Mealtimes may be getting messy these days as (more and more, it seems) your baby insists on playing with his or her food. After all, what better way to enjoy all the new things those fingers can do than spread and smear mashed potato around? Instead of getting frustrated, get into it by turning dinner into "art class."

Appropriate for: 8 months to 1 year
Skills developed: Hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: Colorful, gooey foods like pureed peas and carrots; a highchair with a rimmed tray

It may seem silly to let your baby play with his or her food, but experimenting with texture is actually a helpful developmental activity. Choose a few liquidy foods and let your baby "paint" with them on the highchair tray. Pick mild foods that your baby has tried before, such as pureed peas, carrots, and other vegetables, avoiding foods that are too strong, such as ketchup and mustard.

As your baby uses his or her hands to mix and swirl the various goos, name the colors and show him or her how they combine. If you can make some colored gelatin cubes, your baby may try to stack them like blocks – or just squish them between his or her fingers. Who knows – given a few moments to have fun with his or her veggies, your baby may decide to eat more of them than usual!