- more awareness of hands
- listening skills
- an awareness of rhythm and rhyme
- observational skills
Hold the baby in your lap and encourage him to watch as you place your hands together. Move your hands apart and then together again. Repeat this several times so that baby is aware of what you are doing. Continue to do this as you say...
"Pat-a-cak, pat-a-cake, baker's man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it and put it and mark it with B,
and out it in the oven for Baby and me."
Repeat this several times and observe the baby. Does he appear to be interested? Does he attempt to clap his hands to play Pat-a-cake? If not, encourage the baby to copy the pat-a-cake hand movement. If you substitute the initial letter of the baby's name and use the baby's name in the rhyme, he may listen more attentively.
You may need to gently hold the baby's wrists and assist him. With practice the baby will play Pat-a-cake spontaneously.
Remember that babies enjoy and need much repetition.
