During the first three years of your babies life his or her brain will develop by leaps and bounds. Trillions of connections will be made. Scientists have found that these crucial years are when our babies need the most love and stimulation. Experts say that it is at this time that the baby builds its cognitive, emotional, and physical development. The best way to help your babies tiny brain to reach its full potential is to provide love and diversity. Children who have stimulation during this crucial time frame that is positive and filled with love will develop at a far more accelerated rate verses those who lack this positive environment.
Any type of stimulation with an infant, baby, or toddler teaches them about the world around them and also develops their brains.
Cindy Carson of the child advocacy group First Call says about a babies brain and the connection that are made in infancy, “They only get connected through experience, so when you talk to your baby, cuddle it, and handle it, these experiences will start to make connections. If they have a variety of experiences and positive ones, then they have many more options as they grown older.”
Here are several ways to play with your small baby and a few games that are fun for both parent and infant.
1) Dance
Your baby loves music so turn it on and dance. It does not matter if your baby is a newborn or two years old because they all adore the sound of a good melody. They love to sway and dance. Hold your tiny baby close and sway to the music. Sing softly in the babies tiny ear. It will adore this interaction with mom and it will develop a deep love of music.
Since my babies could sit up they have danced. If I turned on the music their tiny arms would move to the beat, when they could stand they would shake their tiny butts to the beat, and now that they can move around they hop and dance to their own rhythm but it is still the most fun when mom and dad participate too.
2) Show And Tell
Babies love to look at things. From the early days of infancy through toddler hood they adore learning and looking. So carry your baby around and show them things. Tell them the names of each item. Sit and show them a book or a photo album. When you are outside on a stroll point out everything and name it. This will become a fun game for the two of you as your baby grows. Soon your baby will point things out for you to describe.
3) Peek-A-Boo
Yes, just a simple game of peek a boo will bring giggles to your little one. This is a fun game that actually teaches that even if you cannot see something for a short time period it is still there.
4) A Simple Bottle Of Bubbles
You can buy a bottle of bubbles to blow for under a dollar at most stores and your baby will adore them. When your little one can crawl they will chase the bubbles as they hit the floor. This is a fun game that offers stimulation and loads of laughs.
5) Tag
Once your baby can crawl or walk play a simple game of tag. Get on all four and pretend to chase your baby and then turn so your baby can chase you. This is always sure to have your baby giggling and laughing. It is a fun game that all babies and toddlers adore.
6) Name The Body Parts
Start out kissing your babies toes and fingers. Be sure to name each one. Point to the belly button, the eyes, the mouth, and the ears. Soon your baby will be able to point to all the body parts you name and pretty soon they will be able to repeat all the names. This is a wonderful learning game.
You can also incorporate a game of ‘this little piggy’ with the toes for a fun twist of fun.
7) Tickle, Tickle
All babies and toddlers adore to be tickled. This is a fun game to play at any time.
The most important thing that we can do with our babies is spend quality time with them and lavish large amounts of love on them. This will give them the solid foundation they need to develop well and grow into wonderful children and adults.
Sources:
http://www.foreverfamilies.net/xml/articles/infant_brain_devt.aspx
http://www.theparentreport.com/resources/ages/newborn/development/74.html
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_brain
