Playing games with a newly crawling baby can be tons of fun, and it’s a wonderful way to nurture their curiosity, motor skills, and even early problem-solving skills.
Here are some funny and engaging games you can play with a baby who has just learned to crawl, using only common household items. The best part? Each game also incorporates a little lesson for them!
Top 15 Playful Activities for Crawling Babies
1. Tunnel Time Adventure
- Materials Needed: Blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes
- How to Play: Make a simple “tunnel” on the floor by draping a blanket over pillows or using open boxes. Sit at one end and encourage your baby to crawl through the tunnel to reach you.
- What They Learn: Crawling through a tunnel builds their sense of direction, spatial awareness, and strengthens their muscles. Plus, it’s tons of fun to pop out on the other side!
2. Chase the Rolling Bottle
- Materials Needed: Empty plastic water bottle (optional: add some rice inside for sound)
- How to Play: Place the bottle a few feet away and show your baby how it rolls when you give it a gentle push. Encourage them to chase after the bottle, giving it a push now and then to keep them interested.
- What They Learn: Chasing a rolling object helps improve hand-eye coordination and encourages them to practice moving quickly and changing directions.
3. Peekaboo Crawl Game
- Materials Needed: Small blanket or towel
- How to Play: Sit on the floor and cover your head or face with a blanket, calling the baby’s name to draw them to you. When they reach you, pull down the blanket for a fun “peekaboo” moment.
- What They Learn: This game reinforces object permanence—the concept that even when they can’t see you, you’re still there. (We have more tips, games, and books to help your child develop object permanence here.) Plus, it’s always a joy to see their delighted surprise!
4. Treasure Hunt Box
- Materials Needed: Empty shoebox, baby-safe items (like wooden spoons, soft fabric, or rattles)
- How to Play: Fill a shoebox with safe, interesting objects that are easy to grab. Show the baby the box and let them crawl over to explore and pull out each item.
- What They Learn: Exploring different objects develops their sensory skills, hand strength, and fine motor coordination.
5. Follow the Flashlight
- Materials Needed: Flashlight or a small lamp
- How to Play: In a dimly lit room, shine a flashlight a few feet ahead of the baby, moving it slowly along the floor. Encourage them to crawl toward the light.
- What They Learn: This game improves their visual tracking skills and helps them understand cause and effect as they “chase” the light.
6. Obstacle Crawl
- Materials Needed: Pillows, couch cushions, or soft towels
- How to Play: Create a simple “obstacle course” by arranging pillows and cushions in a way that the baby can crawl over, under, or around them.
- What They Learn: This playful exercise strengthens their muscles, boosts confidence, and enhances problem-solving skills as they navigate over and around obstacles.
7. Sound Seekers
- Materials Needed: Small pots, pans, plastic containers, or rattles
- How to Play: Place various “noisy” objects around the room and sit near one, making some gentle sounds to capture their attention. Encourage them to crawl over to find out what’s making the sound.
- What They Learn: This activity builds their sense of hearing and curiosity, and crawling toward a sound source helps with directional awareness.
Mirror Play Crawl
- Materials Needed: A small, safe mirror
- How to Play: Place a mirror on the floor where your baby can see their reflection. Position yourself behind them and encourage them to crawl toward it. Talk to them and point to their reflection to make it even more engaging.
- What They Learn: Babies love seeing other “faces,” even if it’s their own! Mirror play builds self-recognition and social skills, giving them an early sense of identity.
9. Balloon Chase
- Materials Needed: Helium or regular balloons (Be sure to get this kind of balloons as they don’t pop as easily. Also ensure the balloons are securely tied to something heavy and that your baby is always supervised.)
- How to Play: Tie the balloon to a small, stable object a few feet away from your baby. The gentle movement of the balloon will encourage them to crawl over and touch it.
- What They Learn: The bouncing balloon draws their attention, teaching them tracking and motivating them to crawl.
10. Paper Crinkle Crawl
- Materials Needed: Large sheet of crinkly paper (like wrapping paper or parchment paper)
- How to Play: Place the paper on the floor and encourage the baby to crawl over it. The sounds and textures will be intriguing!
- What They Learn: This sensory activity helps them understand different textures and sounds, developing tactile and auditory sensory skills.
11. Under the Bridge
- Materials Needed: Your arms or a low piece of furniture
- How to Play: Form a “bridge” by sitting and holding your arms up for your baby to crawl under, or use the bottom of a low table if it’s safe and accessible.
- What They Learn: Crawling under things builds spatial awareness and is a gentle challenge that helps them navigate tight spaces.
12. Tissue Box Fun
- Materials Needed: Empty tissue box, colorful fabric pieces, or scarves
- How to Play: Fill the tissue box with baby-safe fabric scraps and let them pull each one out. Babies love pulling items from a box—it’s a fun, repetitive action.
- What They Learn: This activity builds fine motor skills, and it’s a good exercise in cause-and-effect as they learn each pull brings out another item.
13. Sock Slide Game
- Materials Needed: A pair of colorful socks
- How to Play: Roll up a pair of socks and give them a gentle toss just out of reach to encourage the baby to crawl and retrieve it. They can practice rolling, grabbing, and even pulling the socks apart!
- What They Learn: Grasping and rolling socks can help with hand coordination and provide a soft, safe object to handle as they crawl.
14. Bubble Pop
- Materials Needed: Bubble solution
- How to Play: Blow bubbles near your baby and encourage them to crawl after the bubbles and pop them.
- What They Learn: Tracking and reaching for bubbles help with hand-eye coordination and encourage them to explore movement through play.
15. Hidden Toy Game
- Materials Needed: Soft toy, small blanket
- How to Play: Place a small toy on the floor, then partially cover it with a blanket, and encourage your baby to “find” it by pulling away the blanket.
- What They Learn: This is another activity that helps with object permanence and problem-solving as they figure out how to uncover the toy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do these games help with baby development?
These games enhance motor skills, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities. Plus, they keep babies curious and excited to explore their surroundings.
How can I make sure these games are safe?
Always supervise closely, use baby-safe items, and play in a baby-proofed area. Avoid small items that could pose a choking hazard.
At what age can babies start playing these crawling games?
Typically, babies start crawling between 7-10 months. These games are ideal once they’ve begun moving on their own.
How long should I play these games with my child?
Keep play sessions short, around 5–10 minutes per game, as babies tire quickly and benefit from frequent breaks.
What should I do if my baby loses interest?
If they lose interest, switch to a different game or take a break. Babies have short attention spans, so variety is key.
Can these games be played every day?
Absolutely! Consistent playtime is great for their development, and they’ll benefit from the routine.
