Developmental Activities For Infants

Age-appropriate activities can stimulate baby’s capacities and growth, while  development activities in particular, can  keep him active and in constant movement, whilst holding his hands and helping him reach important cognitive and developmental milestones.

During the first six months, there is so much going on in baby’s life. During this phase, he will make his first development steps by learning how to open his eyes and use them to concentrate. He will also begin to react to his mother’s voice and respond when calling his name. He will learn more about big and little body movements. He may even start to babble and use his fingers to grab, hold and shake things.

As time goes by, he will continue developing and he will learn how to catch and throw smaller things and how to sit and play by himself. He will also start moving around by commando-crawling.

So, if your child is still in his first six months of life and you’re searching for activities to stimulate his growth, you’re in the right place and hereby is a list of the most important safe and efficient activities for babies between 0 and 6 months old:

• Put your baby on his tummy between 5 and 10 minutes every day. And while he’s in this position, lie beside him and try to make funny mimics with your face and your nose, in a way to encourage him lifting his head high and thus strengthening his neck and the muscles of his upper body.
• Put your baby on his back and use some vegetable oil to massage his body in circular motions. Start this exercise by rubbing his arms and hands, then move to his legs, feet and tummy before you flip him to the other side and massage his back and bottom with the same circular motions. The most important thing is that you act gently with your baby during the whole exercise that is supposed to increase his awareness and enhance the bond between you two.
• Hold your baby in your arms and swing him gently on the rhythm of some light music. Try also to dance with him in simple steps as this may calm him down and remind him of what he has gone through during the 9 months he spent in your womb.
• Sit beside your child and make him funny faces and you will see that he will try to imitate your behavior in a first step toward social communication. The most important thing is that you watch your movements and stay away from fearful behaviors that may panic your baby and affect his mood and moral.
• Put your child on his back, hold his legs with the palms of your hands and try to move them gently up and down, then side by side in circular motions. This exercise will increase your baby’s body awareness and help him develop his motor and coordination capacities.

It is to be noted that you can make these activities with your baby every day. But, if you noticed that he’s not enjoying them or he’s crying a lot, then you will have to meet his needs and let go of them until he calms down and you can try with him again!

Read More: Your Newborn Development From A To Z