Easy Social Games for Babies: Promote Communication and Happiness

January 11, 2025

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Key Points

Social games are play-based activities that promote communication and interaction between babies and their caregivers.

Social games promote baby social skills including communication, imitation, co-regulation, and observing play.

Keep social skills activities simple, but use my tips to get powerful benefits for babies.

Babies are born ready to connect with the people in their world. Parents and teachers can use social games to instill skills like communication and empathy through play.

As a developmental therapist, I know that infants first need a social connection with caregivers before building other developmental skills.

A baby and mom enjoy a social game while baby watches mom's face and touches her hair.

Social Games for Babies

What Are Social Games? Social games are play-based activities that promote communication and interaction between babies and their caregivers.

Let’s explore favorite (and easy!) social games for babies to do at home or in the classroom.

PEEK-A-BOO: This is a beloved classic for good reason! Model the activity for younger babies. As babies get older, let them lead the game.
BABY SIGNS: Teach simple signs like “milk,” “more,” or “all done” to help your baby communicate.
*Start modeling signs early! Consistently using baby signs lets babies communicate before they can talk.
ACTION SONGS: Action songs are powerful for building social and language skills. Here are my favorites:
Patty Cake
Wheels on the Bus
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Row Row Row Your Boat
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
If You’re Happy and You Know It
*For younger infants, use gentle hand-over-hand. But older babies and toddlers often do not like this, and that’s okay!
WHERE IS YOUR…?: Name body parts such as toes, nose, hands, and belly, then gently touching each spot.
A NAME GAME: Name family members or classroom friends while pointing or turning baby to look. Example: “Where is mommy? There she is.” or “I see Cidney. She’s drinking a bottle.”
*This builds baby’s awareness and connection with people in their environment.
NAME THE FEELING: Label your baby’s emotions and model their facial expressions back to them. “I saw you smile at your friend! Your face looked like this.”
*Name your own emotions too! “You saw me yawning. I feel sleepy.”
COPY MY FACE: Make exaggerated facial expressions and encourage your baby to copy them.
*Start with smiles and simple actions like sticking out your tongue or opening your mouth wide.
CAN I HAVE THAT TOY?: Set up a collection of toys, a treasure basket, loose parts, or a heuristic basket. Name favorite objects and offer them to baby to hold.
*This simple activity is a foundation for turn-taking and sharing skills.
BABY CONVOS: Imitate your baby’s coos and babbles, then pause to let them respond. Example: “Ba ba ba. You said ba. Maybe you want your ball. Here is the ball.”
*Treat this like a real conversation by taking turns and introducing simple words.
TO THE BOOKS: Look at picture books together during tummy time or while holding your baby.
*I recommend black-and-white books for very young babies. You can also explore my curated board book library.
RATTLE & SHAKE IMITATE: Offer baby a rattle or sensory bottle to shake. Imitate the ways they shake it or bang it against the floor.
ROLL THE BALL: Roll a ball back and forth with your baby to encourage turn-taking.
*Play with an older sibling, letting baby sit in your lap to help them take turns.

Social Skills Examples

What Are Social Skills for Babies?

Babies are learning the most basic of social skills. Still, these skills are the significant foundation for a lifelong ability to interact with other humans.

Communication: Fussing when hungry, looking at a favorite person or toy, using baby sign language, and reaching to be picked up

Watching faces and eye contact: Noticing changes in a loved one’s facial expression, then reacting or imitating.

Following directions through imitation: Copying simple actions like clapping hands or waving bye-bye

Calming through co-regulation: Relaxing when picked up, smiling when a caregiver laughs.

Observing play: Watching family members, siblings, or peers play is the first stage of play for children.

A teacher plays with baby to help build social skills.

FAQs

At What Age Does a Baby Play Social Games?

Babies start building social skills from birth, and social games help support this development at every stage.

What Is Social Play in Infants?

Social play is the everyday interactions babies have with caregivers and peers. This can be as simple as handing a toy back and forth and cooing at a sibling. Check out the social games in the post for fun ideas.

How to Help a Baby Be More Social

Responding to your baby’s smiles, cries, and gestures encourages them to be more social and feel valued.

If you have concerns about your baby’s social interactions, consider talking to your pediatrician or contacting your community’s early intervention services for an evaluation. In the United States, these services are free and provide essential support.

Final Thoughts

In the first year of life, infants build complex and essential social skills through interactions with peers and family members. However, the social games we can introduce to support them can be very easy. Adding fun social activities to daily routines at home and lesson plans in the classroom will help babies develop essential social skills.