You probably teach your baby things every day without even realizing. Every time you spend time with your little one, talking, singing and cuddling, your teaching her something or helping her to develop cognitive or language skills. But your baby also learns when you play with her. Playing with your baby is not only fun, but it’s also an important part of her development.
Playing with your baby helps her develop motor and social skills. It also stimulates her senses and her overall brain development. Babies learn about their body and the world around them through play. Even the simplest of games can teach your baby how something works, sounds or what it feels like.
As your baby moves into her toddler years, play continues to be important and promotes imagination and creativity. When it comes to playtime, there are so many games that stimulate your baby’s senses and encourage interaction, it’s hard to go wrong.
Your baby’s age plays a role in what types of games are best. But there are certain activities that babies of all ages may enjoy. For example, play a game where you teach your baby the parts of her face. Put a mirror in front of your little one and point to a facial feature and tell your baby what it is. Before you know it, you’ll ask your baby where her eyes are, and she’ll point to her peepers.
The older your baby gets, the more choices you have for which games you play. For instance, hide a toy in your pocket and ask your baby where it went. This teaches your baby the concept of object permanence.
Imitative play is also a great way for your baby to learn about the world around him. Let your baby copy your actions. If you are cooking, place a few toy pots and dishes on the floor for your baby to cook with too.
One of the great things about playing with your baby is you don’t need a lot of expensive toys. One simple game that your baby may enjoy is playing with bubbles. Blow bubbles and watch how fascinated your little one is as she tries to catch them.
Keep in mind, some games may not work the first time you try to play them. Depending on your baby’s age, he may need a few tries before he understands the game. Also, don’t expect your little one to focus for very long. Your baby’s attention span is not too long. Some days you may only get your baby to pay attention to a game for a few minutes. Lastly, not every baby loves every game. Part of the fun of playing with your baby is discovering which games she loves and what makes her giggle.
Written by MaryAnn DePietro@writerlady34
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
