The days where you find yourself sitting in the bleachers hollering your lungs out after a home run or a rowing regatta may be in the distant future, but that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy some recreational time with your new baby. In fact, encouraging your baby to move around and interacting with them in a variety of different ways can help increase their mobility and flexibility. The trick is to keep your baby's recreation age appropriate, and remember that it is you who has to take the lead for the first year or so. Here are some ideas, based on age, which you can incorporate into your baby play time.
During the newborn phase
At this age, your child's actions are almost entirely reaction; you will notice him doing startled little movements when he hears a loud noise, and moving his arms and legs in jerky little patterns. This is all a part of becoming aware of his limbs and his ability to move, and there is little you can (or really should) do to encourage it, which might be frustrating for a new mom who seems to spend all day cooped up in her Oshawa real estate, for example.
So, at this point your baby's recreation is going to be based almost completely on vocal and visual interaction. Most people find the idea weird in theory, but talking, singing, or humming to your baby will find that in practice, it just comes naturally. Any time you pick your baby up (which should be frequently), change his diapers, or put him to sleep is a time when you can talk softly or sing; he will get to know your voice and will learn to vocalize himself. For visual, maybe decorating with words on the walls in your baby's room is a good idea. They won't know what they mean yet, but will probably appreciate the designs. Or if you don't want to sell your old jewelery that's not worth much, maybe turn it into a mobile for above the baby's crib.
Four to six months: "Hey, I can control these!!!"
Sooner or later, you will see that your baby has realized that he can manipulate his hands and feet. He probably will not be able to clasp an object on purpose just yet, but you can encourage this learning phase by waving his arms and legs (gently of course!) whenever you are changing him or just lying with him on the floor.
At this age, babies will also start sitting up, and you can encourage their balance during recreation times as well. Exer-saucers can be great, as they encourage all sorts of activities, from exploring to sitting to learning to manipulate and recognize objects. They can also be great for keeping your child engaged while you take a little time for yourself to browse your favorite women's online clothing store or to organize online flyer printing to promote an event you're running. And of course, don't forget the dancing, singing, and talking!
Six months and up
Look out, because from this point on your child is going to start progressing in leaps and bounds. Your baby will probably demonstrate an affinity for certain types of toys at this time; most (though not all) love to play different games with balls. You can let your child throw the ball, or roll a ball back and forth between you on the floor as you sit down. Remember to talk your child through the actions; it is amazing how quickly they can grasp what is going on, even when they might not understand the words. If you're looking at say condos for sale in Scarborough during this time, remember that your baby will be walking soon. Looking at one-storey house plans that promote barrier free living will allow your child the most safe mobility.
One great way to spend recreational time with your child, time that will help him to develop all his abilities, is to read to him. Even newborns like to be read to, as it can help them learn your voice and differentiate between tones.
Really, there are limitless options when it comes to baby recreation. The main point is that as a parent, you spend as much time as possible interacting with your child, helping them to grasp important new concepts as he gets older. Before you know it they'll be signed up for ice hockey camps and planning Georgian Bay sailing trips!
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