The first few months of having a newborn can be challenging and overwhelming, especially for new parents. You already have a lot on your plate, from feeding to bathing to taking care of yourself. However, it’s important you don’t forget about playing with your baby. There are many science-backed parent-infant interactions that boost their cognitive development and improve your bonding.
It’s time to tickle their senses. Here are a few play ideas you can do with your newborn.
Touch and Motor Play
Touch is the cornerstone of parent-child relationships. Comforting crying infants helps them develop into secure and confident children, setting them up for meaningful growth.
Some of the best ways you can encourage touch and motor play are:
- Tummy time: Position babies flat on their stomachs to strengthen their muscles.
- Texture exploration: Guide babies in touching different textures, whether that’s soft cloths or squishy toys.
- Bath time play: Facilitate water play during bath time to help them relax and have fun.
- Counting toes: Encourage infants to be aware of their body parts.
- Grasping objects: Improve infants’ grasping skills by giving them easy and safe-to-grasp objects.
- Gentle massage: Massage areas of your baby’s body to provide relief.
Visual Play
Since sight is the main sensory organ for humans, it makes sense that one of the most well-known baby games is Peek-A-Boo. From infancy to 2 years old, babies learn the concept of object permanence, which involves understanding that things or people continue to exist even when they aren’t in sight.
Another strong contender for visual play is showing colourful objects. There’s a reason why kids’ toys are made this way. High-contrast objects and patterned things pique their attention. That’s the reason why crib mobiles often have a variety of interesting shapes and patterned toys attached to them. They’re decorative and stimulate your baby’s senses. Other visual play activities you can do to enhance your baby’s brain development include using mirrors in your interactions, playing with flashlights and shadows, and helping them develop their eye tracking skills through movement.
Auditory Play
Another great way to interact with your newborn is through auditory stimulation. These activities range from reading to singing, laughing, and repeating sounds. Playing classical music and shaking rattles are great ways to engage them through sound, too. Blowing raspberries is a form of auditory play that improves their listening skills and helps them laugh.
One of the best ways you can introduce your newborn to a variety of sounds is through nature. Birds chirping, river gurgling, leaves rustling — these gentle sounds soothe their ears. Additionally, spending time in nature can help parents relax. It’s a win-win for both of you.
These auditory activities are simple ways to incorporate into your everyday routine. It’s all worthwhile once you hear your baby’s first “Mama” or “Papa.”
Why Is Playing With Your Newborn Important?
Babies are sponges of knowledge as soon as they’re born. They absorb so much new information that shapes how they will view the world and live their lives in the future. That’s why the first few months are prime time to bond with your baby through positive experiences like talking, cuddling, and singing.
In fact, these bonding activities also serve as sensory inputs for infants, helping solidify their cognitive development, motor skills, language, and emotional regulation.
The Importance of Constant Play
Your time with your infant is incredibly important in establishing your bond and supporting their development. Babies learn about the world through their senses, so it’s essential to alternate between different kinds of playtime. This prepares them for future life skills like language, confidence, and social skills. Being fully present and aware during playtime is the best gift you can give to your child.
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