For babies, try using a soft, round, bouncy ball and rolling it to her. If the ball has bright, bold colors or contrasting patterns, even better. Hold their hands and “show” them how rolling a ball feels, and how the ball responds.

For toddlers, take a “mini” foam football, and practice “catch” with her. Place her directly facing you. Gently show them how you can throw the football, and catch it, using underhand motions. Let them try.

For another toddler activity, take a round ball and show her how it bounces. See her reaction. Jump up and down like the ball, and see if she imitates you and the ball! Little ones love to imitate—it’s how they learn new concepts. Reinforce this concept by saying the word “bounce” during this activity.

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Safety notes: Make sure balls are clean and not small enough to fit into their mouths. Do not play with hard balls. Do not leave baby unattended with any of these items, or allow baby to chew on them.

• Order may be important: If you are trying to encourage a new food, but not sure of your baby’s reaction, try introducing it to her first, before offering other more familiar foods. If she is hungry, she may be more likely to try something new.

• Keep it simple: Some babies may get overwhelmed with too many choices on their plates: in these cases, try feeding her one food at a time.

• Don’t force the issue: never force your baby with something she is not interested in.

• Don’t be afraid of rejection: if baby says no to a new food, try again another time. Remember, there are lots of new foods to try!

• Have fun: It is exciting to see your baby trying a new food for the very first time. Remember, sometimes you have to be creative during this process!

Safety note: Always check with your pediatrician before introducing new foods to your baby.