Games and Activities to Develop Your Baby’s Brain
Unstructured play with your baby is wonderful, nurturing, and pleasing for parent and child. However, some games are not only enjoyable but help to develop your baby’s brain. Here are a few examples you will want to explore with your baby:
- Babies love to play Patty-cake! Not only are they enjoying the social interaction and hearing your voice, they are also enjoying their sense of touch, becoming aware of the rhythm of the chant, and learning to imitate you. There are very few adults who did not play Patty-cake as infants; it has survived the test of time!
- Babies really enjoy watching Bubbles. (Be sure they are far enough away to not have the bubbles pop in their face.) You will be promoting eye-hand coordination as the baby reaches for the bubbles, and visual tracking as he follows the bubbles from the wand to their final destination.
- Cross-lateral movement or movements that cross over from one side of the body to the other side can enhance learning by forcing both sides of the brain to communicate when arms and legs are crossed over to their opposite side. You can hand your baby things she likes in a way that makes her reach across the mid-line of her body to take them.
- Put an independently sitting baby in the center of a small pool, or on a large vinyl tablecloth to protect the floor in your home. Put a large plastic or metal bowl of warm water in front of him, demonstrating and encouraging him to Touch and Splash. After about five minutes add little floating rubber toys for the baby to grasp. This will enhance eye-hand coordination and exercise his upper torso as well. If the weather is just right, you could even do this outside on a patio before the sun gets too hot.
- Give your baby opportunities to pull herself up in a room with sturdy and safe furniture when she is developmentally ready and when she is ready to begin cruising with your supervision. Also be ready to help her get back down when she is ready.
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