I am a play therapist with a background in elementary education & child development, so I like to use my education to help others by sharing tips.
Today I was talking to a parent and she was concerned with her son’s development. She asked, “What can I teach my baby that will help with development?” He was about 10 months old. I suggested these important activities for her baby…
These are my favorite activities for those sweet little babies! I hope that these tips help you. I will also share a few of my favorite baby toys with an affiliate link to find them online.
Can you really make your baby smarter?
Every time that your child plays, interacts with you, giggles frowns, smiles, cries… they are learning, which means they are getting smarter. So many parents want to know, “How can I teach my baby when they are so young?” The truth is, this is a great age! Between the ages of 6-12 months, you can expect your child to be learning a lot and really engaging in activities with you!
“How Can I Teach My Baby?”
1-Use Music.
Studies have always shown a link between music & cognitive development in babies. The greatest growth is from when they are still in the womb to two years of age, the time when listening-based learning is at its peak. Use a music immersion program like Nuryl, a customized music app designed to jump-start the baby’s cognitive development during this time of brain growth.
One recent research study from the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) adds weight to the claim that playing music makes babies smarter. The study shows that a series of play sessions with music improved the baby’s brain processing of both music and new speech sounds.
2-Interact with your child.
Sing with your baby. Dance with your baby. Use music as a jumping point to do this. Did you know that our children start to learn from us when they are still in the womb? Music has been a link to advanced math skills, foreign language aptitude, memory, and focus, to stimulate a baby’s brain development starting in the 5th month of pregnancy to the second year?
Make it fun by adding finger puppets – not only is it fun but it also will enhance their hand-eye coordination. Find songs & fingerplays about those first words, first numbers, first animals & more.
3-Say Hello. Say Goodbye.
By one year, your baby will start to prefer you and begin to cry when you leave. This separation anxiety is normal and healthy. Just tell your baby goodbye and that you will be back.
Do not sneak out! This will only make your baby more anxious the next time that you are around since he/she won’t know if you are going to sneak out again. Just be cheerful when you leave, as if it is no big deal… “Bye, sweet girl! I’ll see you soon! Have a great day! Love you!”
