Infant Stimulation
Abigail Richards
What Can You Do To Stimulate Your Child?
Keep it simple:
Everyday experiences, such as changing a diaper or giving a bath, build pathways between neurons when combined with cuddling, talking, or singing to the baby. Experts suggest that parents provide an environment with positive interaction and talking.
For Example:
- Singing songs to your child
- Giving your child a bath
- Simply talking to your child regularly and keeping them involved with daily activity
Match experiences to the child's mental abilities:
Babies need physical experiences to learn. However, it's important that the experiences provided are at an appropriate level of understanding for the child's age. For example, an infant would do better with an interactive toy. Something like flashcards would be too advanced for an average three-month-old.
For Example:
- A colorful toy
- Toys with letters or numbers
- Playing with the child's toys and them
Practice Makes Perfect:
The more a child repeats a stimulating activity, the stronger the connections between neurons become. Establishing a routine with the baby can help the baby learn what to expect. For example, reading a bedtime story to your child, even if they can't read, will teach them that sitting down with you and a book is important.
For Example:
- Having a set time for meals or naps
- Bedtime stories
- Having a set bedtime for your child
Actively Involve The Baby:
Children learn best by doing, no matter what age. Providing experiences that the child can take part in is important.
For Example:
- Counting objects with them
- Having an object of a certain color and having them find something that's the same color
- Have them imitate sounds
Provide Variety, But Avoid Overload:
While exposing your child to many different experiences is helpful for brain development, too many can be overwhelming.
For Example:
- Giving the child too many tasks at once
- Trying to teach them colors, numbers, or words too early or all at once
- Giving the child multiple commands at once
Avoid Pushing The Child:
Children will learn better if they take interest in the activity. It is easy to indicate whether or not your child is interested in what they're doing. If they don't seem interested, it's better not to pursue it any further.
For Example:
- The child isn't catching on no matter how much they do the activity
- The child wants to do something else
- Child gets easily distracted while doing the activity
Outside Source:
"Colorful Toys for Babies - Google Search." Colorful Toys for Babies - Google Search. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.