Fingers are fascinating to your baby because he or she has been discovering how much they can do. In the classic children's singing game "Where Is Thumbkin?" the individual digits of each hand really come to life.
Appropriate for:
9 months to 2 years
Skills developed:
Fine motor, auditory
What you'll need:
A nonpermanent pen
Use a pen to draw a small face on the pad of each of your fingers and both thumbs. Start by making fists and holding both fists in front of your baby, clenched tight so no fingers show. To the tune of "Frère Jacques," sing:
"Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin?" "Here I am, here I am" (bring out one thumb, then the other), "How are you today, sir?" (make one thumb bow), "Very well, I thank you" (the other thumb returns the bow), "Run away, run away" (put one hand, then the other, behind your back).
The song repeats with each finger called by name: Pointer, Tallman, Ringman, and Pinky. Then, for the grand finale, sing, "Where's the whole family?" waving all five fingers together on "Here we are." If you've given each finger-face a slightly different expression, this last verse is a hilarious hands-down winner.