Tap Two Blocks Together
Explore sounds with blocks. Reaching, grasping, and bringing two objects together gives your baby practice coordinating their hands and eyes.
- 6 months
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Cognitive：Tapping blocks and other objects lets your baby discover that different actions and materials can make different sounds.
- Movement：Grasping a block in each hand and bringing the two together gives your baby practice coordinating their eyes and hands.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
Square blocks and a rubber ball
Step 1
Offer Two Blocks
Sit face-to-face with your baby on a play mat. When they pick up one block, slowly offer another and see whether they can hold one in each hand. If a block drops, offer it again and give them time to reach.
What to notice
- Opens a hand and grasps a block you offer
Fine Motor - Repeatedly opens a hand and lets a block fall
Exploration and Discovery
Tips
- Move slowly as you offer the second block. This makes your action easier to see and gives your baby time to reach.
- Your baby may repeatedly open their hand and drop a block. The repetition is an exploration of cause and effect: let go, and it falls.
Step 2
Show How to Tap
Hold one block in each hand and tap them together: “Tap, tap!” If your baby is unsure what to do, gently guide their hands through the motion once, then let go and wait. When they begin tapping, join in and listen to the sounds together.
What to notice
- Taps a block and notices the sound Exploration and Discovery
- Copies you by tapping two blocks together
Imitation and Symbolic Representation and Play
Tips
- The blocks do not need to meet on the first try. Each attempt gives your baby practice aiming and coordinating both hands.
- Give your baby plenty of time to try the movement independently. Their aim can become more precise through repetition.
- Draw attention to the result with a short comment: “You tapped them. That made a sound!”
Step 3
Compare Different Sounds
Offer objects made from different materials. Let your baby tap them together and listen. When they begin experimenting, describe the sounds you hear: “The blocks sound hard. The ball sounds soft and quiet.”
What to notice
- Taps different objects together and listens to how the sounds change Exploration and Discovery
- Shows excitement after hearing a tapping sound
Emotional Functioning
Tips
- When your baby is absorbed in tapping, watch quietly and leave room for exploration. Respond to a specific action or expression when they look toward you.
- A six-month-old baby’s attention may shift quickly when a new sight or sound appears nearby.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026