Playing simple, physical music games with your baby can be great fun for both of you and can help the development of musical skills, and understanding speech patterns. It can also introduce movement skills. As your baby grows the way that you play these games can change - and from about six months, when they are generally able to sit up by themselves, the possibilities for musical games increase. Don't worry if you think you can't sing. Your baby won't judge you by the calibre of your voice. Your voice may be better than you think it is, and your child is likely to think it is the best voice in the world!

Tip Toe Tap

• This is a simple activity that you can play with your baby from birth, and can help them 'feel' a simple rhythm
  
• Lie your baby safely on their back
  
• Tap the bottom of your baby's feet gently in time (and in turn) to a song that you are singing for example Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
  

• This is an activity that you could do with your child from about six months, when they have a bit more strength to support themselves. Sit down and put your baby on your knees, legs together, facing you.
  
• Humpty Dumpty is a good song to sing for this type of activity, especially as at about 10 or 11 months they may begin to expect or anticipate the 'surprise' in the song which adds to their excitement of the play:
  

• What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor!
  At the end you can push your baby high into the air
  
• The Grand Old Duke Of York
  Sit your baby on your knee and march with his or her legs following the instructions in the song with a lovely big movement for the final word :"Down!"
  
• Heads & Shoulders, Knees & Toes
  A good one for when your baby is on the changing mat, touching and with a big clap at the end
  
• Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
  Take your baby in your arms to introduce lots of different movements
  

Make Up Your Own

…and do the movements to go with it:-

This is the way we:

• Jump up and down
• Sway to and fro
  
• Wriggle about
  
• Give a hug
  
• Give a kiss
  
• All fall down!
  

More Ideas

• Sway and dance with your baby in your arms - maybe put on some waltz music and pretend to waltz with baby, it does not matter if you don't know how to dance, it should be fun for the both of you
  
• When you are listening to music with a baby on your lap it's important to move
  
• Young babies love it when you clap while you sing, and as they grow older they may start to imitate your clapping actions
  
• Tickling your baby while singing to them can also be fun