Playing With Your Baby -
0-6 months
Surely one of the most rewarding aspects
of parenthood is playing and having fun with your baby? Babies learn so much
through play – that’s probably why they are so good at it. Parents, however,
have often forgotten how to play by the time they have children of their own,
and it is easy to overlook this all-important part of positive parenting.
What to play?
Babies of different ages require
different levels of stimulation and interaction. Through play you can teach them
about their world and their bodies, while building their confidence and simply
having fun. From the simplest game of Peek-a-boo with a tiny baby, to imaginary
tea parties with older infants, play will always be a rewarding way to spend
your time. Let’s look at the first two stages of a baby’s development and see
which games are most appropriate and useful.
Very Young Babies (aged 0 to 3
months)
Don’t waste your money on expensive soft
toys at this stage – your baby won’t be able to hold them. The only toy she
really needs is you – your face and voice will be the most exciting things in
the world to her. Simple toys with clear, bold patterns and colors are best for
young babies, as are toys and pictures which are designed to mimic faces.
At this stage it is not so much what to
play as when. Choose a time when your baby is relaxed and alert – watch closely
for the signs as babies of this age move through their stages of social and
non-social time very quickly. About an hour after your baby has fed (timed from
the start of the feed) is often best, while watching carefully for signals that
your baby is getting tired or fussy.
Begin by making faces; looking very
surprised or sticking out your tongue. You’ll know it is a good time for your
baby to play if she goes very still and watches you intently. Make different
sounds with your voice, sing a song, clap your hands – anything that holds your
baby’s interest and appears to give her pleasure. If she shows signs of becoming
irritated, move on to a different play or stop and wait until later. Once your
baby can start to hold simple toys, rattle and shake them in front of her – and
marvel in the concentration as she tries to take the toy out of your hand.
Young Baby (aged 3 to 6 months)
Play becomes a lot more interactive at
this stage – and a lot more rewarding for you! Your baby will want to chatter
with you, and will be better able to hold objects and toys. By six months she
will be trying to put everything in her mouth.
Watch for signals that she wants to
play. These will become more obvious the older she gets, and she will be able to
cope with social (play) time for longer periods. Play can now be really useful
for helping your baby learn about the world around her. She will be noticing
more and wanting to explore. Take her into different rooms, expose her to
different sounds and stimulus. Babies love looking in the mirror (although they
won’t understand it is themselves they are looking at for a while yet). There
are many safe baby mirror toys on the market.
It is during this stage that babies can
play by themselves for short periods, and this ‘unstructured’ play will become
more and more important for their development as they grow. Learn to watch out
for signs that your baby wants to be left alone for a while. Enjoy it – soon she
will be on the move!
More Things To Do With Your Baby
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Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes
home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is
perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly.
Diary Of A New Mum
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