Play Ideas for Dads with 6-12 Month Olds

Forget basic peekaboo with your hands. Hide behind the couch, pop up from behind a door, cover yourself with a blanket and emerge like a monster. Each new hiding spot blows their mind because object permanence is still a work in progress.

Flip over every plastic container in your kitchen and hand them a wooden spoon. Show them how to bang on different containers for different sounds. They'll go absolutely feral on those drums and you'll feel like a genius for about 4 minutes before the headache kicks in.

Sit them in a laundry basket or high chair and hand them balls to drop over the side. They throw it, you retrieve it, they throw it again. Yes, you are the dog now. This teaches cause and effect and gravity, which is a fancy way to justify your suffering.

Stuff scarves or fabric strips into an empty tissue box and let them pull them out one by one. It's basically a magic trick to a baby. Once they empty it, stuff them back in and watch them go again. Replayability is infinite.

Prop a baby-safe mirror on the floor during tummy time. They'll stare at that other baby for ages, smile at it, try to grab it. Point to their reflection and say their name. They have zero idea that's them and it's hilarious.

Build a tower of soft blocks or stacking cups. Let them watch you build it up, then guide their hand to knock it down. The demolition is the entire point. Every time it falls they'll look at you like you just performed actual sorcery.

Lay out different textures on the floor—a towel, bubble wrap, a silicone baking mat, a fuzzy blanket. Carry them across each one barefoot or let them crawl over them. Watch their face change with each new surface. Bubble wrap is always the winner.

Lie on your back, put them on your shins with their belly down, hold their hands, and lift your legs. Congratulations, you're a human airplane. Make engine noises. Tilt side to side gently. They'll either laugh hysterically or spit up on your face. Sometimes both.

Grab one of those soft crinkle books and go through it together. Let them grab pages, crinkle them, chew on corners. Point at pictures and name things in ridiculous voices. The book itself matters less than the weird sounds you make.

Put a sock on your hand, draw eyes on it with a marker, and put on a show. Give the puppet a dumb voice. Make it kiss their belly, nibble their toes, hide behind your back. Low effort, maximum baby entertainment. You'll feel ridiculous and they'll love it.

Put them on a blanket on a smooth floor and slowly pull them around the room. They're on a magic carpet and you're the engine. Start slow, add gentle turns. Keep one hand near them for stability. Hardwood or tile floors work best for this.

Give them a container and a bunch of small (safe) objects—large wooden blocks, plastic balls, big spoons. Show them how to put things in. They'll mostly just dump everything out. That IS the game. Repeat 400 times.

Blow bubbles and watch them try to track and grab them. At this age they can't pop them on purpose but they'll swat and reach, which is great for hand-eye coordination. Blow them slowly so they can actually follow the trajectory.

In a dim room, shine a flashlight on the wall and slowly move it around. They'll track it with their eyes and eventually try to crawl toward it. It's like a laser pointer for babies. Don't shine it in their eyes, obviously.

Put a hat on your head. Take it off. Put it on their head. Take it off. Put it on the dog. They'll think this is the funniest thing that has ever happened in human history. Try different hats. A colander works great and the photo ops are elite.

Get a big cardboard box, cut a door in it, and put them inside with a few toys. They now have a house. Peek in through the door, play peekaboo through cut-out windows. This box will get more play than any $50 toy you've bought.

Thread ribbons through a colander or cardboard tube and let them pull them through. Tie a small toy to the end of one for a surprise. This is incredible for fine motor skills and the focus they show is genuinely impressive.

Hold them against your chest and dance around the living room to music. Spin slowly, dip them gently, bounce to the beat. They'll feel the rhythm through your body. Pick songs with a good bass line—babies respond to that low-end thump.