Learning through play
Since her birth your baby has been busy trying to make sense of all the new sights, sounds, temperatures, and textures. It’s a lot to take in, but you can help using simple play activities.
What play can teach
Most of your newborn’s movements are involuntary. But her eyes and ears are open and receptive. From the first day you can help your baby develop and adjust to her new world. Here are some ways to start:
Stimulate her eyes
In the first few months your baby can only see objects 6 to 12 inches from her face and will prefer strong patterns in black and white to complex pastel illustrations. But her favorite object to gaze at is your face. Even at this early age, babies want and need eye contact with their parents.
Stimulate her ears
In the coming weeks your baby will begin to make "cooing" sounds. When she does, make conversation. "You're looking at the leaves blowing in the trees, aren't you? Uh huh. Tell me more." This gives your baby a chance to hear our language in action—the vocabulary, cadences, and inflections. She can also see the facial expressions and gestures we use to convey meaning.
Stimulate her voice
As your baby hears the tone of your voice along with individual sounds, she'll start to babble, imitating many of the rhythms of your language—raising and dropping her voice. Encourage her by repeating syllables and turning them into words with those syllables. For instance if she babbles something that sounds like "ca," repeat to her "cat," "carrot," "can," "car."
Games for newborns
Peek-a-boo, mirrors, and just slow, simple talking are great play activities for newborns. Try to get your baby to look at you by gently saying her name.
Games for a 6-week old
At around 6 weeks your baby can lie on her back and bat at things that you hang from a mobile. This will help her learn to reach and grasp. Squeeze toys are great for stimulating hearing. Rattles work well for this too. Here are a few more games you can try:
- Turn on some upbeat music and try “dancing” as you hold your baby’s face close to yours.
- Play “Name that Body Part.” Make a game of touching and naming Baby’s nose, mouth, arms, etc.
- Say each family member’s name in a singsong voice: “Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa!”
Be sure to pace yourselves
Don't try all these games at one sitting—you'll wear your baby out. Take it slowly. If she arches her back, squirms, or cries, she's done for a while. Start again a little while later.