What play activity is commonly associated with 9-month-old infants?

At 9 months of age, infants are typically engaged in more interactive and social play activities. One play activity that is commonly associated with this developmental stage is playing peek-a-boo. This game aligns well with the cognitive and social development of a 9-month-old, as they begin to understand the concept of object permanence—realizing that objects and people continue to exist even when out of sight. Peek-a-boo reinforces this understanding in a playful manner, resulting in excitement and joy as the caregiver reappears.

In addition, at this age, infants are beginning to engage more with their caregivers and participate in social games that help strengthen their emotional bonds. This type of play also encourages social and emotional skills, as the infant learns about social cues, anticipation, and turn-taking in interactions.

Although stacking blocks, drawing, and playing with toys are activities that can occur at various stages of development, they typically become more prominent as infants grow older and develop finer motor skills and focused attention on object manipulation. Thus, they are not as characteristic of a 9-month-old's play behavior as peek-a-boo is, which specifically caters to the developmental milestones reached around this age.