Playing With Babies

One of the main ways that babies learn and develop is through engaging in play activities. Your new baby will take in information about the world through his or her main senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing and smell. From the first moments of life and then across the entire lifespan, these sensory experiences will directly aid your child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

As a father, playing with your baby is a fantastic and important thing to do. And guess what? Dads are great at play! We do it really well and research tells us that, given a choice, children will often seek out their Dads for playtime! It’s great that through play you can bond with your child, have a good time together, and know that you are promoting his or her development ina meaningful way.

Play helps babies grow well

• • “Tummy time” – is a technique that involves placing your baby flat on his or her stomach to play and is beneficial for muscular and brain development. They may need extra entertainment during this time to keep them interested (that’s where you can come in handy!).
  • Variations in the types of play and toys your baby is exposed to helps build skills in different areas.
  • Rattles, for example, help build physical and specific hand-eye coordination.
  • Using words, rhymes, pictures and stories helps with cognitive development.
  • Peek-a-boo games with dad can build communication skills, emotional expression, and regulation of emotions.

More about Dads and Play.

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