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Indoor activities for 3–6 months

5 simple play ideas for little ones aged 3–6 months.

Always supervise play. These are play ideas, not developmental or medical advice.

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High-contrast card gazing

  • 0–4 months
  • 5 min
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

Bold black-and-white patterns are easy for young babies to focus on.

  • Senses

You’ll need

  • High-contrast cards
How to play
  1. Hold a card about 20–30 cm from your baby’s face.
  2. Move it slowly from side to side.
  3. Swap cards when their attention drifts.

Scarf peekaboo

  • 3–12 months
  • 5 min
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

The classic game, with a light scarf to pull away.

  • Together time
  • Senses

You’ll need

  • Scarf or light cloth
How to play
  1. Drape a light scarf over your own head.
  2. Ask “Where did I go?” and pull it off with a smile.
  3. Older babies love to pull it off themselves.

Play safely: Use a light, see-through fabric and never leave a scarf with your baby.

Tummy-time mirror play

  • 0–6 months
  • 5 min
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

A mirror gives babies something interesting to look at during tummy time.

  • Moving
  • Senses

You’ll need

  • Blanket
  • Unbreakable mirror
How to play
  1. Lay your baby on their tummy on a blanket.
  2. Prop an unbreakable mirror just in front of them.
  3. Get down at eye level and chat about the face in the mirror.
  4. Stop when they’ve had enough — a few minutes is plenty.

Play safely: Always stay with your baby during tummy time.

Sing and sway

  • 0–12 months
  • 10 min
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

Gentle movement and songs — a calm way to share some time together.

  • Words & sounds
  • Together time

You’ll need

  • Music to play
How to play
  1. Put on a song you like, or sing your own.
  2. Hold your baby close and sway to the beat.
  3. Pause the music now and then and see how they react.

Story time snuggle

  • 0–36 months
  • 10 min
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

Share a board book — chewing it counts too.

  • Words & sounds

You’ll need

  • Board books
How to play
  1. Snuggle up with a board book.
  2. Point to pictures and name them.
  3. Let your baby turn the pages, even if it’s out of order.
Get 3 ideas for your baby

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