# Activities for your baby, from birth to 3

Twenty-four activities to do at home from birth to age 3, four for each age. Each one explains what you need, how to do it step by step and what your child is learning, with its sources.

Reviewed by Javier Atance Ibar, PhD in Education (https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/who-reviews/)

## [Activities for babies from 0 to 4 months](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/0-4-months/)

- [After-bath massage](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/after-bath-massage/): After the bath, you give them a head-to-toe massage, and they discover each part of their body through your hands.
- [Tummy time over a roll](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/tummy-time-over-a-roll/): You rest their chest on a rolled-up towel, and from a little higher than the floor, they try lifting their head to look around.
- [Following the rattle](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/following-the-rattle/): You move a rattle slowly from side to side as it jingles, and your baby practises following it with their eyes.
- [Playing with the mirror](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/playing-with-the-mirror/): You show them their reflection in a mirror, and they discover a face that smiles and moves right along with them.

## [Activities for babies from 4 to 8 months](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/4-8-months/)

- [Arm and leg crosses](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/arm-and-leg-crosses/): You gently bring their hand over to the opposite knee, and they feel their arm and leg moving together.
- [Balancing on all fours](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/balancing-on-all-fours/): You hold a toy up high so they let go with one hand and stay on all fours, balanced on three points.
- [First books](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/first-books/): You look at a book with big pictures together while you name what they see, and they start to link books with your voice.
- [Peekaboo](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/peekaboo/): You hide your face behind a cloth and pop back out with a smile, so they discover you're still there even when they can't see you.

## [Activities for babies from 8 to 12 months](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/8-12-months/)

- [Dropping macaroni in a tub](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/dropping-macaroni-in-a-tub/): You show them how to drop macaroni into a container, and they practise opening their hand right over it.
- [Cruising along the furniture](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/cruising-along-the-furniture/): A toy at the other end of the furniture encourages them to take little sideways steps without letting go.
- [Ringing the musical mobile](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/ringing-the-musical-mobile/): You hang a musical mobile within their reach, and they discover that it makes a sound when they touch it.
- [Torch games](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/torch-games/): In a dimly lit room, you move a torch beam across the wall and they follow the light with their eyes.

## [Activities for toddlers from 12 to 18 months](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/12-18-months/)

- [Special delivery](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/special-delivery/): They carry big, very light things over to you in their arms and find out how to walk with a load that hides their feet.
- [Containers that nest](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/containers-that-nest/): You put one container inside another together, and they find out by trying which one fits in which.
- [Their own spoon](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/their-own-spoon/): You hand them a loaded spoon, and they practise bringing it to their mouth without dropping the food.
- [Taking care of teddy](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/taking-care-of-teddy/): You feed or comb a cuddly toy, then it's their turn, and they discover that others have needs too.

## [Activities for toddlers from 18 to 24 months](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/18-24-months/)

- [Scribbling on big paper](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/scribbling-on-big-paper/): With a big sheet of paper taped to the floor and some thick crayons, they find out that their arm leaves lines of colour.
- [A little errand](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/a-little-errand/): You ask them to fetch something they know well and, as they hand it to you, they find out they can help at home.
- [The fruit wash](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/the-fruit-wash/): You wash a piece of fruit in a bowl of water, then they copy you: dip it, rub it and dry it.
- [This or that](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/this-or-that/): In the routines they find hardest, you offer two options and they pick the one they like.

## [Activities for 2 to 3 year olds](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/24-36-months/)

- [The talking stone](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/the-talking-stone/): A smooth stone shows whose turn it is to talk: whoever holds it shares something, and everyone else listens until it's their turn.
- [The box train](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/the-box-train/): You turn a row of boxes into a train that travels to made-up stops around the house.
- [The trouser lift](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/the-trouser-lift/): Their trousers turn into a lift that travels down and up their legs, and they work it with both hands.
- [Birds on the nest](https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/birds-on-the-nest/): Clothes pegs turn into birds that land on the edge of a box, and your little one squeezes each beak open to clip it on.