The next few months of the baby’s growth are stages or skills not exclusive or separate from the skills begun or accomplished in the first 6 months; they are skills built upon those earlier developments.  As he continues to develop, his increasing sense of control over his world only motivates him to keep exploring and testing boundaries, trying new things, and trusting those who play and support him.

Around the 7 month, his motor skills not only are continuing their fine-tuning, but also are widening their specialties:  scooping and hand transfer and the pincer grasp.  Also developing is his ability to discern tones and inflections, and he is beginning to understand the 3-dimensional objects and their relationships according to size and color.  When it comes to play, games full of predictability help reinforce object permanence, and stuffed animals and big dolls begin to intrigue him.

Fun and games help build up motor skills.  Encourage and challenge him with toys that will facilitate his development.  Try balls small enough to grasp, but big enough to avoid a choking hazard.  Also helpful are nesting toys such as cylinders or boxes.  Pop-up toys are excellent for reinforcing object permanence and a sense of predictability.  Toys that make sounds, like rattles, will hold his attention, too.  

At around 8 months, he is closer to walking, his pincer grasp is getting a workout, and he understands that some of the objects he has been playing with have specific functions.  He may also begin pointing out body parts when asked. 

Try games with toys placed slightly higher than normal, but on a sturdy ledge against which he can support himself, so that he can exercise his standing muscles.  Continue playing with toys that are small enough to be picked up with one hand, but large enough to avoid choking hazards.  He will enjoy toys that can especially withstand being shaken, banged, dropped, or opened.  Using a stuffed animal or a doll, begin identifying legs, arms, hands, and other body parts, that he is constantly using.  He may begin understanding that mommy, daddy, and his favorite doll or stuffed animal has legs, arms, a mouth, or eyes, just like him.  

In the 9th and 10th months, he may be sitting more on his own and beginning to stand more frequently, too.  During play, he seems content to repeatedly remove and refill objects from and into their containers.  He is also more interested in toys with moving parts and games that involve passing items back and forth.  He is also beginning to understand many simple words and phrases.  

Colorful, toy blocks in a container will keep him occupied emptying and refilling again and again.  Play cars with moving wheels and other toys with levers and working doors or latches will also help hone fine motor skills.  His interest with passing items back and forth can be accomplished with any toy easy to handle with one or two hands, like balls, blocks, or even his favorite stuffed animal or doll.  To help his vocabulary and communication skills start including more picture books, with or without words, during playtime; go from recognizable and common to not so common objects to him. 

In the 11th month, his eyesight is stronger as is his desire to explore.  At almost a year old, he can play contentedly by himself, even when other children are present.  He may also show signs of understanding requests to pick up bowl, help bring toy, or point to colors.  A doll or stuffed animal may begin to accompany him everywhere, too.

He will enjoy sturdy picture books with bold primary colors to dazzle his sight and imagination.  Because he may understand requests to help, play that involves kitchen items or other replicas of household items may foster cooperation and responsibility.  In choosing a stuffed animal or doll, be sure that it meets the demands of his often not-so-gentle handling.  Dolls or stuffed animals made of quality materials and craftsmanship with smooth surfaces and natural materials are sure to last.  

At 12 months, the development of his fine motor skills shifts to the development of his large motor skills, like walking.  His attention span can last anywhere from 2-5 minutes, and he enjoys toys with an added element of cause and effect - push/pull, build up/knock down, dump/refill – especially if the toy has a variety of textures and sounds.  His recognition of objects and their specific uses is ever sharper, too.

Those blocks that you purchased before continue to have more and more uses as he now builds towers and then knocks them down, only to build and knock down again.  With those blocks he can also fill and empty containers over and over again.  Each time he fills the container, all the blocks may or may not fit; he’ll enjoy figuring it out each time.  He may also start to sort blocks by color or shape.  Another toy he is continuing to enjoy is nesting boxes or cylinders.  Add variations of blocks and nesting toys because playtime is the time to add to his increasing repertoire of objects he can name.