Babies are born to move. A kick-toy will encourage pēpi to interact with their environment, and learn how their actions can have an effect on the things around them (cause and effect). Lie beside baby, showing delight when they make contact.

Why do it?

  • The kick-toy is a cause-and-effect activity, where baby uses their legs to kick and make a noise.
  • The activity will strengthen the muscles in their legs.
  • Baby will repeat the activity to make the noise again (and again!).

How to do it

You’ll need: Elastic, safety pins, pillowcase, scrunched up paper and furniture legs for tying the kick-toy to.

  • Pin the pieces of the elastic to each end of the pillowcase.
  • Stuff the pillowcase with noisy paper.
  • Lie baby on the floor.
  • Use the elastic to tie the kick-toy between two chair legs, so baby can reach it with their feet.
  • Parents can show delight when baby kicks and makes the noise.

Using more reo Māori

Te reo Māori English
Ngā mahi ā pēpi Play for baby
Wā tākaro Playtime
Lie down
Titiro mai Look here
He aha tēnei? What is this?
He pōro A ball
Kick
Whana i ō waewae Kick your legs
Haere mai Come here
Haere atu Go away
E tū Stand up
Wetekina ō hū Take off your shoes
Tangohia ō tokena Take off your socks
Kei te aha koe? What are you doing?
Kei te whana waewae koe? Are you kicking your legs?
Kia tūpato Be careful
Good, well done
Awesome!