|
Children naturally learn through play. Providing them with high and low-activity games can help complement their natural highs and lows of energy through out the day. Games can aid in healthy development and most of all they are FUN! Until about 5 months of age babies are just adjusting to the new world around them. Rocking, singing and cuddling are great activities for both parent and child, because they utilize baby's favourite toys: adult faces. Choosing Age-appropriate Games Every stage in a child's life marks a developmentally sensitive period in which certain physical, emotional and intellectual skills can be learned. It's important to choose games that are stimulating and easy for baby to follow, and toys that are the right size for baby's hands, and of varying texture for diverse tactile experience. Here are some other things babies enjoy: 1 to 6 months: the sound of your voice while being held and rocked, music, singing, peek-a-boo, touching different textures, sound shakers and sign language. 6 to 12 months: sign language, gumming objects, cereal O’s are a fun way for babies to improve hand eye coordination, pat-a-cake, pulling different shaped and textured objects out of a bag and putting them back in, music and sound shakers and finding "hidden" objects under a scarf or piece of material. 12 to 18 months: stacking toys, tickle fests, walking outdoors, pulling out objects in one room and bringing them to another, climbing up and down, going through emotions and showing them exaggerated facial expressions. This is also a good time to explore shapes, animal sounds, different textures such as "smooth and rough" and colour matching. 18 to 24 months: dancing: “Swing your partner round and round blow a kiss that knocks them down,” crayon and paper, containers and lids, puzzles, small chores – getting them to pull out and pass you laundry to fold, putting their toys away, stirring for baking, helping to make play dough and climbing and running outdoors. 2 to 5 years: dress up, make believe cooking, outdoor adventures and parties, I spy, yoga, life skills such as hand washing and grooming, settig the table and early literacy Got Suggestions? Send them along.
|