Play with 8 month old!

[Tippytoes13]

Ideas for play with 8 month old!
Hi, I have an 8 month old daughter, we live fairly rural so we don't venture out to far in the week, only weekends when my husband is home. I'm a stay at home parent, but am finding it increasingly difficult to keep my daughter entertained, she's becoming very whingy lately and I'm not sure if she's bored. Any play ideas would be great, also tips to encourage her speech, as she doesn't babble as much as she probably should and doesn't say mama or dada yet, which I've read she should be saying. Thank you in advance!

One of the things mine loved at the age was a sensory basket. I got a small tray and put in
-a pine cone

• a cd (one I didnt listen to so didnt mid it being wrecked - they loved the shine)
• a set of old keys
• an old no battery mobile phone
• a silk scarf
• a plastic bottle filled woth dried rice for rattling
• an old purse I had that was covered in sequins

Both mine would seek the basket out and play with it for ages!

When DS was younger I used to get a daily email with age appropriate activities from a site called productive parenting. Just had a quick look and not sure if they still do the emails but if you're apple not android looks like they now have an app.

My son is a similar age and he is absolutely fascinated if I lay the big mirror down on the floor and put him on it so he can see his reflection. He also loves going for walks in the countryside, especially if there are animals or people to see.

He loves swimming if there are facilities nearby. We spend a lot of time singing and dancing, and he could spend hours chasing our (very patient) cat.

Other favourites are 'flying' on my knees if I lie on my back with my legs in the air, knees bent. I spend a lot of time explaining what's going on, what colour things are, how people are feeling etc but not sure if any sinks in. He loves watching other children more than anything so if there's a village school could you walk past at playtime for her to see them running about?

Thank you for everyone's replies. The sensory basket sounds like a great idea, thank you! SnuffleGrunt-My daughter loves our four cats too, I think she sees them as moving teddy bears