Baby Play: Onomatopoeias

Carl's is really starting to grow up. I love watching him figure out the world and experiment with everything he encounters. Sometimes he gets really frustrated with it all; he's anxious for his little body to catch up with his flowering mind. Most of the time, though, he is contentedly curious and just plain fun to be around.

He is starting to figure out the connection between cause and effect, which has spawned a new game between us. He loves this game and always laughs when we play it, which is like hitting the jackpot for me as a mother. I'm glad he enjoys interacting with me because his enjoyment reinforces my own.

This is the game: Carl makes a sudden movement (like slapping the table) and I match it with an onomatopoeia (like "bang"). We have lots of fun pairings and he enjoys switching back and forth between them. Bumping his head on the back of his chair is "bonk'" and shaking his head quickly from side to side is "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh". Kicking his legs is (of course) "kick, kick, kick" and putting his hand in his mouth is "wuh wuh wuh wuh wuh".

I think what he enjoys so much about this game is the power it gives him over his environment. He not only moves his own body but he evokes a pre-determined response from me. It's like he can control me and I (for once) am very happy to be his puppet.

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