Baby play: why it’s important for movement and motor skills developmentGetting your baby moving through play is good for all areas of his development, especially his motor skills development. Show
Play helps your baby:
You’re the thing that interests your baby most. Playing and moving with your baby is a great way to bond with your baby. You can also give your baby lots of praise and encouragement as he learns more physical skills. What to expect: babies and movementAt 3-6 months, your baby might:
By 6-9 months, many babies like lying on their tummies rather than on their backs. When babies lie on their tummies, they can reach for toys and move around in a circle. When they’re ready, they might even try to crawl. Other things your baby might do at this age are:
From 9-12 months, your baby might:
The key moments in baby development generally happen in the same order, but when they happen might vary from child to child. You can find out what to expect each month in our Baby development tracker. Tummy timeTummy time is time your baby spends on his stomach while he’s awake. Doing tummy time from soon after birth helps your baby build neck, head and upper body strength to crawl and pull to stand when he’s older. At first, your baby might not like tummy time – it might make your baby vomit or she might miss seeing you when she’s on her tummy. If this sounds like your little one, try tummy time on your chest or across your lap. This puts less pressure on your baby’s tummy and can help with problems like reflux. This position also lets your baby see your face. You could also get down on the floor with your baby. Let him know you’re there by singing, talking, stroking his back or tickling his hands. Try doing tummy time on a range of surfaces, like on carpet indoors or on a blanket outside. You can start with 1-2 minutes of tummy time, and build up to 5-10 minutes a few times a day as your baby gets used to it. Tummy time can be tiring, especially for young babies. When your baby gets tired, roll her onto her back for a break before trying again. If your baby just doesn’t like tummy time or keeps being sick, it’s a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP for a check-up. Play ideas to encourage movementFrom 0-6 months, you could try the following ideas:
Babies aged 6-12 months might like the following activities:
Quiet, gentle activities are also important, especially for developing your baby’s fine motor skills. For example, picking up small objects or putting pegs into a bucket is good for practising small finger movements. And when your baby spends time just looking at things like colourful books or pictures, it helps him get better at moving his eyes. Current national and international guidelines recommend that children under two years don’t have screen time other than video-chatting with people they know, like grandparents. Babies learn how things work and what they can do by practising and making mistakes. It’s normal for babies to sometimes get a few small bumps and bruises when they play. When you make your home safe, your baby can play without hurting herself. Baby equipment and movementBaby equipment like highchairs, car seats, strollers, cots and playpens are all useful, but they can restrict some of your baby’s movements. You might want to think about using them only when you really need them. When you use highchairs, car seats and strollers, try to avoid seating your baby for long periods of time. Baby walkers and jolly jumpers are not recommended. They can delay walking, crawling and sitting without support. They can also cause injuries if babies move into dangerous areas without supervision, like near the oven, toilet, bath and stairs. Baby playstations or activity centres are safer alternatives. What are the main ways you can help a baby have healthy development in the first year?10 Ways to Promote Baby Development. Excite The Senses. In the second and third months of baby development, infants begin to explore and learn more about their environment. ... . Talk To Your Baby. As soon as your baby is born, you can help her start to develop language. ... . Enhance Baby Activities With Toys. ... . Turn Off The TV.. What are 3 key factors that support a child's healthy development?Many factors influence the child's development. These are physical, intellectual, spiritual, economic, and social. Family structure, child-rearing methodology, and child care services are three critical factors considered in child development.
What are 3 ways you can stimulate infant brain development?Play ideas for encouraging newborn cognitive development. Talk to your baby often, hold your baby, and make eye contact.. Read with your baby, recite nursery rhymes, or sing songs. ... . Make faces with your baby. ... . Give your baby different things to look at, about 20-30 cm from their face.. How can I help my newborn develop?Time with you, smiles, gazes and tummy time are good for newborn development.. Spend time with your baby: try reading and telling stories, talking and singing. ... . Look into your baby's eyes: if your baby is looking at you, look back.. |