It is hard to believe that my baby girl will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. The time is going so quickly.
When I was first handed my precious baby I was as overjoyed as I was the day I first became a mother nearly 12 years ago.
The time is going so quickly and my baby girl has changed so much in this short time she has been alive. We love that she can smile at us now.
The first year of a baby’s life is a time of much learning. While many babies sleep a great deal during their first 6 weeks they are still learning. With each hug we give, smile we share, and lullaby we sing a baby is learning. A newborn has to rely on his or her caregivers to provide for their every need, including their need to learn.
So, what can you do with a newborn baby to help him or her learn? Here is a list of things you can do with your newborn. It is definitely not all-inclusive, but it is a start. Some of these topics I will expand upon in the coming weeks. If you have any activities to add I would love to hear from you.
Activities for Newborns
- Talk to your baby as you carry or hold him or her. You can talk about anything. Get in the habit of discussing everything you are doing even if it seems silly. Your baby doesn’t care.
- Sing to your baby. Your baby doesn’t care whether you are a good singer or not. You can even make up your own songs.
- Move your baby’s arms and legs. Stretch your baby’s arm out and observe his or her reaction. Repeat for the other arm, as well as your baby’s legs. Touch your baby’s hands and see if they will grasp your finger. Talk to your baby as you do this.
- Move an object. Take an object such as a rattle or other similar object and show it to your baby. Move it slowly to the left and then to the right. Does your baby track the object with his or her eyes?
- Provide your baby with tummy time. (This is a link to a post I wrote on my other blog with more information about tummy time.)
- Show your baby pictures and/or toys that are black and white. The contrast between black and white is great for helping your baby’s visual development.
- Provide a mobile or activity gym for your baby. This will not only help your baby’s visual development, but it will also help your baby learn to reach for objects.
- Lay your baby on a blanket on the floor and then gently pull them to a sitting position by holding their hands. This will help your baby learn how to sit up eventually.
- Read to your baby. It is never to early to foster a love of books in your child.
What have you done with your newborn to encourage learning?
