Here's What To Do
1
Place your baby on the floor sitting or lying down. Tell them you're going to play "Follow Me!"
2
Tell your baby you're going to show them a movement, and then you'll teach them how to copy you. Example movements:
- Clapping hands
- Stomping feet
- Tummy Tickling
- Peekaboo
- Reaching up to the sky
- Bicycling legs
3
Before you do each action, tell your baby what you're going to do.
4
Copy the action with your baby (example: move their hands so they clap). Older babies may begin to mimic your movements on their own.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Smile at your baby and hum a short tune.
E
Engage:
- "I'm going to clap my hands three times. (clap, clap clap) Now it's your turn. You are going to clap. (clap clap clap)"
- "Can you reach up to the sky? Like this? Sooooo big!"
E
Encourage:
- Keep your baby's interest by being silly, using a higher "sing-song" pitch, or exaggerating your facial expressions.
- Follow your baby's lead. If they start moving a toy back and forth say, "You are giving me directions. I will move a toy back and forth too!"
R
Reflect:
- Describe what you noticed during the game- "You smiled when you clapped. You liked clapping!"
Not quite ready?
Younger babies will not follow directions, but they are still learning how to respond to another person.
Ready for more?
Sing songs with motions like "Wheels on the Bus" or "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Encourage your child to copy the motions.
As your child masters this skill...
They will imitate and respond to others.