As your baby nears the 6-month mark you have the chance to interact with them in many new ways! They have developed a personality and while they’re still cute, squishy and fun to stare at, now is the time to get them out in the world. But what can you really do with a 6-month-old baby? There are so many activities for 6 month olds that you’ll both have fun participating in. The world is your oyster; let’s explore it!
Activities To Do at Home with Your 6 Month Old
No need for makeup and real clothes for these activities! Here is a list of fun activities that you and your baby can enjoy at home:
Sensory Play Arts and Crafts
It’s never too early to introduce your little one to the arts! Baby’s are constantly exploring and at about 6 months of age they are really really into figuring things out and making sense of the world. Arts and crafts are a great way to get your baby’s attention and let them explore a new part of the world.
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Paint in a Bag
Let’s keep things a little clean first. Painting in a bag is a great way to let your baby explore color and texture. Place a piece of paper in a large zip lock bag and then add some non-toxic paint to the paper. Push most of the air out of the bag and seal it up (double-check the seal) and then let your baby push on the paint and make a beautiful piece of art.
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Finger Paint
If you are feeling daring, strip your baby down to just their diaper, put them in their high chair and let them finger paint. Be sure to use paint that is non-toxic and keep a close eye on them! Baby’s at this age want to put everything in their mouths so be sure to sit with them during this activity. This one is pretty messy so you might want to have a box of wipes with you and a bath ready to go as soon as they are done.
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Playdough
You can make your own or use the stuff from the store but your baby is going to love this! Again, make sure your baby doesn’t eat the play dough. They will love playing with the soft and cool dough and smashing it again and again.
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Color Together
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Just make sure your baby doesn’t eat them or you will be changing a rainbow diaper later.
Music Time
Kids love music time! Plus, music is so crucial to a child’s development and helps baby understand rhythm and the sounds around them. Tom Petty radio is my 4-year old’s favorite station. Proud mom right here! But my 2-year-old only loves Baby Shark. I’ll convert him sooner or later.
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Play Instruments
If you have instruments in your home, use them! My in-laws have a beautiful baby grand piano and my kids have loved listening to someone play it from the time they were babies.
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Make Your Own Instruments
Music can be made out of almost anything. Show your baby how to drum on pots and pans or make them a maraca out of a plastic bottle and popcorn kernels. Your baby will love making their own music!
*Tip: If you make a maraca, be sure that you use a clean, dry plastic bottle and be sure to really secure or even glue the lid on once you’ve added the popcorn kernels.
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Dance to Music
Get up and groove with your baby. Put on whatever makes you move to the beat and dance with your baby. You can also sit and dance with your little one too. Show them how to rock their bodies while sitting on the floor or shake their shoulders. They will love being silly with you and learning new ways to move their bodies.
Learning Activities for Your 6 Month Old
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Read
Reading is so important to your baby. It is recommended to start reading to your baby as soon as possible. Once your baby is 6 months old, they will love sitting and seeing the pictures in a book. Use funny voices and make silly faces when reading. Doing all of this helps baby associate reading with fun and affection.
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Nursery Rhymes Involving Hand-Eye Coordination
Clapping is a huge milestone for babies at 6 months. They are learning hand-eye coordination at this age and teaching them nursery rhymes such as Patty Cake and Itsy-Bitsy Spider are great ways to teach them this skill.
Activities with Your 6 Month Old That Will Get You Out of the House
Activities To Do with a 6 Month Old in Your Neighborhood
Take your baby outside and let them get some fresh air! There is so much to see, do, and smell outside so let them explore and take it all in.
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Go on a Nature Walk
You can walk your baby around your home or take them on a walk around your neighborhood. Getting your baby outside is good for them and it’s a great mood booster for you. Talk to them on your walk and show them different colors and textures.
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Explore Textures Outside
Let your baby explore the textures outside. Sit them in the grass and watch their reaction. Some kids love it, others hate it. Let them hold a flower or touch the bumpy tree bark.
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Chalk
Chalk can be messy, but it cleans off so easily with wet wipes. You want to make sure they don’t eat the chalk, just like the crayons. They will love making art on the sidewalk and feeling the texture of chalk.
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Baby Pool
If it’s warm outside, put your suits on and sit in a little baby pool in your own backyard. If your baby loves bath time, they will love this too! They can splash all they want and it’s outside. That’s a win-win!
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Blow Bubbles
Kids love bubbles. Period. No explanation required here.
Go on an Outing
Staying at home all of the time can make anyone go crazy. Pack up your bag, grab your baby, and head out for a real outing.
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Go to the Zoo
At 6 months old, they probably won’t understand all of the animals and what the zoo really is, but it is a great family outing none the less. Your baby will love the fresh air and exploring all of the different sights, sounds, and smells.
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Walk to a Nearby Park
You can go to a playground or just a grass park. Either is perfectly fine! As always, when taking them to something new, talk to them and explain what’s happening. This is how they learn, repetition is key.
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Check Out the Library
Pick out some new books to read or take them to storytime so they can hear new voices reading. Again, they are experiencing so many different things when you take them somewhere new! Don’t be surprised if these outings wipe them out.
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Relax at the Neighborhood Pool
Put on your bathing suits, grab the SPF 100 and go swimming! Babies love getting in the water and feeling the weightlessness of themselves. Hold on tight to them though; they get pretty slippery with sunblock on!
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Head to a Museum
Again, this is just about exploring other things. Talking to them and showing them new things is very exciting and fun for you and your baby.
Need a bonus activity?
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Go on a Playdate!
Playdates are great at this age. If they’ve never been around another baby before, it is really fun watching how they look at someone their own age. Plus, finding a friend who is going through the same life stages as you is really nice.
You may not have realized just how many things you can do with your baby. 6 months old is such a favorite stage for me. They’re learning to eat, developing a personality, they might be sitting on their own, and so much more. Get creative and spend some bonding time with your baby. Time flies when you’re having fun!
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