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Play Tip: MAKE A LITTLE NOISE
Yoee Team • Oct 14, 2020
Playtime Tip: MAKE A LITTLE NOISE
Babies use their ears to learn about the world around them and new sounds stimulate brain development.
Use baby safe rattles, crinkle fabric, instruments, or other object to make interesting (but not too loud) sounds for baby. Mix it up by making sounds in different locations around your baby: Shake it on the right, and then on the left, ask baby, “Where did it go?” Notice over time how your baby develops the ability to localize sound and eventually even find hidden toys.
Hide it in a box and gently shake it. Let baby explore the box. If baby can’t open the box, open it and encourage/help baby to reach for it. As your baby becomes more mobile, try hiding the noise maker behind your back and ask baby to Find It. Start revealing the noise maker if baby doesn’t know where it went to encourage their engagement and sense of discovery.
Thanks to Dr. Laura Jana for her help with this project.
A baby’s earliest learning happens through their senses. Sensory play encourages baby to explore and investigate while building body awareness, motor skills, and helping form strong neural connections in the brain. Use a silk scarf, a feather boa, or a soft toy to lightly caress baby’s face and body. Baby may find these interactions calming and soothing or they may become more alert as they track the object and delight in a new sensation. Young babies often respond to touch with a full body reflex. If you tickle one foot, both feet may start to move and baby may start to squirm in response. As babies develop, they increasingly gain muscular control and control over their reflexes, allowing them to respond with more targeted responses. Gentle massage is another way to engage their senses while making them feel safe and loved.
Tummy Time is time for exploration and play. Tummy time is important for baby’s visual, motor, and sensory development. It also helps develop muscles in the neck, back, and shoulders. Getting started is as easy as introducing your newborn to even a short session of Tummy Time (3-5 minutes) when they are alert and well-rested. Over time, this can easily be increased, since there’s really no limit to Tummy Time other than making sure that it’s only done while you and baby are alert and engaged. Make Tummy Time fun by using rattles (not too loud), toys, and mirrors to encourage reaching and visual tracking. Get down on the floor at baby’s eye level. Baby loves your face! Sing a song to calm and soothe if baby gets fussy. Don’t forget to give baby lots of words of encouragement and smiles!
