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I am reading "Baby Talk" by Sally Ward, and she mentions a number of games you can play with babies that I'm unfamiliar with.

Have you heard of these? How do you play them?

  • Clap hands
  • Hidey peep (not peekaboo)
  • Patacake (is that just the pattycake rhyme? Can a 9 month old really play it?)

She also mentions that there are actions to row row row your boat, but I only ever remember singing it.

I feel silly having to ask!

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I haven't read the book, but I would guess "clap hands" is just clapping the baby's hands or clapping your hands to the baby's hands, with or without music.

I think hidey peep is when a child hides behind something or under a blanket, similar to peekaboo, but not using hands to cover eyes (search hidey peep on YouTube for a few examples).

I'd think patacake refers to the rhyme. At 9 months, the baby isn't expected to actually play patacake (my 2 3/4 year old doesn't even do that yet, though we haven't really tried it much...she could probably learn it now, but not when she was just 2). The baby can enjoy hearing the rhyme, watching you do the motions, and having you clap his or hands together, though. The baby can also just clap along to the rhyme without actually doing the right motions while you do the motions yourself.

For row, row, row your boat, have both of you sit on the floor facing each other and then hold both of the baby's hands in your hands, rowing your arms as you sing the song. Another alternative that I loved and my kids love is to lean /the baby backwards and forwards as you do this so s/he goes from laying down to sitting up (you can also lay down when she's sitting up the sit up as you lay her down).

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    Around here we have so many variations on row, row, row your boat and each one has an action at the end. My 16 month old daughter has loved doing these with us since she was 6 or 7 months old. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, if you see a crocodile, don't forget to SCREAM! ... gently to the shore, if you see a lion, don't forget to ROAR! ... gently down the river, if you see a polar bear, don't forget to SHIVER! (Sideways instead of forwards and back) rock, rock, rock your boat, rock your boat about, be careful when you rock your boat or you might FALL OUT!
    – Vicky
    Commented May 13, 2013 at 9:50
  • @Vicky: Those are terrific! I'm going to try to remember them for my kids who would STILL love them!
    – Meg Coates
    Commented May 15, 2013 at 19:36

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