Creative
Play for Babies - Newborn to 6 Monthsby Dawn Arking
New parents are bombarded with information about raising
children. What diapers to use, whether to breast feed, and how
to make their babies smarter. Millions of dollars are spend
every year on products designed to make their child smarter and
more alert.
But nothing matches parental
interaction for helping a child grow and learn. Talking,
singing, and cuddling all play a vital role in your child's
development. So does play time.
From the moment your child is
born, they are curious about the world around them. Every
experience is new, from the feel of their blanket to the sounds
around them. And every new thing helps them make the connections
that will help him grow and learn.
When my children were babies,
they loved to play games and interact with me. Any game made
them smile and laugh. They looked forward to play time with me.
I did too.
Because newborns are still
getting used to their environment, be sure to watch your child
for signs of over stimulation. If you child begins to squirm or
cries, change the activity to something more calm, like cuddling
or rocking.
So, what kinds of games can you
play with your newborn to help him make these connections? Be
sure to choose activities that are age appropriate for your baby
and it'll be as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Birth to 3 months old
At this age, most babies aren't mobile. They are totally
dependant on you to take care of everything, from feeding to
getting around. This is a great age to show your baby the world
around them. Remember it might take your newborn a little while
to respond to your games. It is normal and doesn't mean anything
is wrong.
What is this? Newborns
are fascinated with touch. Soft, rough, furry, everything
interests them. Now is the time to put that wardrobe you spent a
lifetime accumulating to a wonderful new use. Find the items in
your closet that have most diverse feels and colors. Silk,
suede, velvet, fake furs and cashmere sweaters are excellent
choices. Let baby experience each one as long as he wishes.
While you are doing this, be sure to talk with you baby, tell
him what he's feeling and seeing.
Dancing Baby Music has
charms to sooth the cranky baby. While not every baby loves
music, the majority are calmed by it. So why not take advantage
of that and try dancing with your baby. Find a music your baby
likes, one that doesn't put him to sleep. Turn it on low and
hold your baby, making sure you give his neck the support it
needs. Then sway, move around, do dips, and just dance. It
doesn't have to be perfect, as long as you hold your baby and
interact with him. If your baby doesn't like dancing, maybe
he'll like watching you dance. Exaggerated movements can hold
your child's attention and entertain them for as long as you can
dance.
Wow, look at that!
Babies love to feel new things. Their eyesight isn't perfect
right now, so they need to see things up close and personal.
They find things we take for granted interesting. You can use
this interest to introduce your baby to the world around him.
The kitchen is a wonderful place to find a diverse group of
things your baby can look at and touch. Spoons, whisks,
spatulas, fruits and vegetables are different kinds of things
you can let your baby look at and touch to learn about his home.
4 to 6 months old
At this age, babies are more active. They are learning to roll
over and to hold their head up. Near the sixth month, most
babies are learning to sit up as well. Here are some games for
their age group, in addition to the previous ones.
Bubble Blast Now that
your baby's eyesight is improving, it's time to take advantage
of most children's love of bubbles. A great game to play when
you are outside is bubble blast. A small bottle of bubbles and a
wand are all you need to provide entertainment for your older
baby. There are even little bottles of bubbles, complete with a
wand, you can even keep in your diaper bag for those times you
are outside for long periods of time and baby is cranky.
Rocket Baby Both of my
son's loved to fly. Zooming around the house, with me supplying
the power, brought loud giggles from them. Playing rocket baby
is simple; you only need to decide what kind of flying machine
they'll be. Airplanes zoom around, dipping up and down, and
circling the room. Rockets start off low and rumble up toward
the ceiling. Take your queue from your child and you can't go
wrong.
Belly Furps Babies love
to be touched and tickled. A fun thing you can do with your
child is the belly furp. The way you give one is take a breath,
place your lips against your child's bare belly and blow gently.
You'll make a very funny noise as well as tickle you child. My
boys still think this is funny. Again, be sure to pay attention
to your child while playing. Stop if your child seems upset by
this action.
Creative play is a wonderful
way to bond with your newborn and older baby. And help him
develop his social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills.
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