Baby Games: The Joyful Guide to Child's Play from Birth to Three Years

Wife loves it and is buying it for every new mother we know

I have three sons, ages 6, 4, and 2. We have all enjoyed the ideas and games in this book so well that I've started giving this book as a gift to new mothers. We've used all the recipes in here countless times, especially those for the various forms of play doh, bubble soap, and paint. I still turn to this book for inspiration on rainy, and sunny, days. I do think an improvement would be a spiral binding, as one reviewer suggested, so that the book would lay flat while in use, and I also agree with several of the reviewers who suggested that many of the song lyrics aren't very helpful without music. Having said that, the reason why I love this book best is that it helps me to foster the kind of homelife I envision for our family. My personal philosophy is that, as a society, we place too much emphasis on doing rather than being. Our young children are often signed up for multiple activities, from baby gymnastics to music class and swimming lessons, from the time they're 12 months old or even younger. Sometimes, for me, the tendency to "sign 'em up" comes from a feeling that they'll be "behind" all the other kids if they don't start T-ball by age 4; it also comes from a sense that I'll have fewer endless hours to fill for them, if they've got scheduled activities to attend. But I've come to realize that children need those endless hours of "down time" more than the activities. They need moments of spontaneous play, songs, giggles, rhymes, and cuddles. They need messy art projects, play dough and cookie cutters. And I've found that I enjoy our family life more when I spend the time playing with them at home, rather than arguing with each of them about getting into the car so we won't be late. Sometimes I skim through this book just to remind myself how quickly childhood passes, and to find one or two new inspirations (or even old, familiar inspirations)to try out during the day. Yes, there are ways in which it could be improved. But even as it is, it's an old friend our family wouldn't do without.

I received this book as a gift when my first child was born and still refer to it occassionally for those "what can we do today?" times. Chapters are arranged according to appropriate activities ranging from birth to age 3 years. Most important to us were the ideas of what to do with your newborn. Topics in each chapter include MOVEMENT, MUSIC, WORD PLAY, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, QUIET TIMES AND INDOOR GAMES. There are also chapters on various entertainment media, toys and parties. This book is full of FUN things you can do with your baby. The only minus is that if you don't know the tunes to some of the songs, you'll have a hard time singing to your little bumpkin.

This book is a cracker - what fantastic fun! There are pages of songs and nursery rhymes you thought you'd forgotten... creative and original ideas to stimulate your child's imagination... games that will bring the spirit of youth back!AND BEST OF ALL, GAMES YOU CAN PLAY WITH YOUR NEWBORN BABY, not just the older kids...ENJOY!

Just when you thought you knew all the games to play with your baby, you read this book and realise there is SO much more!