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How to Play With My Baby?

16 July, 2022
Q My husband and I both work full time. I find it hard to think of fun things to do with our ten-month-old son at weekends though he's always ready for a game when I do have an idea. Any tips?

Answer

In this counseling answer:

“Stories: Your son is too little to listen to a long story, but you can tell him simple stories, with motions, and read short picture books to him.  Be dramatic, he’ll have fun, and so will you.Songs: One of the games I remember from my childhood is “Itsy-Bitsy Spider.”  Small children love songs with actions and a little drama., you can also sing Islamic songs to him. Use emotion and actions.”


As-salamu` alaykum,

Children at that age are so full of life and joy, and they give love unconditionally. This is a special time for your son and you.

Children at that age are also easy to please. The smallest thing can give them pleasure.  I’d be happy to offer some suggestions:

*Peek-a-boo: You have probably already started this game on a small scale, hiding your eyes, you can expand it to hiding behind furniture, under a blanket, almost anything, your son will love the moment of discovery.

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*Playing ball: You can buy a medium-sized plastic ball at almost any discount or grocery store, teach your son how to “catch” the ball as you roll it to him, then return it. He will probably try to throw it too. You could even hide the ball—in an easy to find place—and watch his glee as he discovers it.

*Racing: Sometimes I would get down on the floor with my boys when they were small and race with them around the house, usually on my knees.  The object isn’t to win, just to have fun.  We both usually ended up rolling on the floor.

*Animals: Take your son to a zoo to see the animals. You can point out the bear, the lion, the monkey, and so on, he may be a little afraid in a petting zoo, but he should enjoy watching the animals from a distance.

*Stories: Your son is too little to listen to a long story, but you can tell him simple stories, with motions, and read short picture books to him.  Be dramatic, he’ll have fun, and so will you.

*Songs: One of the games I remember from my childhood is “Itsy-Bitsy Spider.”  Small children love songs with actions and a little drama., you can also sing Islamic songs to him. Use emotion and actions.

*Prayer: For you and your husband, of course, prayer is not a game, but for your son, it can be great fun. He can learn from watching and listening to you, so by the time he can walk the act of prayer will all be natural to him.

When he gets a  little older, if he is anything like my children, he will climb on your back when you make sujud (prostration). Mine used to hold onto my shoulders while I was sitting, then use my back as a slide when I bowed to the ground. It was a little hard to concentrate, but I knew they were having fun and learning too.  It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) let his small grandsons play on him while he made salah.

Prophet Muhammad gave us a clear formula for raising children. For the first seven years, he said, play with them, it doesn’t have to be anything formal with clear-cut rules.  In fact, if you let your son take the lead, I imagine he’ll come up with a few games of his own.

Have fun. They really do grow up quickly.


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