3 months old
Little Sparks of Curiosity
Play ideas, a book, a song and a little encouragement for your 3 month old, from Maddie.
By Maddie, early childhood educator and Mum
3 min read · Updated
In this guide
Hey there, wonderful parent!
You’ve now made it to Month 3! A stage where your baby is starting to feel more alert, more interactive. You may see more smiles blooming, more little wiggles, and those adorable expressions that seem almost like they’re trying to talk to you.
This month is full of tiny moments where your baby starts to show their curiosity and personality. You don’t need big setups or fancy toys, just simple repetition, gentle presence, and a bit of playful back-and-forth.
Activity 1: Toy During Tummy Time
How: Pop your baby onto their tummy and place a favourite toy (or person) just out of arm’s reach. Make a sound, shake it gently, or tap it on the floor to catch their attention.
Why: When baby works to reach or shift their weight forward, they build core strength, upper body muscles, and early motivation to move. All foundation skills for rolling and crawling later on.
Watching their siblings during tummy time is also a great motivator to move all those muscles!
Activity 2: Cloth Peek-a-Boo
How: Place a small cloth over a rattle or toy and say, “Where did it go?” Lift it slowly to reveal the toy “There it is!!!” Repeat… and repeat again (and again… they won’t get bored!).
Why: This sparks curiosity, encourages problem-solving, and supports early memory development. Each time your baby searches for the hidden toy, they’re learning an important thinking skill: things exist even when they can’t see them, the early beginnings of object permanence.
If you have older children, this is a perfect little game for them to connect with their sibling. Maybe even giving you 5 minutes to just do nothing!
Nursery Rhyme: Itsy Bitsy Spider
“The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”
This rhyme is perfect for adding finger movements or gentle tickles, which makes it extra engaging for curious little learners.
Try this:
Crawl your fingers slowly up the baby's tummy or arm for the “spider,” then swoop down as the rain comes. Predictability and rhythm help your baby feel connected and calm.
Book of the Month: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A classic for a reason; repetition, rhythm, bright illustrations, and simple storytelling your baby’s growing brain loves. Read the book with baby on your lap, or lay next to them on your backs or on your tummies to encourage more tummy time!
A little reminder:
You can always borrow books from your local library, and these are simply ideas. At the end of the day, any book you enjoy reading together is perfect!
Did You Know?
Every time your baby looks for a toy hidden under a cloth, they’re practicing the early thinking skill of understanding that objects continue to exist even if they can’t see them.
It might look simple, but it’s actually a huge brain milestone!
Remember
Your baby doesn’t need perfection; they need presence.
The way you look at them, laugh with them, pause for them, and try again with them… that’s the real learning.
You’ve survived diaper blowouts, middle-of-the-night feedings, and endless “peek-a-boos”.
Your doing beautifully💛
Social & Emotional Skill Building
This month, focus on celebrating effort, not just success.
When baby tries to reach but can’t quite get there, smile and say:
“Yes! Keep trying!”
“You almost got it!”
“You’re trying again, I love that!”
When you value their trying, they learn that effort matters, mistakes are safe, and persistence is worth it. These early emotional messages shape how they approach challenges as toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond.