Real talk. Having a newborn baby is a lot of work and some may think that it would be all about baby sleeping, feeding, crying, diaper changing and all those routinary "attending to baby needs" thing. But it actually doesn't have to be that way every time. There are actually a lot of fun things you can do with your baby and we would love to share it here with you.
Simple yet fun activities for your infant (0-6 months)
Babies' first 6 months are truly amazing time as it's where they transform from a cute little newborn into a tiny person who can sit and play. Of course they will develop at their own pace, but you can always encourage and help stimulate them to reach their developmental milestones sooner.
1. Before babies understand words, they understand tones of voice so sing or talk to them using different tones of voice. While doing so, observe your baby's facial reaction and see how he/she will react to each tone you use.
Skills baby will learn: Listening and language development
2. Get your baby's attention using a soft and colorful toy. Once you have his/her attention, move the toy from side to side. Encourage your baby to follow along with her eyes.
Skills baby will learn: Object tracking, Visual development
3. Show your baby's own reflection using a baby-safe mirror. Ask him "Who is that?". Repeat the same act but you can try showing your reflection or any family member present. You can also use a colorful toy.
Skills baby will learn: Visual and social development
4. Play your favorite song and place your baby securely on your chest. Safely dance along with the tune.
Skills baby will learn: Interest in music and emotional development. This also strengthens your baby's bond with you.
5. Once your baby has gained a good head control, lay him on his back and place your hands under his arms. Gently guide him/her into sitting position. You can do this every now and then as he gains muscle tone and strength.
Skills baby will learn: Motor skills and head control
6. Let your baby imitate some simple actions. You can start with something he/she already knows how to do like waving, opening and closing his/her hands or clapping. As he/she grows you can add complex actions.
Skills baby will learn: Imitation, motor skills and memory
7. Lay your baby belly-down across your lap, and place your hands around his midsection so he's fully supported. Then gently lift him up and move him up, down, back, and forth, like a rocket jetting into space. For extra giggles, add sound effects.
Skills baby will learn: Body movement and emotional development
8. Kicking. Remove your baby's socks and lay her on her back. Place a tissue paper so it hangs like a curtain on a sofa or a cushioned chair. Ensure your baby's feet is touching the tissue with her knees slightly bent.
Skills baby will learn: Kicking, body movement and awareness, cause and effect and memory
9. Massage. Kids of this age are known to enjoy soft massage sessions. Massages facilitate bonding and body awareness and therefore is one of the best activities for 0 - 6 months babies.
Skills baby will learn: Body awareness and emotional development
10. Grabbing. Basket activities develop the grip, grasp and release skills of kid's hands. These motor skills are so important in life. Place some lightweight items e.g paper towel or toilet paper tubes on a small basket during baby's tummy-time. It would also be a fun addtion to use a metal pan for sound effects.
Skills baby will learn: Listening, grasp and release, hand-eye coordination.
Fun activities with your 6 to 12 month-old baby
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At this age, your baby is into more physical, mental, social and emotional changes. She will also be more interested on exploring the world around her. Crawling, walking and climbing will soon be part of her daily activities. And you will have to be part of her journey and growth. With these simple activities, you can help your baby reach the next stage of her growth sooner than expected.
1. Pekaboo. Partly hide a colorful toy under a blanket and ask your baby "Where is it?". Usually babies will dig under the blanket to grab it. If your baby wasn't able to do it, remove the blanket and show the toy to your baby then hide it again.
Skills your baby will learn: Fine motor skill development and memory
2. Stack up plastic cups and knock them down. Let your baby follow do the same.
Skills your baby will learn: Fine motor skill development and understanding cause and effect
3. Start having your baby solve wooden puzzles. Colorful shapes or pictures is recommended. Show her how to do it and cheer when she did it.
Skills your baby will learn: Solving problems, visual and fine motor skills
4. Reading books. Engage your baby by pointing to pictures and changing your tone of voice. Encourage her to participate by showing her different reactions based on the story. You may also let her turn the pages or touch the pictures by herself.
Skills your baby will learn: Language development, listening skills, social development
5. Clapping. At around 6-8 months, babies will start learning how to clap. When she's able to do some activities successfully, reward her with cheers and clapping and encourage her to do the same.
Skills your baby will learn: Imitation and memory
6. Get an empty container with an opening enough for toys to fall out. Fill it up with toys and hand it over to your baby. Babies would usually turn it upside down causing the toys to fall then you can place the toy back into the container again. Do this several times and eventually your baby will remember that something is inside the container which will lead her to reach inside it or shake it until the contents fell out.
Skills your baby will learn: Memory, understanding cause and effect
7. Showing your baby things around the house. Keep a little stash of objects beside you and sit with your baby. Once you have your baby's attention show her some of the stuff and name it.
Skills your baby will learn: Memory and visual skills
8. Hand over objects that make interesting sounds to your baby (e.g hollow containers, metal spoons, bells). Babies would usually bang it or if they have several objects, they will bang it together. If your baby don't show her how to do it.
Skills your baby will learn: Understanding cause and effect and fine motor skill development
9. With the help of a flashlight, show your baby how to turn it on and off. They enjoy seeing lights this way. You can do it several times until she finds out how to do it herself.
Skills your baby will learn: Understanding cause and effect
10. If your baby's crawling, scooting, or walking, she may enjoy the challenge of having to move over things. Pillows, tired parents, and laundry make good obstacles.
Skills your baby will learn: Problem solving and motor skills
Note that epetition is important. Don't expect that babies would enjoy a game the first time you introduce it to them. Moreover, your baby's attention span will vary a lot and you also have to take that into consideration when introducing him/her a game or activity.
Please also be mindful is she's mindful if baby is still paying attention or not as that's a sign that you would need to change the activity.
Have more fun activities that you do with your baby? Let us know in the comments below! We'd love to hear from you.
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