Every day is full of learning experiences for your baby, but especially at Christmas time.
Lots of family and friends to meet, music, dancing, fairy lights, new tastes if they鈥檙e weaning鈥 all these festive highlights mean that there are even more opportunities than usual to talk, bond and have fun with your child.
And how about trying one of these seasonal bonding activities?
1. Try hand printing
All you need for a great craft activity is a willing baby, plus paper, non-toxic paints and some newspaper or plastic sheet to protect against mess. Put paint into plastic trays so they can easily dip their little fingers or hands and then guide them onto a blank sheet of paper to create unique wrapping paper or greetings cards. Use pens to add detail to their prints and make them truly festive: for example you could turn their green hand prints into Christmas trees by drawing on baubles.
Top tip
Try making a simple potato printer for your baby to use instead 鈥 carve a festive shape into a potato (away from little fingers!).
2. Dress the tree together
Make a ceremony out of unpacking your decorations and turning on the lights, and if they鈥檙e old enough, support them to place items on the branches. But always follow some simple safety advice: make sure the tree is placed somewhere it can鈥檛 be pulled down and use shatterproof decorations.
Top tip
Toddlers will enjoy making some simple decorations with you 鈥 like salt dough ornaments, gingerbread people or loo roll reindeers. Visit CBeebies for more ideas.
3. Make a christmas sensory box
Fill a box with differently textured festive items that are safe for your baby to touch and potentially put in their mouth. These could be things like wooden tree decorations, clementine oranges, bells and scrunched-up paper.
Find out more about why sensory play is important for young children.
Top tip
To introduce your baby to new words, sit with them and name each item as they pull them out.
4. Have a Christmas carol sing-along
Singing your favourite Christmas tunes will not only get you in a festive mood but it鈥檚 also great for your baby鈥檚 language skills.
Jingle Bells and The 12 Days of Christmas are perfect, as they鈥檙e simple, repetitive and you can use hand actions.
Top tip
Dancing will enhance the experience for your baby and you could even craft some homemade musical instruments.
5. Put on a hand puppet show
Sock puppets are a guarantee way to get your baby belly laughing. Transform your old socks into festive characters like snow people, reindeer or Santa, put on a funny voice and you have your own mini pantomime.
Top tip
Get a friend or family member involved so you have several puppets in your show.
6. Take a winter walk
After all the festive feasting, a walk is a great idea for the whole family. And as well as burning off the mince pies, it鈥檚 a great opportunity to introduce your baby to new sights and sounds.
Stop regularly to talk about what you can see and hear, and introduce new words.
Discover more about the benefits of introducing your child to nature.
Top tip
Follow your baby's lead 鈥 talk about things that capture their attention.
7. Play with wrapping paper
Babies love the sound and texture of ripping paper. And this is peak gift wrap-ripping time鈥 so make opening the presents a fun sensory activity with your baby.
Ripping paper is also a curious laughter trigger for babies. Scientists aren't quite sure why, but it's almost guaranteed to get a giggle on Christmas day.
Top tip
Make a game out of it by talking about what is wrapped up in the paper.
Make sure your child is supervised at all times and watch out for anything going in mouths that could be a choking hazard. For more advice .
