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Your baby may be able to make things happen deliberately now, not just randomly. Roll a toy in a certain direction. Press the right button for a song. Vocalize to get your attention. When you provide toys that react to your baby’s touch with sounds or action, baby discovers the power of cause and effect. And making things happen becomes baby’s preverbal way of expressing whatever thoughts come to mind.

Interacting with toys fosters self-expression

When baby makes something happen with a toy—rotates a picture, rings a bell, opens a door, drops a figure down a chute—your baby’s mind gains something new to think about and a new way of communicating. Baby may first work the levers and dials on an activity toy tentatively and later push them to the limits; repeat a motion five times or add a playful variation. As your baby takes more control of the action, outward play expresses inner feelings and thinking. Soon, the way baby plays becomes as unique and personal as speech. By providing toys and playthings that allow your baby to make things happen, you create opportunities to nurture expression.

Action toys come to life with action words

A playset with rolling vehicles gives you and your baby the perfect stage for early play talk about a fascinating subject: how objects fit together or move about in relation to each other. While your baby is fitting parts together or relocating vehicles or working the action features, you can describe what’s happening. “Let’s push this lever.” “The boat rocks back and forth.” “The car goes under and over.” When you use descriptive, expressive words you help your baby link the sounds of speech to meaning. Even though baby isn’t ready to talk, body language, play actions and babbling are the “vocabulary” of self-expression. “Listen” to what they reveal about your baby.

Growing baby sees activity through new eyes

As your baby acquires experience, new skills and an understanding of how things work, you may notice a renewed interest in activity toys that have been available to baby for months. At last able to sit up, your baby may play longer with a familiar activity board, repeating favorite actions over and over with increasing speed. Self-expression through play grows clearer and gains depth as your baby discovers which activities challenge new skills. That’s the benefit when you select toys that offer a variety of activities progressing from the simple to the complex. Playing with old toys in a different way, your baby reveals levels of expressiveness—in body language and babbling—you haven’t seen before.

Examples of toys that nurture expression:

Activity toys to manipulate

Baby musical instruments

Crib or floor gym with hanging parts to swipe or bat

Hand-held rattles

Squeeze toys with surprise sounds

Stuffed toys that make noise when shaken

Picture magnets for self-recognition

Board books and cloth books