Even as a newborn, your child is absorbing so much of the world around them at a very fast rate.
Everything in their little world is brand new and they are ready to learn. They are learning to communicate, socialize and understand their surroundings.
The best way to encourage your newborn baby’s learning is through interactions and playtime with you.
Playtime is learning time
Through play, your baby is learning:
- Thinking skills. Your baby’s natural curiosity helps your baby learn thinking skills. You can see your baby’s sense of curiosity as they discover their hands and feet. At this age, babies also begin to explore cause and effect as they begin to realize they caused the rattle to make a noise.
- Social skills. As you play with your baby, you are teaching them how to engage in back-and-forth communication.
- Self-confidence. Watch your baby when they accomplish knocking over a stack of blocks or rolling over for the first time. Your baby’s expression tells you, “I can do it.”
- Language development. With play comes conversation. Your baby needs exposure to a wide variety of words and experiences to make meaning out of their world.
Ideas to try
Playing with your young infant is so much fun and easy to do. No toys are required.
Express yourself. Your baby loves seeing your face. It is familiar and comforting. Make different expressions and faces in front of your infant. See how they react to different facial expressions you use to show emotion.
It is instinctive for your infant to mimic a happy face if they see a happy face. You will see your baby watch and wait for what expression you will show them next as they kick their feet and wave their arms.
Sing and talk. Sing to your infant. This will help develop language and rhythm skills. It can also soothe your child as they are comforted by the sound of your voice. Babies also enjoy being held while you calmly sway back and forth as you sing or hum. Or simply talk to your baby. Use different inflections in your voice and watch how your baby reacts.
As your baby continues to grow and develop, they will begin to “talk” back to you in cooing and simple inflections. When they do, mimic their coos and noises. Your baby is learning how to have a conversation.
Tummy time. Play with your baby as you lay them on their tummy to play. This gives them a chance to see the world in a whole new way. Tummy time also aids in physical development by strengthening neck and arm muscles.
Get down on the floor and talk to them at their eye level. While on their tummy, they can also enjoy soft toys that make noises; these get their attention as they want to see what is making that noise. As baby’s neck and arm muscles get stronger, they can hold themselves up to look at more things. Mirrors are a great toy when your baby has developed to this point. Babies love to look at the baby they see in the mirror.
Fun for everyone
Your baby doesn’t need a lot of fancy toys and gadgets to enjoy playtime. Your baby just needs your time, your face, your voice and your loving touch. If you want to add some basic age-appropriate toys, try these:
- Toys to reach for, shake or make a noise with. Rattles, large rings, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and vinyl or board books.
- Toys to touch. Toys with various textures.
- Toys to listen to. Toys that play music, recorded lullabies and simple songs.
- Toys to look at. Unbreakable mirrors, baby faces, toys with contrasting colors or pictures.
Screen time for babies? Not so fast
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- For children younger than 18 months, avoid use of screen media other than video-chatting.
- Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming and watch it with their children to help them understand what they’re seeing.
Enjoy playing and watching your baby as they learn and grow. At this age, playing is simply about spending time together and learning about each other as your baby begins to learn about the world.
Learn more
- Read aloud to help your child learn to love books
- Create safe and simple household baby toys
- What is tummy time? How does it help a baby?
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Posted In Children's, Family Medicine, Parenting
