Under 6 months, babies like to watch and listen, so:

• Play music
  
• Play games with them that move their arms and legs (pat-a-cake, this little piggy, etc.)
  
• Position them in different places so that they can see different things
  
• Talk to them when you are feeding them or changing their diaper
  
• Read them books, hold them so they can see the pictures – they are not too young!

Starting around 6 months, babies like to:

• Bang and shake whatever they can hold
  
• Squeeze squeaky toys
  
• Bite on toys
  
• Kick at soft toys suspended above them
  
• Play peek-a-boo
  
• Roll a ball once they can sit
  
• Imitate sounds

Around seven months, babies also enjoy:

• Bath toys
  
• Different textures to feel including safe household items
  
• Blocks

Around one year, babies start to enjoy, with your help:

• Nesting toys
  
• Puppets
  
• Toy phone
  
• Shape sorters
  
• Large cars to push on the floor
  
• Toys with buttons, knobs and dials that pop up or make sounds

Between the ages of one and two years, toddlers can:

• Push and pull toys
  
• Ride sit-on toys that have no pedals
  
• Play pretend games in a playhouse
  
• Attempt simple puzzles (the best have knobs)
  
• Enjoy being part of simple household chores like laundry
  (name colors, count socks, putting laundry in and take it out)
  
• Play with toys in a sink or basin of water
  
• Play with toys in sand in a basin or outside