Playtime With Your Baby: Fun Activities and Developmental Benefits |
Posted: April 11, 2022 |
The first few months with your newborn baby are a time of wonder and discovery. This is when you will get to know your little one and learn about their personality. It's also a time for bonding and nurturing, and one of the best ways to do this is by playing with your baby. Playing helps promote your baby's development, and it's also a lot of fun! In this article, baby cribs uk goes through the benefits of playing with your baby and some fun activities that you can do together! The benefits of playing with baby Most people believe that newborns should be handled with care and not played with too much. However, this is not the case! You can interact and play with your baby around the ages of 0-12 months, as long as you are gentle and use common sense. Here are some benefits of playing with your newborn baby: Helping them to develop gross and fine motor skillsBabies are born with the ability to grasp and hold objects. By playing with them, you are helping them develop and strengthen these muscles. As they get older, they will be able to reach for and pick up toys independently. You can help your baby develop gross motor skills by playing simple games like pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo. For fine motor skills, try letting them hold a small toy or placing objects in their hand to grasp. Stimulating their sensesWhen you play with your baby, you are stimulating their senses and helping them to learn about the world around them. For example, if you shake a rattle, they will learn about sound. If you show them a brightly colored toy, they will learn about colors and shapes. Building their self-confidencePlaying with your baby is also a great way to bond with them. It can be a special time for you to connect and interact with your little one. When you play with your baby, they will Improving their social and emotional skillsIt's not just the physical benefits either; playing with your baby can also help them develop social and emotional skills. For example, when you play peek-a-boo, you are helping them to understand that people still exist even when they can't see them. This is an important concept for babies to learn. Encouraging their language developmentPlaying is also a great way to encourage your baby's language development. As they play, they will start to babble and make sounds. You can help them by making silly faces, singing songs, or reading stories together. Best activities for babies 0-12 months:So, now that you know the benefits of playing with your baby, what are some fun activities that you can do together? Here are some fun activities that you can do with your baby, depending on their age: Reading stories together.You might have thought there's no need to read stories to your baby since they can't understand the words yet. However, reading stories is a great way to bond with your baby and stimulate their language development. All you need is a book, their baby cot bed, and your voice! Make expressions and silly faces.Babies love to copy the expressions they see on other people's faces. So, make some funny faces and see if your baby can copy you. This is an excellent way to interact and bond with your baby. Singing songs or nursery rhymes.Singing is another great way to bond with your baby and encourage their language development. You can sing lullabies, nursery rhymes, or any other songs that you enjoy. Playing pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo.Pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo are classic games that are perfect for babies. They help stimulate your baby's senses and develop their gross motor skills. You only need your hands and a little bit of patience! Mirror gameFirstly, you have to get a baby-safe mirror. You can find them in baby stores or online. Place the mirror in front of your baby and let them explore their reflection. As they recognize themselves, you can start playing games such as making faces or sticking your tongue out. Making homemade instruments and playing music together.Babies love music, which is also why they enjoy hearing you sing! You can make your homemade instruments or buy some toys that make noise. Then, you can play music together and dance around the room. Blowing bubbles.Don't wait. Get a bubble machine and start blowing bubbles for your baby to chase! They will love trying to catch the bubbles, and it's a great way to get them moving. Just be careful that they don't put the bubbles in their mouth. Baby massageGive your baby a relaxing massage. It's a great way to bond with them and help them feel calm. You can use lotion, oil, or cream. Just be sure to test it on your skin first to ensure that it won't irritate your baby's skin. Also remember to be gentle with your hands and always support your baby's head and neck. Follow the leaderHave you ever noticed how babies love copying what they see others do? You can use this to your advantage by playing the "follow the leader" game. For example, you can clap your hands and then wait for your baby to copy you. You can also try other simple actions such as waving, nodding, or shaking your head. Activities for babies ages 12-18 months:
Your baby is becoming more mobile at this age, and their fine motor skills are improving. Here are some activities that you can do with your baby to help them continue to develop: Building towers out of blocks or stacking toys.This is a great activity for babies who are starting to crawl and walk. It helps them to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Playing catch or other simple games outside.It's all about getting active and having fun! Playing catch is a great way to develop your baby's gross motor skills. You can also try other simple games like rolling a ball back and forth or kicking a ball. Painting with washable paint (on paper or a high chair tray).Making art together with washable paint is a fantastic way for baby to explore their senses and express themselves. All you need is some paper or a high chair tray, washable paint, and a paintbrush. Don't worry about being messy – that's all part of the fun! Make homemade pizzas or cookies together.Nothing says "fun" like making pizzas or cookies together! This activity helps develop your baby's fine motor skills as they help to mix, roll, and cut the dough. It's also a great way to introduce them to new tastes and textures. Solving a simple puzzle together.Tickle your baby's brains with simple puzzles! This activity helps develop problem-solving skills and fine motor skills. Look for puzzles with big pieces that are easy for little hands to grasp. Riding on a toy car or bike.At around 18 months, your baby might be ready to start riding a toy car or bike. Get them moving with this fun activity that also helps develop gross motor skills. Final ThoughtsThere are endless possibilities when it comes to playing with your newborn baby. It's a great way to bond with them, stimulate their senses, and help them develop important skills. So get creative and have fun! Your baby will thank you for it.
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