Baby just woke up from a nap, has a clean diaper on, and has been fed. Now would be a perfect time to play! But what could be an entertaining (and educational) activity to do? Keep reading mama, as I give you 4 Fun and Free Educational Activities to Do with Your Baby.
4 Fun and Free Educational Activities to Do with Your Baby
Reading: Reading to babies from an early age is very important. Why is that? Studies have shown that listening to their caregiver’s voice and different intonations encourages an interest in sounds and supports the development of hearing and language skills in babies. As a newborn, the choice of book does not really matter. You can pick a magazine article you would like to read or a few pages of the book you have already started reading. Then, at a few months old, you can choose a colorful book with thick pages that your baby can touch and explore as you are reading to him. You will both enjoy the bonding time and it can even be part of a bedtime routine.
Point and Tell: You can help developing baby’s visual skills by playing point and tell. No need to buy fancy toys here, common household objects will do just fine. Carry your baby around the house and point at different objects while naming them. When she is a few months older, hand her kitchen items like a whisk, a wooden spoon, or a spatula. Name the objects and describe them. If you want to keep developing baby’s sensory skills, go to your closet and get clothes from different materials (cotton, cashmere, polyester) and help baby discover new textures. Don’t forget to stimulate baby’s visual sense by choosing bright colored clothes as well. When baby is a little older, take the game outside of the house and go to the park!
What’s that smell?: No, I am not talking about a dirty diaper! If you want to stimulate your baby’s olfaction, a fun and free activity to do is taking baby into the kitchen and go through the spice rack. Open different containers and let baby smell cinnamon, parsley, cilantro, and all those other spices you even forgot you had! Of course, do not let baby get too close. Take this game a bit further by letting baby smell your different perfumed lotions or dad’s aftershave and cologne. Describe the different scents to her and watch the reaction!
Fill, Empty, Repeat: As baby learns better head control and to sit up, you can play a game I call “fill, empty, repeat”. Take a shoe box, fill it with different objects (baby toys, or safe household objects) and teach baby how to empty it. Take one object out at a time, and watch as baby imitates you. Then, once the box is empty, show baby how to refill it. This simple game will teach baby motor skills and to learn cause and effect. You can even make bath time more exciting by playing this game using empty yogurt containers, funnels ,and squeeze bottles and filling them with water. Poke holes in one of the containers and show baby the water dripping, and how to cut the flow with his fingers. Your baby will love his bath time experience!
It doesn’t take a lot of money to keep your baby entertained while teaching him different very important skills to develop. You two will share a few chuckles (or a good laugh!) and have tons of fun. Enjoy, time flies when they are so little!
More Fun Activities for Babies and Toddlers:
DIY Fabric Flipbook for Toddlers
Fun Ways to use Bath Letters to Teach the Alphabet
7 Fun Activities for Toddlers that Encourage Development
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