Development is affected by many factors: genetics, health, and
nutrition are some. Another very important factor is the amount of stimulation that a baby receives. The following are recommendations for toys and activities to encourage your baby's
development.
Age One to Three months
While playing with your baby, allow your baby to lay on her belly. Use a bright colored toy to
attract attention and to encourage her to lift her head. Lifting her head will strengthen her
neck and back muscles. Talk to your baby. Always call her by her name.
Suitable developmental toys for this age include:
- Rattles
- Large bells
- Bright mobiles
Age Three to Six months
While you are with your baby begin to prop her up or use a soft back baby seat so she can see what
is around her. Do this for short periods at first and increase the time she spends sitting as she
gets older.
Periodically, change her position in the room so she has a different view. Laugh and
smile with your baby. When she makes noises, talk back to her. Sing nursery rhymes and songs to
her.
Encourage her to reach for toys instead of just giving them to her. Let her feel lots of
different textures.
Age Six to Twelve months
Encourage crawling by placing toys just within reach and gradually placing them farther away.
Putting toys on an armchair where she can see them will encourage her to pull herself to a
standing position.
Let her touch different objects of different textures and shapes. Play
pat-a-cake and clap hands to introduce new sounds and help develop her hand/eye coordination.
Indicate to your baby who is mommy and who is daddy to reinforce her understanding.
Point to simple objects and repeat their names. When you go for walks point out what is happening
around her. Eventually, she will associate names with objects. |
