Baby's First Skills: 6-7 months

"Now your baby will be sitting up unaided..." Well, she would be if she could sit still long enough to actually sit! Zoë is now starting to crawl so we have been moving stuff out of the way and putting up safety gates.

Here are some of the headlines of a 6-7 month old:
Talking: She is beginning to experiment with conversations with herself and other people, including babbling, initiatiting conversation, making recognisable sounds, imitating sounds and experimenting with new sounds.
Moving: Uh oh! This is the month of big strides... taking one hand off the floor and balancing (tick), sitting up (nearly tick), lift head when lying on back (tick), rolling over from back to tummy (tick tick), weight bearing (tick) and bounces (tick)!
Hands: Her grasp is becoming more refined and co-ordination is improving.
Mind: Zoë is really beginning to understand her surroundings and rituals. She knows her name and responds to it, and also knows the meaning of the word 'no'!
Friendliness: Company is good, but she's happy with her own company too now. She enjoys relating with other babies and uses ways to converse (laughter, coughs, squeals, bubbles etc)

So this month The Golden Hour of activities include (with a bit more information than usual):

Talking (7 mins)

• Action Nursery Rhymes (#27) - what is says on the tin! (I'd better learn some more...)
• Puff and blow (#47) - Blow bubbles and then get baby to try as well. Hum a tune and put your baby's fingers against your lips so they can feel the vibration.

Moving (15 mins)

• Bathtime fun (#5) - Kicking, splashing, playing with ducks (pushing them under and quacking) and filling and pouring water from containers.
• Floor flying (#38) - Getting into take-off and sky-diving positions.
• Baby massage (#45) - Name the different body parts when doing the massage.

Hands (20 mins)

• Clapping Games (#11) - For example, Pat-a-cake. Must learn some more!
• Bricks and Blocks (#12) - Pick a brick: describe different shapes and colours;  All fall down: knocking down a tower; Building blocks: build her own tower.
• Kitchen percussion (#23) - uh oh!! Use a selection of pans and pots to make a noise! Let her do it, but also see if she can copy a definite rhythm.

Mind (10 mins)

• Introducing Books (#3) - Read lots of books!
• Hide and come back (#13) - Hide something behind my back and get Zoë to look for it. Sing 'Two little dickie birds'.
• More about books (#14) - Point out pictures of animals (names, sounds etc). Demonstrate turning the page. Make up stories about family members.

Friendliness (8 mins)

• Feet and Toes (#29) - 'This little piggy', 'Wee wiggie' etc
• Family favourites (#44) -  Make a family album and talk about people. Make a voice tape.

I'm really excited about all of this month's activities! Most of them we are already doing, but there are some fun additions to be trying out...