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Shadow Puppets

👶 Newborn (0–4 weeks) Cognitive

Use a flashlight to cast gentle shadow shapes on the wall for your newborn to watch.

In the Little Play app, this activity appears in week 1 of your baby's personalized plan.

Cognitive play

How to play

1
Dim the room lights and turn on a flashlight or phone torch aimed at a light-colored wall.
2
Use your hands to make simple shadow shapes: a bird, a bunny, a waving hand.
3
Move the shadows slowly so baby can track them with their eyes.
4
Talk softly about what you're making: "Look, a little bird is flying!"

What you need

• A flashlight or phone torch
• A light-colored wall

Simple household items. No plastic toys needed.

Why it works

High-contrast shadows are perfect for newborn vision. Tracking the slow movements strengthens eye muscles and early focus skills.

Get 3 activities like this every day

Little Play picks a daily plan matched to your baby's exact week, plus bedtime stories and plastic-free toy guidance. Free on iOS.

Download Little Play

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