introduction

      Welcome to the wonderful world of your baby.

      In this first year you will see your baby’s abilities expand as your little one grows and develops in amazing ways. There is no way more wonderful to share in this process than through the delight of play and games.

      In baby play each family member learns about the other—and about oneself. You learn about attention spans, abilities, communication without words, patience, anticipation, crescendos, beginnings and endings, laughter, and the joy of touching.

      And best of all, in playing games, a baby learns that he or she is loved.

      Babies collect information through their senses. They need to have stimulation brought to them—stimulation to match their growing abilities. Here are activities to encourage as well as delight.

      While these ideas are given in a loose chronological order, don’t forget to go back and play the games suggested in the earlier chapters as your baby matures.

      With all the newly developing skills that these games will help encourage, know that this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come.

      Enjoy!