Let’s Play! My Photo Album

Recognizing familiar faces is an enormous treat for your baby as he learns to identify people by name and

association.

Appropriate for baby: six months to one year

Skills developed: pattern recognition, five motor

What you’ll need: A small photo album - the type where the photos slide into clear plastic pockets

Buy a small photo album (one that holds 3-by-5- or 4-by-6-inch photos - one photo per page is the best )

and fill it with snapshots of your baby and the people in his life.

In addition to relatives and family friends, make sure you include pictures of babysitters or caregivers,

neighbors, and other babies and children you know, along with favorite pets and toys.

Give the album to your baby and tell him it’s his very own, sit with him and show him the photos. Since

his pincer grasp(with forefinger and thumb) is staring to develop, he will soon learn to grab the pages,

and as he gets older he’ll start to really look at the pictures and point at them.

He may react to familiar faces with excitement, or he might just be mesmerized by the parade of

colorful images. Either way, store the album on his bookshelf or in his toy box, for later viewing together,

it’ll quickly become a favorite.

Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn’t quite ready for this day, don’t worry,

just try them again in a few days.