Playtime – What Every Baby Needs

By Anna M. Ahmed

Playing with your baby is fun, but it also is much, much more than that. Playtime fosters bonding between the child and their family, and it is vital to the development of language, social, physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.

When a child is engaged in play, they are learning how to communicate with the world around them through the subtleties of nonverbal and verbal communication. They also are learning how to trust. They are figuring out how to get their needs met, how to make things happen, and how to safely explore their surroundings.

Although there is nothing wrong with buying toys and gadgets, what babies really need are attention, observation, and responsiveness. The parent’s job is to get to know the child, to enjoy them, to provide safe and interesting learning spaces, to learn the child’s unique communication systems, and to be responsive. In spending time with your baby, you can begin to see the world from their perspective. Being on their level makes you sensitive to your baby’s cues and allows you the opportunity to learn who your baby is and who they are becoming.

Many types of games can foster different areas of growth. For instance, singing nursery rhymes or silly made-up songs to your child will help develop their language skills. Making eye contact and smiling at your baby, giving them praise, or simply encouraging baby to follow you with their eyes will all aid in developing social skills.

Ever hear of “tummy time?” This is great to help improve your baby’s motor skills. Even “bicycling” their little legs when changing a diaper or holding a toy at eye level will help strengthen your child’s small and large motor development. However, it is important to remember to follow your child’s tolerance cues. What is fun can become quickly unpleasant if the child is over stimulated or tired.

Here are some tried-and-true games that are great for playtime with your baby: Peek-a-boo, So-o-o Big, Pat-a-cake, Itsy-bitsy-spider, and This Little Piggy. Have fun making up games. Read a rhyming book (like Dr. Seuss) or sing a silly song. Do you have a mirror? Hold the mirror up for baby to look into, and see what happens. Most of all, be creative, remember to have fun, and enjoy yourself! Be sure to give lots of hugs and kisses. Never forget, you are the best toy your baby will ever have.

Here are some websites that offer games and ideas for playtime with baby:

wondertime.go.com
www.sosmart.com
www.parenting.com
www.babycenter.com
www.babyzone.com
www.verybestbaby.com
babiestoday.com/articles/