Play Guide - Social and Emotional Development 0 - 6 months
It takes time to get to know your baby and the meaning of his cries, but you soon will, just as he will soon learn the meaning of your touch, voice and smell. In these vital early months your interactions help his social and emotional development as you both learn about each other and form a strong bond.
Here are some general tips for your interaction with your baby in the early months:
*Relax- The best way to make him feel relaxed is to be relaxed. He cannot understand what you say- but he will understand your body language and tone of voice. In the first weeks it is not easy to feel relaxed, especially as you quickly come to understand just how much you have put your heart on the line, and how completely it would break should anything happen to him.
*Accept that your life has been turned up-side down- your time is not your own and that no one really copes very well in their first weeks of parenthood, especially if they are the carer of a new baby. It is stressful, at times it is an enormous strain. You would be a saint if you did not sometimes want to shout “This is not what I wanted when I thought of being a mum!”
*Love and soothe, carry and cuddle but don’t expect success every time- Babies cry for many reasons: hunger, pain, tiredness and loneliness and however hard you try you will not always manage to guess what is wrong and calm him. You’re not the only one!
*Establish a routine- Structure makes a child feel safe. A regular bedtime sets a pattern for childhood, so does a regular meal-time. There is a happy medium between keeping to a strict schedule and feeding more or less continuously on demand. It’s sometimes hard to find a routine in the early weeks- but most children do settle into one.
*Don’t pander to his moods- except his good ones! If you tip toe around his bad moods you are likely to increase them.
Games
In the early months, as he learns about the world around and indeed, about his own senses and body there are some simple ways your play interaction with him can help;
0-3 months
*Show me how* We tend to think of toys as things children use for independent play - but that is not always so! In the first year your children will love to share their toys with you. Show him what his toys can do. Hand them to him rather than let him always select his own, and talk about the toys as you play.
*Here’s looking at you * Make eye contact. He will copy you and looking at each other will make you both feel more secure.
*Show him things * Take him out to see the world and talk about it all the time.
*Snuggle buggle- Hold him rock him, kiss him and tell him that you love him. He will recognise the sentiment even if he doesn’t understand the words.
3 – 6 months
By now he will have uncurled, he is able to focus and will meet your eye with a smile.
*Play with me * Toys are not just for independent play- children love to share them and play with you. Show him what to do. If the toy has a little surprise- make it happen.
*I love you* Hold him in your arms and tell him you love him.
*Conversation * Talk to him and let him answer, even if his answers are just little sounds or eye contact. Always respond when he communicates.
*Meet the neighbours * Take him out and let him meet other people- especially other children.
*Copy cat* Copy what he does - and he will reward you by doing the same.
*Hup two three* Hold him under the arms and march around the room together- left right, left right, hup two- three (on the three lift him up in the air).
*Dance a baby* Dance him on your lap and enjoy a little song.
Toys and games for eye-hand co-ordination 0-6 months
In the first weeks, his hand-eye co-ordination will make steady progress and quite quickly. As such major changes occur, we have broken this section down further.
In the first weeks
In the first weeks your baby’s eyes and hands do not work together – he will just watch. His favourite toys and things are bright and move. He will enjoy watching the following kinds of objects:
* His reflection in a mirror
* The toys on his gym
* A mobile.
* A torch you shine on the ceiling of a darkened room.
* Flashing lights.
* Shiny objects that catch the light.
* His hands if they come into view.
6 weeks +
He is more ready to swipe with his arm at objects he sees. He’ll enjoy;
* The toys on his gym.
* The rattle you hold for him.
* Toys fixed to his bouncer, pushchair or cot.
2 – 4 months
He will gradually develop the skill to grab.
He will grab objects and toys firmly and shake them. He’ll also put them to his mouth – this is him actually putting his hand to his mouth rather than the toy. Toys are tested with this in mind. Look for toys that have small sections that are easy to grab or hold.
5-6 months
His grasping is more deliberate and he will reach without constantly monitoring his hand. Because he can reach and clasps toys from above as well as from the side he is able to pick things off the floor. He knows when something is out of reach and does not try to grab it. Most babies now transfers toys from one hand to the other. He’ll enjoy playing with;
* Toys he can pick up, take to his mouth or pass from hand to hand.
* Toys he can grab and hold- especially those with textures he can feel and which make noises when he grabs them.
* Toys which he can bat with a more open hand.
* He may like to cuddle a soft toy and stroke an interesting texture.
* Link-a-Doos toys that connect to nursery equipment or toys are great for bat-at fun.
The changes in his strength and mobility in his first year are extraordinary. From a helpless newborn baby, by his first birthday he will be showing all the signs of taking his first step.
From No Control To Head Control:
*1-4 Weeks*
If you use your baby’s arms to pull him up from a lying to sitting position, his head completely falls behind his body.
*8-10 Weeks*
Now, if you pull him up from a lying to a sitting position, his head does not completely fall behind his body.
*16-20 Weeks*
When you hold him he can turn his head in all directions. If he is pulled up from lying to sitting, his head only slightly falls behind his body.
*24-28 Weeks*
He can now lift his head spontaneously when on his back or tummy and tucks his chin to his chest when you pull him upright. He can begin to enjoy action rhymes. Pull him up and let him fall back down as you sing:
Row, row row your boat,
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily ,merrily, merrily.
Life is but a dream.
From Feeling His Feet To Standing:
*1-15 Weeks*
He is quite passive and does not try to bounce when you let him 'feel his feet' by standing on your lap.
*16-24 Weeks*
He begins to push up by raising his buttocks but cannot yet hold himself up without your help. He will enjoy a game of Dance To Your Daddy whilst he stands on your lap. Sing:
Dance to your Daddy, my little Laddie.
Dance to your Daddy, my little Man.
You will have a fishy,
On a little Dishy. You will have a fishy,
When the boats come in.
*36-44 Weeks*
If you hold him up, he will lower his legs to find the floor and push down and he will stand in a more upright position if you support him. Children who really enjoy being upright will love to stand and jump in a bouncer.
* 48-52 Weeks*
He stands erect when holding on to the furniture or your hand and, by the time he turns one, he can probably stand for a mument or two without holding on. He may be among the few that can walk at this age.
Playing games and having fun with your child will really help him to learn and is also a fantastic way for you to build your relationship with him. You’ll love every minute of his company and will collect memories to last a lifetime. Here’s how:
* Watch him when he’s playing on is own. This way you’ll get hints of what he needs, what he enjoys and what will help him learn new skills.
* Always choose toys appropriate to his age and that match his stage of development. Age limits are set by child development experts for both safety and developmental reasons.
* Follow his cues to be creative and resourceful, without dominating, and let him dictate the pace. If he starts to lose interest he’s probably had enough so stop and resume your play when he seems interested again.
* Create time for him to enjoy playing. He learns best through play and he will learn best in an environment that allows him time to explore, investigate and discover things.
* Keep an eye on him. He will like to see you nearby just as much as you need to supervise him. Provide him with a safe, hazard-free play space indoor and
outdoors.
* Regularly check his toys are safe to play with as they will receive a lot of use and abuse! Encourage him to play with toys that suit the space where your child will be playing and anticipate potential dangers, such as trying to carry a large toy upstairs.
* Surround him with a variety of toys to hold his attention and encourage his learning in both active and quiet times, and when he is playing alone or with other children.
* Limit the number of toys he plays with at any one time. If he is playing with one toy the others will distract him and it is easier for him to concentrate and pay attention to one activity at a time. If he gets another toy out, tell him to put another one away.
Whether in the bath or garden, water is great for play. Here are some games to inspire you.
Bath-time
*Bubble bath*
This is a simple science game for children of various ages that teaches them to be observant.
Run a bath and add some bubble bath
Young babies will just enjoy making bubbles by kicking and splashing.
From 12 months he’ll enjoy seeing what happens if he uses soap or adds a little oil to his bubble bath (his bubbles disappear).
From about 2 years let him explore away, or play with a bubble maker.
Do the bubbles burst when they land on other bubbles? Do they burst when they land on the water?
*Little boats*
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This is a simple game for a young child that allows him to discover how to make things move
Have a collection of objects that can double as 'boats'. Lolly sticks, corks or just paper folded will work.
Put the boats in the bath. Show him how to make waves.
What happens if he kicks and splashes?
Play games of boat races.
*Ice science (suitable for 4-5 year olds)*
Make a tray of ice cubes, using a rubber mould with interesting shapes if you can find one - add a little food colouring to the water before pouring it in the mould.
Add small items to the ice cubes - a plastic button, a wooden toggle, a waxy leaf, a metal washer. The idea is that some objects should be heavy enough to pull the ice cube to the bottom of the bath - and others should allow the cube to float.
When the cube melts some of the objects should float (wood, sponge, sequins) while others (thin slices of carrot) should sink.
As he watches the ice cubes will gradually disappear
*Water Fun at the Sink*
Filling and pouring.
This is a simple activity that teaches a child about volume and improves his placing skills and his eye-hand co-ordination.
This is a more demanding pouring game because he needs to aim for the cups.
Show him how to fill a jug by immersing it in the water. Put the cups on the draining board and let him fill them. It doesn’t matter if he is not very accurate at first. Cups are good for this or Tupperware tubs, but you could also try her stacker cup toys, as these are different shapes and colours this will add even more to the game.
Of course you can also try this game in the bath too.
*Washing a doll’s dress*
This is a simple activity that teaches a child to work towards an end – something she will have to do when she starts school.
Partly fill the sink with water (or give her a bowl), add some baby shampoo or bubble bath (better for her skin) and let her wash a dolls dress. Show her how to squeeze the water through the cloth. She can then hang it out to dry.
*Games for the garden hose or tap*
Let him fill his watering can and help with watering the plants
Mud is great fun, let him have fun making mud pies!
Practice carrying and pouring by asking him to fill a bowl on the other side of the garden from the garden tap
Playtime tips and games to encourage communication and language.
By now he is very responsive to you and you’ll feel even more that you’re having ’conversations’. He is babbling more and more.
Old MacDonald.
Small children love animal noises- so much so that the majority of children probably have more than one animal sound in their first 50 words!
Old McDonald is one of the all time favourites. At 3 months he’ll just love the silly sounds but by 6 months he’ll enjoy being shown pictures of the animals in his books too.
Old McDonald had a farm
Ee-i,ee-i oh
And on that farm he had some cows
Ee- i,ee-i oh
With a moo moo here, and a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo everywhere a moo moo
Each verse introduces a new animal, and these are all listed at the end of the verse so after a couple more verses you would end up something like this:
With a meow here, and a meow there
Here a meow, there a meow everywhere a meow
With a quack quack here and a quack quake there
Here a quack there a quack everywhere a quack quack
With a moo moo here, and a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo everywhere a moo moo
Children love the repetition and its easy for them to pick out the often repeated sounds.
Tummy talk
This is a game that you’ll naturally find yourself playing with baby, especially when their tummies are out after bathtime or nappy changes. All you need to do is press your lips against his tummy and do something like one of these:
* Blow raspberries
* Say gobble gobble
* Hum
* Talk - "how are you tummy"
* Sing/kiss/recite nursery rhymes – there are no rules to this game!
Pitter Pat Pony
Babies love you to play with their hands and feet. What all those traditional songs for playing with a babies hands and feet tell us is that generations of parents have found that babies love these games.
This song is great and will really get baby excited!
bq. Pitter pat pony, (pat the soles of your baby's feet)
Look at her toes. (hold baby's feet and wiggle them)
Here a nail, there a nail, (poke the bottom of baby's feet)
Giddy-up and go! (pat the soles of your baby's feet again).
Gobble gobble goose
Long before your baby understands words, he’ll start to recognise actions – things like waving bye-bye, or clapping hands. You can start teaching action words by giving his soft toys an action.
* Goose goes gobble at his tummy
* Penguin goes peck at his nose
* Teddy says “ah” and wants a cuddle.
* Tiger nibbles his toes.
In this kind of play, baby is developing his memory, in a couple of months, he’ll start to remember and anticipate the action of the teddy before it happens. Even though he’s knows whats about to happen, he’ll get just as excited, if not more!
When your child is still an infant, once he is able to hold his head up, he will love to enjoy a song with you on your lap.
Singing along with songs like this help develop him develop socially and emotionally as he’ll love the comfort of spending this time with you. He’ll also learn about the rhythm in language. Songs that have a jump or action at the end also help him to learn to expect – to know that something is going to happen.
When he is very young, sit him on your knee facing you and hold him around his waist. When he’s a little older you can hold him by the hands.
Jogging on the Knee
For these songs, jog and jiggle him on your knee as you repeat the words.
*Ride A Cock Horse*
Ride a cock horse to Bambury Cross
To see a fine lady get on a white horse
With rings on her fingers
And bells on her toes
She shall have music
Wherever she goes.
*To Market to Market*
To market to market to buy a fat pig
Home again home again jiggity jig
To market to market to buy a fat hog
Home again home again
Jiggity jog.
Rides with a Jog and Surprise!
These songs feature a surprise fall at the end to make him giggle.
*This is the way the ladies ride*
This is the way the ladies ride trip trot, trit trot trip trot
This is the way the gentlemen ride gallup gallup gallup
This is the way the old man rides. Hobble-dee hobble-dee
And down in a ditch
Trot on the knee at varying speeds- then open your knees to let her fall through a little.
*Father mother and uncle John*
Father, Mother and Uncle John
Road to the doctors one by one,
Father fell off Mother fell off
But Uncle John road on and on
Ride on the knee, hold him tightly and let him jog to one side and then the other.
Rides with an Up and a Down
*Leg over leg over*
Leg over leg over
The dog went to dover
When he came to a style
Up he went over
Cross your legs and sit him on the crook of your foot. Hold her hands and jog her up and down – but every time you say 'over' move your foot up and down. She’ll feel like she’s flying!
Now that your baby can sit up with support, play a game of Little Engine and take him on a little trip. He'll enjoy the ride, the view, and the fun with you along the way. All you need is a simple cardboard box!
Materials:
•
Cardboard box, approximately 2- by 1½-feet wide, and 1-foot tall
•
Soft blankets or towels
•
Masking or duct tape
•
Balance
•
Head and neck control
•
Visual tracking
What to do: 1.
Find a box that will hold your baby while he sits up, and cut down the height of the box so your baby is supported, but can see over the top. 2.
Cover the cut edges of the box with tape so the rough edges don't hurt baby. 3.
Line the box with blankets or towels, to give your baby comfort and support. 4.
Push your baby around the house or yard in his Little Engine.
Safety:
Be sure to push your baby slowly so he doesn't get a neck injury and isn't startled by sudden moves. Be careful to avoid steps and other uneven surfaces.
As your baby increases her neck strength and head control, you can take her on some gentle pony rides. Choose a favourite nursery rhyme, or sing the ones below.
Materials:
•
Your knee
•
Small, soft blanket or towel
•
Balance
•
Head and neck control
•
Language development
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Lay a small, soft blanket or towel over your knee, for your baby's comfort. 2.
Seat your baby on your knee, facing you, and hold her arms for support. 3.
As you recite a rhyme, gently bounce your baby up and down. 4.
Repeat the rhyme several times before moving on to another. Following are some rhymes to try:
Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men, Couldn't put Humpty together again.
To Market, to Market To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety-jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.
One, Two, Bounce My Shoe One, two, bounce my shoe; Three, four, tap the floor; Five, six, give a kick; Seven, eight, legs stand straight; Nine, ten, start again.
Safety:
Don't bounce your baby too hard, and always hold her so she doesn't fall.
Help your baby learn about his environment by expanding his world through his senses. Water play provides the perfect sensory-motor stimulation, so turn bath time into a sensory experience!
Materials:
•
Turkey skewer
•
Plastic bottle, such as a liquid dishwashing bottle or ketchup/mustard bottle
•
Baby bathtub or regular bathtub
•
Enjoyment of the environment
•
Sensory-motor development
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Use a turkey skewer to poke holes on the bottom and sides of the plastic bottle, making holes about one inch apart. 2.
Place your baby in a baby bathtub or get into a regular bathtub with him, if you like. Lower your baby into the water gently, to give him time to get comfortable with the strange sensation. 3.
Fill the plastic bottle with bathtub water. 4.
Hold the bottle up so your baby can see the water pour out from the holes. 5.
Hold the bottle over your baby's body and let the water gently tickle him. 6.
If your baby's game, hold the bottle over his head to make it rain!
Safety:
Try not to get water in your baby's eyes, especially if the water is soapy. If your baby doesn't like getting his face wet, just trickle the water on his body.
As your baby’s vision improves, he can see objects more clearly at greater distances. To work on his focusing and tracking skills, keep a Play Puppet “handy” for feeding, changing, or play time.
Materials:
•
Clean white sock
•
Permanent felt-tip markers
•
Language development
•
Social interaction
•
Visual acuity
What to do: 1.
Buy a pair of white socks, large enough to fit over your hands. 2.
Use permanent felt-tip markers to draw eyes, eyebrows, noses, and ears on the socks’ toes. Outline the heels to create mouths, and draw red tongues inside the folds. 3.
Place your baby in your lap, on the changing table, or in his infant seat. 4.
Slip one puppet onto your hand and entertain your baby with songs, rhymes, or simple conversation. Slip the second puppet onto your other hand for two-handed fun.
Safety:
Don't let your baby suck on the sock, since the ink might come off.
As your baby grows and develops, his five senses contribute to his knowledge of himself and the world around him. Playing in a tub of water provides a complete sensory experience, along with a lot of fun!
Materials:
•
Bathtub
•
Your hands
•
Motor control
•
Sensory exploration
•
Social interaction
•
Understanding of environment
What to do: 1.
Run a warm bathtub of water for your baby (and yourself, if you like). 2.
Slowly place your baby in the water, allowing him to get used to the water. 3.
Show your baby the properties of the water by lightly drizzling, splashing, and pouring water over him. 4.
When your baby is ready to play Water Wiggler, hold him firmly on his tummy with both hands, and move him slowly back and forth over the surface of the water, being sure his head is above the surface. 5.
Make motorboat sounds while you wiggle your baby back and forth in the water. Let your baby rest a few minutes between rides.
Safety:
Be sure your baby’s head does not get submerged and the water does not get on his face, in his eyes, or in his mouth. Make sure the water is not too cold or too hot.
It's time for a baby workout, set to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus." These exercises will help keep your baby in shape. He's never too young to start!
Materials:
•
Soft blanket or towel on a soft surface
•
Your voice
•
Language development
•
Motor movement and control
•
Physical exercise
What to do: 1.
Lay your baby on a blanket or towel, on his back. 2.
Sing the following song, moving the assigned body part on your baby as you sing.
Wheels on the Bus
(Bicycle your baby's legs as you sing the first four lines.)
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.
The people on the bus go up and down.
(lift your baby's arms up and down)
The wipers on the bus go back and forth.
(roll baby from side to side)
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep.
(touch your baby's nose)
Your baby is just getting used to recognizing faces, when you introduce the Hats Off game! Your baby won’t be fooled for long, but he’ll enjoy the fun of taking off the hat and putting it back on again.
Materials:
•
Variety of hats
•
Infant seat
•
Your face and head
•
Cause and effect
•
Coping with stranger anxiety
•
Object constancy (an object remains the same even if altered)
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Collect a variety of hats around the house, or buy inexpensive hats from a thrift shop or party store. Try to include a baseball cap, a knit cap, a funny hat, a firefighter’s hat, a clown hat, a bowler, a beret, a pair of earmuffs, or a fancy, feathery hat. (Don’t include masks in your play. They tend to scare babies at this young age.) 2.
Place your baby in his infant seat on the floor and sit facing him. 3.
Put the first hat on your head and make a funny face as you say something interesting, such as, “Look at me!” or, “I’m a firefighter!” 4.
Lean toward your baby so he can grasp the hat and pull it off, or pull the hat off yourself. 5.
Repeat several times with one hat before moving on to another hat.
Safety:
Sometimes babies get scared when people’s appearances change. If your baby starts to get upset, put the hat on only briefly, then remove it and show him you’re still mum/Dad. If he continues to be upset, play the game at a later date.
For several months after your baby is born, she has a reflex to grasp objects in her palm, but she has trouble letting go. Here’s a game to help her gain further control of her hands and her grasp reflex.
Materials:
•
Medium-size toys easily grasped in your baby’s hands, such as rattles, stuffed animals, teething rings, blocks, and so on
•
Table or highchair
•
Grasping and releasing
•
Fine motor development
•
Fine muscle control
What to do: 1.
Collect a variety of graspable toys that fit in your baby’s hands. 2.
Seat your baby in your lap next to the table or in her highchair. 3.
Place a toy near your baby, so she has to reach a little to grasp it. 4.
Encourage her to take the toy. 5.
After she has grasped the toy and enjoyed it for a mument, gently peel open her fingers and remove the toy. 6.
Place it back on the table. 7.
While your baby’s hands are free, sing the following song as you open, shut, then clap your baby’s hands.
Open, Close Them Open, close them, open, close them, Give a little clap! Open, close them, open close them, Put them in your lap!
Safety:
Since your baby is sure to put all toys into her mouth during these months, be sure they are clean and have no sharp edges or small parts that could come loose and become a choking hazard.
To help your baby enhance his visual skills, play a game of Roaming Spotlight. This is a quiet game you can play at night, just before your baby goes to sleep, or to calm him down.
Materials:
•
Dark room
•
Flashlight
•
Cause and effect
•
Depth perception
•
Understanding of environment
•
Visual tracking
What to do: 1.
Find a room that can be made completely dark. 2.
Sit on a chair or on the floor, with your baby in your lap. 3.
With the lights off, turn on the flashlight and shine it on the wall, catching your baby’s attention. 4.
Say something about the light, such as, “Oh, look at the light!” 5.
Move the light beam around slowly, resting it on interesting objects. 6.
Say something about the object as it lights up, such as, “There’s baby’s teddy bear!” 7.
Continue moving the light around until your baby grows tired of the game.
Safety:
Don’t shine the light in your baby’s eyes. If your baby becomes afraid in the dark, turn on a night-light, which should not diminish the flashlight’s beam too much.
Your baby will soon lose two reflexes she had at birth—the grasp reflex and the baby-doll reflex (she opens her eyes when she sits up)—as she gains more control over her movements. While she still has them, play Upsy-Daisy to take advantage of these reflexes!
Materials:
•
Soft, unslippery surface
•
Your hands
•
Anticipation and surprise
•
Grasping
•
Head and neck control
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Lay your baby on a soft, unslippery surface, such as a carpet. 2.
Sit at her feet, facing her. 3.
Place your thumbs in your baby’s palms and let her grasp them. As she does, wrap your fingers around the backs of her hands. 4.
Slowly pull your baby to a sitting position and say, “Upsy-Daisy” as you go. 5.
After your baby’s had a mument to see your happy face and enjoy the game, lay her back down and play again.
Safety:
Be sure to hold on to your baby’s hands in case she lets go of her grasp. Move slowly so your baby doesn’t get a neck injury.
