, washcloths) on the floor.
2. Show your child a small favorite toy.
3. While they watch, hide the toy under one cloth.
... See full activity in the app
three different-colored clothssmall toy
Advanced
Point and Look
Practice pointing at interesting things together — the beginning of shared communication about the world.
1. When your child is alert and looking around, point to something interesting: a bird, a light, a toy across the room.
2. Say, "LOOK! A bird!" and point clearly with your index finger.
3. Watch to see if your child follows your point and looks where you're indicating.
... See full activity in the app
Advanced
Cup Hide Find
Hide a toy under one of two cups
1. Place two cups upside down on the table.
2. Show your child a small toy.
3. Hide it under one cup while they watch.
... See full activity in the app
2 cupssmall toy
Moderate
Ball Drop Box
Drop balls through holes in a box
1. Cut a hole in the top of a box large enough for a ball.
2. Show your child how to drop a ball through.
3. Lift the box to reveal the ball: "There it is!"
... See full activity in the app
box with hole cut in topsmall ball
Moderate