Babies develop varied skills through activities that parents engage them with. Their first playmates are generally parents because their world is limited to the family they reside with. Once your baby starts recognizing your voice and your touch, you need to move on to the development of other sensory skills of the child. Whatever your baby’s age, always make it a point to interact with him/her.

Through these activities your baby will learn to distinguish sounds and their sources. Your child will also realize that there are a lot of sounds and tasks that can be controlled and that certain results are expected when certain things are arranged in order. For example, babies are very sharp when recognizing the sound of their father’s cars. They can almost always tell without actually looking outside the window that a family member has arrived.

It is essential to keep them occupied as they grow up because this is the time they start developing skills and abilities required for a fruitful life ahead.

What should you do to make your child both receptive and giving? What activities will stimulate his/her interest and lead to good physical, mental and social development? Here’s a small list of activities that may interest and entertain both you and your child. It is also the best way to bond with your child.

• Hold your baby every single time with the same care and affection. This reassures them and makes them feel secured and loved. Their sense of self-worth increases due to the attention that they receive, this being very important in future.
• Sing lullabies when you put your baby to sleep, other songs when you are just spending time with your kid.
• Even if your baby is very young, you must make it a point to talk to him/her. He/she may not be capable of responding yet but the child’s hearing skills will make him/her notice the words you use.
• Take your baby out in the garden or the terrace instead if confining him/her to the crib. This will make the child realize that there are other places to explore.
• Be consistent with feeding and putting your baby to sleep. Erratic changes will disturb you baby since he/she expects certain activities at certain times.
• Buy your kid toys that will increase his/her ability to interact.
• Read good short stories while putting your baby to sleep.
• Let your child play with any article that he/she takes a fancy to as long as it is not dangerous.
• Tummy time activities are considered to be one of the best since they allow for physical development and strengthening.
• Play games like peek-a-boo with your baby. All babies love this game more than anything else since they find something new every time you play this game.

As your baby gets older you can increase the number of games as well as the complexity of these games. It will only increase your child’s capability to understand his/her surroundings and will also improve his/her key life skills. Happy parenting!!!