How can you engage with a newborn baby?
At first, it may seem that the baby is still not grown up enough and it is too early to engage in its development.
But it’s never too early.
Your contact with the baby is already a huge contribution to its development from the first days of birth.
We are now raising children of a new generation, children born during the rapid development of technology and social change. And at this time, we need a different approach to children, which is different from the way we were raised. Every baby is special, each knows what it wants, already has its own unique abilities; and your task is to help them find what pleases, inspires and motivates them. If you engage in the development of the baby from the very first days, he will grow up to be a great person and will be able to reach incredible peaks.
I sincerely believe that our children, the new generation, will be the driving force of progress and will change the world for the better. And when my three-year-old daughter tells me that she dreams of flying into space, looking at Earth from outer space, staring fascinated at the stars and saying that it would be great if a new planet that she will discover was named in her honor, I realize that my contribution to the daughter is invaluable and it is worth it.
So, what needs to be developed? When and where to start?
In this article, I will tell you about the basic skills that a baby needs to develop from birth and further as it grows up. Here you will find information in an accessible and understandable format. How to develop? What activities to choose? What toys to buy?
Skills that need to be developed in a baby
They can be divided into 7 blocks:
- Fine motor skills.
- Gross motor skills.
- Sensory skills.
- Cognitive development.
- Communication and speech.
- Emotional intelligence.
- Imagination and creativity.
Let’s talk about each of these.
Fine motor skills
Fine motor skills are a set of coordinated human actions aimed at performing precise small movements with the hands, fingers and toes. Its development is important for babies from the very first days of birth, as it lays the foundation for many of the most important life skills.
Fine motor skills are a precursor to more sophisticated skills that children will need as they grow up, such as writing, drawing, using dishes, sticking clothes, etc. It is also closely related to cognitive development: when children manipulate objects and explore the environment with their hands, they better understand causal relationships and gain spatial awareness.
One of the most important points is that the development of fine motor skills is directly related to the complete development of speech, because the centers of the brain, which are responsible for motorics and speech are located next to each other. The motor impulses of the fingers affect the formation of “language” zones and the cerebral cortex of the baby.
Activities for fine motor skills for babies 0-3 months
Gentle massage
Give your baby a light massage. With gentle and careful movements smooth your baby’s hands, legs, back, tummy. In newborns, the hands are usually always clenched in fists; to open them, offer the baby to hug your finger, and if possible lightly massage his palms. You can use your finger to draw lines on the fingers or legs. Massage each finger separately.
Such a light daily massage not only promotes relaxation, but also encourages the baby to notice and examine his hands and fingers.
Rattle games
After the massage, offer the baby a light rattle. Use your finger to help open his palm and place the rattle inside. At first, the baby will be able to hold it for a few seconds. But every time this time will increase. The baby will very quickly understand the cause-and-effect relationship — when shaking the rattle, it makes a sound — it will arouse the baby’s interest and it will enhance its grip.
Pay attention, the rattle should be light, because the baby will often throw it on himself and it is important that it does not cause discomfort, and also have a comfortable grip for the small palm.
Examples:
Exploration of hands
Give the baby a soft colorful toy or fabric of different texture to hold and explore it.
A great option will be bracelets for wrists and socks with different textures, they also make sounds and layers, and therefore further stimulate the interest of the child. This is especially convenient when the baby lies on his back.
Example:
Teething toy games
Babies at this age often like to put their hands and fingers in their mouths. Use soft and safe teething toys. It is important that they are light and convenient for the small baby’s hand.
Teething toys in the shape of keys are very convenient. It’s good if there are several keys that will additionally make sounds when shaken.
Example:
When the baby is lying on his back, lift the teething toys above them and shake. You can move them from side to side so the baby starts reaching for them with his hands. Gradually lower the teething toy closer to the baby and offer to grip the ring.
Games on the play mat
On the play mat it is convenient to play, lying both on the back and on the tummy. Lying on the back, the child will be trying to reach the rattles that hang above him. They are bright, make different sounds, cause the desire to reach them and grab them.
The mat should be bright, have rattles with different textures, and a mirror. A contrast mat can also be good.
Example of a nice mat:
Playing on the tummy on the play mat, offer the baby a ball with holes (Oball). It’s convenient for practicing grasping with the palm open, as the palm needs to be open to take it. If you choose an Oball with balls inside, it will be an excellent rattle option.
Examples:
Mirror games
Babies are often fascinated by their reflection and can try to stretch out their hand to touch it. You can use a mirror from the play mat or take the baby in your arms and approach your big mirror holding him, explaining that the reflection is him and you, and everything around you. The babies will be interested and will try to get their hands to their reflection.
Gross motor skills
Gross motor skills are fundamental skills that involve larger movements using major muscle groups, such as arms, legs, trunk — to move the body.
The development of gross motor skills allows to strengthen the musculoskeletal system, improve posture, develop a sense of balance, and coordination of movements. When performing complex physical exercises, the baby activates both hemispheres of the brain, carefully considering each action. It is the basis for performing fast and precise movements with the help of fine motor skills.
The development of gross motor skills is closely related to cognitive development. As babies learn to control their bodies and to move with purpose, they improve their ability to solve problems, plan and make decisions.
Gross motor skills are also associated with the emotional state of the baby — physical games and movements help reduce stress.
Achieving checkpoints is another very important point. Achieving age-appropriate control indicators (baby holding their head, rolling over, sitting, starting to crawl, etc.) in the development of gross motor skills is an important indicator of the overall development of the child. These milestones are often used by healthcare professionals to monitor the child’s progress and identify any potential developmental delays or problems at an early stage.
That is, now we understand that it is very important to develop all the skills together, because they are interrelated, and work on all of them is necessary for the harmonious development and growth of the baby.
Activities for engaging in gross motor skills for babies 0-3 months
Change the baby’s position as often as possible. You can put the baby on his tummy for a while, then on the back or take and hold the baby for a few minutes. This will arouse the baby’s curiosity, because he always has a different view of the world that she sees. Also, don’t forget to talk to them about everything as much as possible.
Tummy time
Place the baby on his tummy for some time during each awake period between naps. This helps strengthen the neck and upper body muscles, and the baby also learns to better control his head.
How to spend time lying on tummy:
- Put the baby on the tummy, keeping toys out of reach. Encourage the baby to pull hands and try to grab the toys. Subsequently, such a game will stimulate the baby to learn to crawl.
- Put the child on your knees, supporting his back and neck well, and encourage the child to look at you, making funny sounds. At this age, you can encourage the baby to independently support the head.
- You can also lie face-to-face with your baby and ask her to lift the face and look at you.
For tummy time games, a warm waterproof carpet is ideal. It will become your assistant all the time until the baby starts to walk, and maybe even later.
Example:
Games on the play mat
Use a play mat with hanging toys that your child can bat and will try to catch them. These toys will help to stimulate touches and hit , as well as to make stronger captivity.
Also separately you can buy additional hanging contrast toys. They are very useful for visual development and can also be hung on the play may, and on a bed, and a cart. Thus, the baby will always have something to do, no matter where he is.
Example:
Leg cycling
While the baby is lying on his back, gently make cycling movements with his feet. It will help to develop leg muscles as well as improve leg strength and coordination.
Mirror games
Place a safe mirror in front of the baby when he lies on his tummy. Babies are often fascinated by their own reflection and can try to reach it, encouraging the movements of their hands and upper body.
A great option will be a double mirror, together with a contrast mat. With two mirrors, you can place it at different angles (for example, as in the picture), it will arouse the interest of the baby, and he will try to raise the head higher to see his reflection.
Example:
Dancing with the baby
Hold the baby firmly and gently sway them or dance while listening to music. This introduces them to rhythmic movements and helps improve balance and coordination.
Soft rolling (after 1 month)
Place the baby on the back on a soft surface and gently bend it from side to side. Holding your arm and foot, gently roll the baby on a side.
It can help develop body strength and awareness of body position. Also, such exercises will help the baby to learn faster to turn from back to tummy.
Knee rides
Sit the baby on your knees and support their head. Gently bounce them up and down or sway from side to side. This activity can be fun and help develop a sense of balance.
Tub bathing
Bathing allows babies to train and develop motor skills. When they flatter, stretch toys and push their legs, they improve coordination and muscle strength. Swimming also helps to strengthen muscles and the skeleton.
Sensory skills
Sensory development generally refers to the development of five senses: hearing, smell, taste, touch and vision. It is also related to how your child’s nervous system receives information from these senses and then forms a corresponding motor or behavioral response.
Sensory experiences help stimulate and develop the baby’s brain. The first months and years are a critical period for brain growth and development, and sensory stimulation plays an important role in this process. The influence of various sensory signals helps to create neural connections that are the basis for future learning and cognitive development.
Sensory experience is also closely related to:
- the development of motor skills. As babies explore the environment and interact with objects, they also develop fine and gross motor skills;
- to the development of speech. Babies learn to associate sounds, gestures and facial expressions with certain sensory sensations. Such early exposure to sensory information helps babies begin to understand and communicate their needs, which is a fundamental step in speech development.
The development of sensory skills in infants from the very first months is crucial for their overall development. It not only helps lay the foundation for cognitive, motor, emotional and social skills but also promotes a love for learning and exploration throughout life.
Activities for sensory development for babies 0-3 months
Your newborn will at first be an observer rather than an active participant in sensory activity, as he perceives the sounds, odors and textures around him. But it won’t take long, and your baby will start to grab toys, draw them, put them in his mouth, and then start to crawl and creep towards anything that interests the baby.
High-contrast images
Newborns will benefit from looking at high-contrast black and white figures. You can place them around the play area to stimulate the development of the optic nerve.
Contrast books can be made of paper, soft materials, make sounds, or be individual pictures placed in different parts of the room and you can ask the baby to crawl to them.
Hanging contrast toys or a hanging mobile
When these hanging contrasting toys move, your baby will be able to track the movements and colors with his eyes. Visual stimulation is done.
Outdoor walks
Take walks around and stop to admire the chirping of birds, bright flowers, or just the feeling of the breeze. Tell your child what’s going on: “Here’s a beautiful red flower” or “This cool breeze feels nice!”
Tummy time on the play mat
Having a bright and colorful play mat for exploration can turn tummy time into a sensory experience.
When the baby is lying on his tummy, you can also place or position contrast books around him.
Exploring different textures
Let’s feel a different texture, describing them to your child: a soft toy, a daddy beard, a wet grass.
Make sure any environment the baby explores is safe no matter where you are.
Tactile ball games
Tactile balls can be used in various games:
- give the baby a light massage.
- throw the ball and show how far it rolls. Then the baby will try to take the ball himself and be able to throw them.
- describe different shapes, colors, sizes.
- compare one ball to another, etc.
Example:
Trying toys with the mouth
Yes, babies learn by putting something in their mouth, so provide them with enough clean and baby-safe objects to reach for and put in their mouth, such as rattles and teethers.
Touches and tickles
Teach the baby to get used to the touch by touching it gently and scratching it. Soon she will understand the importance of touches and will whisper from your gentle caring touches.
Skin-to-skin contact
To enhance skin sensation, it’s important for there to be frequent skin-to-skin contact between the baby and his parents.
Singing
To help the baby develop listening skills, sing them many songs. You should also talk to the baby constantly and call their name as often as possible. This also helps them develop their vocabulary over time.
Mirror games
Touch the image in the mirror and say the baby’s name aloud. Eventually, the baby will understand that the person in the mirror is himself.
Tub bathing
Bathing gives babies sensory experience: feeling water on their skin, the sound of splashing water, and the warmth of the water. These sensory signals can help stimulate the development of their senses and nerve pathways.
Cognitive development
Cognitive development refers to how children think, explore, and understand things. It is the development of knowledge, skills, problem-solving skills and inclinations that help children to think and understand the world around them. Brain development is part of cognitive development.
Cognitive functions are functions of knowledge of the world that include:
- attention,
- memory,
- learning ability,
- ability to perceive information,
- application of acquired knowledge and skills in practice.
Cognitive development in infants from the first months is crucial, as it lays the foundation for their future cognitive and intellectual development, promoting healthy brain growth.
There are four stages of cognitive development. The first is the sensorimotor stage (0-3 months). At this stage, children absorb the sensation and perception of the world with the help of motor skills. They joyfully go through life and fully enjoy their surroundings, learning, in particular, to manipulate objects and touches. Their feelings are activated as they continue to understand sensory perceptions and become aware of their surroundings.
Activities for cognitive development for babies 0-3 months
Reading
Read to your child as much as possible. Start with picture books so they can see what you’re trying to convey. Your baby will enjoy looking at colorful images in front of them and hearing your contrasting voice.
Talking
Talk to the child about everything and narrate everything you do with them. You can start by telling the baby about how your day went. Make sure to vary your tone and maintain eye contact while talking to them. When you play with the baby, tell them about the toys, for example, “let’s take the red ball and see how far it can roll.” When you’re out for a walk, talk to them about the weather, what you see around you, animals, plants, people. Literally about everything.
Mirror games
Place a mirror in front of the baby where they can see their reflection. At this point, the baby is too small to understand that the image is a reflection of himself, but he will probably enjoy the person in the mirror constantly moving and waving their arms.
Rattles and other noisy games with items
Give the baby toys that make many different sounds. This will help him understand the cause and effect of certain sounds when he plays with them.
Show the baby that different objects make different sounds when you touch them or hit them. Soon your child will be able to understand the differences between different objects and their sounds.
Simulating animal sounds
Already at this age you can enable video with animal sounds. You can also try to repeat them yourself. The baby will find it funny and enjoyable to watch, and later they will be able to imitate these sounds themselves.
Games with different textures
Give the baby new textures to not only touch but also feel. It also helps him understand some differences between different objects when he sees them.
At this stage, all the toys described above for the development of fine motor and sensory skills, also develop cognitive functions.
Communication and speech
The communicative skills of children from the earliest months primarily focus on non-verbal communication and early forms of social interaction. At this age, infants develop the ability to interact with the surrounding world.
The development of communication skills in babies from the very first months is very important for several reasons:
- Early development of the brain. The first few months of a baby’s life are crucial for brain development. Participation in simple communication activities, such as talking to a child, singing and visual contact, stimulates his brain and helps in cognitive development.
- Emotional connection with parents. Communication is the main way to establish a connection between children and parents. When you respond to a baby’s screaming, smile, or crying, you create a sense of security and confidence that is vital for emotional development.
- The basis for the future speech skills. Although babies cannot speak, they actively listen and absorb the sounds and rhythms of their native language. Knowledge of the language from an early age lays the foundation for future linguistic development. They begin to recognize the patterns and sounds of their language, which makes it easier for them to learn to speak and understand the language as they grow up.
- Expressing needs. Babies communicate their needs primarily through crying, cooing, and body language. When parents become more attentive to these signals and respond accordingly, it helps the baby feel understood and protected. This early responsiveness can contribute to the development of a sense of trust and confidence in the child.
Communicative activities for babies 0-3 months
For the development of speech there are no special toys. There are toys for developing fine motor skills — we talked above about how the development of fine motorics is associated with the growth of speech.
But generally speaking, the communication skills, the expression of their thoughts and emotions, as well as the vocabulary of the baby depends primarily on what actions the parents do.
Speak
Speak, speak, and then speak some more. During everyday activities, talk about what you and your child are doing. Ask and answer questions. Your child will learn to associate the words you say with people, actions, objects, and feelings you describe.
Encourage
Encourage your budding communicator. Listen and respond to your baby’s sounds and words, including cooing and babbling. Mimic their sounds or words and expand upon them. Introduce vocabulary words during new activities and outings. This way, you teach the skills of two-way conversation.
Read
Read to your baby every single day, starting from birth. Choose books with rhymes, bright colors, different textures, and photographs. Read with expression and point to words as you say them. You can also show real-life versions of the pictures from the books you’ve read, as you see them in everyday life (road signs, store logos, cars, trees, flowers, etc.).
Sing
Sing songs and tell children’s rhymes. Change the pitch and volume of your voice.
Model
Model good speech. Speak clearly and naturally, using correct language sounds.
Describe
Describe items of different size, color and texture. Use comparison words.
Emotional development
Emotional development encompasses studying what feelings and emotions are, understanding how and why they arise, recognizing your own and the feelings of others, and developing effective ways to manage those feelings.
Working on the emotional development of babies from the very first days is crucial for several main reasons:
- The foundation for future development. Emotional development lays the foundation for the overall development of the baby. It affects social, cognitive and psychological growth throughout life. Early experience forms emotional well-being, resilience and the baby’s ability to form healthy relationships.
- Affection and connection. During the first few months of life, babies form bonds of affection with their parents. These connections give a sense of security and trust. Encouraging emotional development during this period helps to establish a strong and reliable attachment, which is necessary for healthy emotional growth.
- Emotional regulation. Babies are born with basic emotions such as joy, sadness and fear. As they grow up, they learn to cope with them. Working on emotional development at an early stage helps babies learn to manage their emotions and cope with stress, helping to improve emotional health in the long term.
Emotional development is also closely related to communication skills, brain development, social development and the long-term development of the baby in general.
You can find out more about the impact of emotional development on the psychological health and well-being of the child here.
Activities for emotional development of babies 0-3 months
Emotional development in the first months primarily revolves around building a reliable attachment and creating a loving and sensitive environment.
Hugs and touches
Regularly hold and cuddle your baby. Skin-to-skin contact strengthens the bond and emotional security.
Carefully smooth the skin of the child with the fingertips. This tactile stimulation calms and helps children feel loved and protected.
Contact during feeding
During feeding, look into your baby’s eyes and speak to them gently. This creates a positive emotional connection during meeting their basic needs.
Smiles and mirror games
Smile at your baby more often. Babies are very responsive to facial expressions. You can also use a small child-safe mirror to show them a reflection that may intrigue them.
Singing and talking
Sing lullabies or speak softly to the baby throughout the day. Your soothing voice and attention provide emotional calmness.
Gentle massage
The gentle massage we talked about earlier also helps relax the baby and establish additional emotional contact. Stroking the back and tummy usually soothes the baby.
Sensory games
Offer the baby to touch and explore different textures, such as soft fabrics, textured toys, or child-safe sensory balls. These tactile experiences can evoke emotional reactions.
Reacting to signals
Pay close attention to your baby’s signals, such as crying, screaming and facial expressions. Timely response to needs helps the child to feel safe and understood.
Face-to-face play
Get down to the baby’s eye level and play face-to-face. Make fun tips and imitate facial expressions. Talk about what emotion you show, for example, you smile and say that you have fun, joyful. When you shudder your eyebrows, you get angry and so on. This will help the baby to understand that different facial expressions are associated with different emotions.
Imagination and creativity
The imaginative and creative skills are essential to babies as they play an important role in their cognitive, emotional and social development. These skills enable children to think innovatively, solve problems, express themselves and adapt to new situations.
The development of imagination and creative abilities in babies from the first months is important for their overall cognitive, emotional and social development. Here are the main reasons why this is important:
- Brain development. From the first months, the baby’s brain is developing rapidly. Encouraging imagination and creativity through sensory stimulation helps to create neural connections, promoting cognitive development and ability to solve problems from an early age.
- Expression of emotions. Even at 3 months, babies can express their emotions through sounds and mimics. Encouraging creative play can help them learn and understand their feelings.
- Problem solving. Creativity develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By encouraging babies to explore the environment and find new ways to interact with objects, you help them develop important cognitive abilities that will become adventurous in the future.
- Curiosity and lifelong learning. The development of imagination and creative abilities from an early age nourishes the natural curiosity of the baby. This curiosity is the foundation of a love for learning that can last a lifetime. When children are encouraged to ask questions, explore their surroundings and think creatively, they become more engaged and motivated students.
Activities for the development of imagination and creativity for babies 0-3 months
At the age of 0-3 months, it is more about creating a stimulating environment, rather than expecting specific creative results. Here are some activities to develop imagination and creative abilities.
Sensory games
Introduce the baby to different textures, offering him a variety of items, such as soft fabrics, toys with hard fabrics and plush materials, tactile balls. Let him touch and explore these textures with their hands and fingers. This sensory experience helps the child to understand the world around him and lay the foundation for future visual thinking.
When children touch, taste and explore different textures, temperatures and materials, their brain actively processes information.
Sensory games stimulate curiosity and research. Babies learn to show curiosity to others, which is a fundamental aspect of imagination and creativity.
High contrast visual stimulation
Babies are attracted to high contrast patterns and bright colors. Above, we considered examples of contrast books and hanging toys, which are perfect for this.
Visual information provided by high-contrast toys helps stimulate the development of the visual cortex of the brain and nervous pathways. This early development of neurons is important for all aspects of cognitive development, including imagination and creative abilities.
Music
Play soft and soothing music, classical music is a great option for listening. Classical music often contains complex melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. Listening to such compositions can stimulate the baby’s auditory senses. Infants tune into nuances of sound, helping them develop the ability to distinguish different auditory sensations.
Reading
Even if babies may not understand the content of books, reading helps them create positive associations with books and stories. Reading aloud familiarizes babies with the rhythm, frequency and tone variations of speech. Listening to words and sentences helps to develop hearing sensations and language recognition, which is the basis for further creative expression through words and stories.
Choose cardboard books with simple colorful pictures and textures that children can touch and explore.
Hugs and emotional connection
Hugs, touches, and providing comfort are crucial for emotional development. These early bonds form the foundation for secure attachments and emotional well-being.
Now you have plenty of options for activities to develop your child. Using these tips, your time with the baby will be more exciting and super beneficial for him. Remember, it is never too early to start developing a child. Your baby is growing fast, and we’re already preparing tips for you on the development of children aged 4-6 months!
