What to do
- Tell your baby how gorgeous their eyes, nose, lips, cheeks and whichever other body features you admire are.
- Choose one part of their body, such as their cheeks. Say, “Look at your beautiful cheeks, they feel all soft and warm.” Gently stroke the tip of your index finger down one cheek while speaking.
- Next, point to your cheeks and softly stroke one with the tip of your index finger. Invite your baby to touch your cheeks. At this stage, your baby may stroke with their entire hand, and they may not be as gentle as you.
- If your baby uses more than a finger, you could gently hold their hand and kiss the tip of their index finger. You might say, “Look at this little finger, it is perfect, just like you!” Gently guide their finger to your cheek and say, “Oh! Your finger is touching my cheek.” Give them a big smile. You can repeat this with other parts.
- As you repeat this activity, you may notice that your baby begins to use their index finger more as they gain confidence with the game and the names of body parts.
Good to know
You could play this game using one or two facial features to begin with and introduce other body parts over time so it’s not too confusing for your baby.