Stay and Play activity: What's in the bag?

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This game is great for helping your baby learn and remember new words. It also helps grow the idea of pausing, stopping and starting, which are all very useful when we get older.

You will need:

a pillowcase for each parent and child
a number of objects that are safe for baby to handle, it could be some favourite toys, building blocks, baby’s socks, drinking cups or bowls
a smartphone, tablet or screen to watch the film (optional)

Things to think about

Short pauses give your baby time to think and helps to build skills in waiting.
Your baby will be learning to anticipate events too.

Watch the film

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Chat with parents/carers

Here are some questions you might ask them:

what did you all notice?
what surprised you?
what did you like?

Instructions for parents/carers:

Fill the pillowcases with some everyday items that your baby might find interesting; they don’t have to be new toys, but objects with different colours, shapes and textures.
Engage your baby by shaking the pillowcase bag and saying in a singsong voice, 'shake, shake, shake. What’s in the Bag?'.
Pause to build excitement and anticipation, then take the item out the bag. As your baby gets bigger they’ll enjoy taking an item out of the bag for themselves.
Show the item to your baby: tell them the name and see what they want to do with it. Let them explore it until they are ready to move on to something else. Some things might not catch their interest, other things they might want to look at and explore for longer.
If your baby makes a sound, try copying it back to them and telling them the name of the item again.
They might want to pass it back and forwards to you - this is a great opportunity to keep repeating the name of the item and to enjoy turn-taking with your baby.
Try to use the same words each time you take a turn and pause before taking out the next item. This will help to build your baby’s anticipation.

Printable handouts for this activity are available

When babies and children are having fun it is a great time for learning, but you only have to play this for as long as they are enjoying it.

More ideas for parents/carers at home

You can play this game at home. Use a few of the same items so your child gets to hear the names of the items over and over and add in a couple of new things.

This could be played with older children too and would be a lovely game for an older sibling to play with their baby brother or sister.

You can also play this game when your baby is in the bath or high chair by having a few items hidden out of sight.