How To Play With Your Newborn

 

Play is vital for newborn development and well-being, helping babies discover and interact with their environment.

 

It fosters brain connections and promotes growth.

 

Movement-based play enhances muscle strength and motor skills.

 

Verbal interactions during play boost language understanding and vocabulary.

 

Playing together strengthens the bond between you and your baby, revealing their personality and preferences.

 

 

Engaging with newborns through play fosters meaningful interactions. Here are some fun play ideas:

 

Singing and Interacting: Sing, chat, and use nursery rhymes to engage your baby.

 

Facial Expressions: Make various faces and play peekaboo during diaper changes.

 

Sensory Exploration: Offer objects with different textures for tactile learning.

 

Visual Stimulation: Present new sights indoors and outdoors for observation.

 

Tummy Time: Daily tummy time builds strength; adapt to your baby’s comfort.

 

Communicative Sounds: Talk and pause for your baby to respond, enhancing social cues.

 

Reading Together: Start reading early, holding the book close for visibility.

 

 

Here are some activities from the Sparkler app to get started! Download the Sparkler app on Apple and Android for screen free activities, parenting tips and developmental screening. Use code: HMGK when creating an account.

 

“Follow That Bear”

Instructions

Where is Teddy Bear?

 Can you follow with your eyes as I slowly move him up and down, right and left?

Now, he will give you a Teddy Bear kiss!

Simplify
Your child may need a little extra encouragement to focus on the bear. Try shaking the bear or making a sound to
encourage Your child start looking at it.

Stretch
Try playing “Follow that Bear” during Tummy Time to help Your child practice moving his/her/their head back and forth to
watch the bear.

Words To Use
Follow – to play close attention to Watch – to look at or observe See – to look at

Why
When Your child follows an object with his/her/their eyes, he/she/they practices his/her/their ability to focus without
getting distracted.

 

“Purple Prints”

 

Instructions

Let’s rub purple baby lotion onto your feet.

Do you like how that feels? Is it soft?

Let’s press your feet onto the paper to make purple footprints! I can also trace your feet and color the paper purple— look!

Simplify
Rub lotion on the child’s feet and talk about how it feels.

Stretch

Trace the child’s hands and color them purple! How does it feel when the crayon traces the hand? Does it tickle?

 

Words To Use

Paint – to coat with color using a brush Soft – smooth, pleasing to the touch Press – to push against Trace – to draw
around

Primary Skill Link

Using lotion is a soothing new sensation for Your child to experience.

 

Book To Read

Harold and The Purple Crayon

What You Can Do

Your child learns about the world through his/her/their senses; what can he/she/they see, touch, taste, hear, and smell
throughout the day?