Importance of Activity and Play for Baby Development
Believe it or not, playing and being active are crucial to the development of your baby. It is essential for a baby's growth and development and for emotional and mental growth and development. This is how your baby learns social and cognitive skills and he uses all five senses during play and activity.
As your baby is playing, he will show great interest in how different things feel. Textures are important, so you should provide items for your baby to play with that have different textures. In your baby's first experiences, he wants to find out what will happen if he tips a bowl of cheerios or crackers. What if he knocks over a glass of tea? To you these may be annoyances, but to him it is exploring and he feels much the same excitement as early explorers felt when they found America and all of its riches. The difference is that a baby learns something from his exploration. Just remember that when you are cleaning up messes your baby is not trying to drive you crazy.
Through play, your baby is developing independence, problem solving and critical thinking. Through your baby's play, you are developing patience and possibly trying not to pull your hair out. How many times have you cleaned and picked up toys while the baby seemed to follow behind and undo everything you have just made perfect? Fear not, for your baby is not out to get you, but he is out to learn. Be proud.
Important Types of Play
It is so important that you provide opportunities for your baby to explore with different type of play. When she is about three months old, make sure that she has different textured soft items that she can grab and squeeze. Make sure that you have a mobile above her crib so that she can watch them and listen to the music. Music is so very important for your baby's development. When my children, now in their thirties, were babies in the crib, I bought toys that would hang across the crib at a level where they could kick with their feet (hung high enough that there is no danger of getting tangled). They could also reach them with their little hands and laugh as they made a crinkle sound or squeaked.
At twelve months your baby loves when you play hide and seek. When you put something in front of your face and pull it away, saying "peek-a-boo" she loves it. Hide your face behind something and peek out at your baby. The funny thing that I have found with this game with my kids and grandchildren is that they think if they cover their eyes you cannot see them. That is just so cute. This is social play and it helps your baby learn to relate with people. Find ways to make your baby laugh. Teach her the names for her eyes, nose, and ears. I taught one of my grandchildren, at the age of 3 months, about his tongue. All I had to do was ask him where his tongue was and he would stick it out. My son and his wife weren't quite thrilled, but I was.
Remember all of the gifts you bought your baby for birthdays or Christmas? What did she do after opening the gift? She chose to play with the boxes. Don't despair because this is an important part of your baby's development. She is using her imagination as the box becomes a car. My boxes usually become a rocket ship and the toddlers fly to the moon or mars. They emerge from their "rocket ship" and scream "aliens", jumping right back in and flying home to earth. This is learning at its best. Imagination is a very important part of your baby's growth and development.
Around the age of three, your baby, who is now a toddler, loves role play. I would suggest that you provide them with costumes, such as doctor costumes or policeman and fireman hats. Role playing is so very important so you need to encourage them by playing along. Play is crucial to healthy growth.