Developmental Skills Hiding in Plain Sight: 7 Everyday Household Activities to Try at Home

What you'll need: A few large, lightweight, unbreakable containers and large, age-appropriate objects.

Give your child a container and a few safe objects to explore. Show them how to put an object inside, dump everything out and start again. You can also use two containers to practice moving objects from one to the other.

This simple activity gives little hands opportunities to practice reaching, grasping, releasing and coordinating movements. Children also begin exploring cause and effect as they discover what happens when a container tips over or an object disappears inside.

Make it interactive: Narrate what your child is doing. Try phrases such as "in," "out," "more" and "all gone." Pause to give your child time to respond with a sound, gesture or movement.

What you'll need: Firm floor cushions or pillows and a clear, safe floor space.

Place a few low cushions on the floor and encourage your child to explore moving around them, reaching over them or stepping across a small obstacle when developmentally appropriate. Younger babies can practice reaching for a favorite toy while playing on a firm, safe surface.

These playful challenges offer opportunities to practice coordination, shifting weight, changing positions and exploring different movements.

Make it interactive: Place a favorite toy within comfortable reach and encourage your child to move toward it. Celebrate their exploration, whether they reach, roll, crawl, scoot or walk.

What you'll need: A few familiar, safe items during a caregiver-led daily routine.

Everyday routines are full of opportunities to build communication skills. While preparing a snack or getting ready for a meal, name familiar items, describe what you're doing and respond to your child's sounds, facial expressions, gestures and words.

You might say, "Here is your cup," "Let's wash our hands" or "Would you like more?" For children who are beginning to use words, repeat their attempts and add a little more language. If your child says "ball," for example, you might respond, "Yes, a big ball!"

Make it interactive: Give your child time to respond. Communication can include looking, pointing, reaching, making sounds, using gestures or speaking. You don't need to turn every moment into a quiz; following your child's lead can make the interaction more natural.

What you'll need: A sturdy plastic bowl or other safe sound-making object and an appropriate soft utensil.

Create a simple rhythm by tapping, clapping or singing. Pause and see whether your child looks toward the sound, moves along, makes a sound of their own or tries to imitate you. Take turns making sounds and responding to one another.

Musical play offers opportunities to practice listening, attention, imitation, timing and interaction. It can also introduce concepts such as loud and quiet, fast and slow.

Make it interactive: Sing a familiar song and pause before a repeated word or sound. Give your child time to join in however they can.

What you'll need: A few large, clean clothing items, such as washcloths or shirts, and a low laundry basket.

Invite your child to help place clothing into a basket or move items from one safe location to another. Older toddlers may enjoy grouping similar items together, such as two washcloths or two shirts.

As children explore, they have opportunities to practice grasping, releasing, comparing, matching and following simple directions. The activity can also introduce early concepts such as same, different, big and small.

Make it interactive: Keep directions simple. Try "Put it in," "Find another sock" or "Let's put these together." Follow your child's interest and let them explore at their own pace.

What you'll need: A clean, sturdy cardboard box with no staples, loose tape, sharp edges or small detachable parts.

Place a familiar toy inside an open box and encourage your child to find it. You can also use the box as a pretend play space, a place to put toys or an object to explore from different angles.

Your child may reach inside, look around the sides, move the box or try different ways to retrieve the toy. These experiences offer opportunities to explore object permanence, spatial relationships and simple problem-solving.

Make it interactive: For a younger child, keep the toy partly visible and easy to reach. For an older toddler, place it just out of immediate view and let them decide how to find it.

What you'll need: A sturdy board book or a familiar picture book.

You don't need to read every word on every page. Point to pictures, name familiar objects, imitate animal sounds or describe what you see. Let your child turn pages, point to pictures or return to a favorite page.

Shared book time creates opportunities to hear new words, connect words with pictures, take turns and share attention with a caregiver. It can be a few minutes before bedtime or a quick break during the day.

Make it interactive: Follow your child's interests. If they point to a dog, you might say, "You found the dog! The dog says woof!" Leave room for your child to respond in their own way.