Fun Start: An idea a week to maximize your baby’s potential from birth to age 5

Nurturing basic home skills at the right time is essential to maximise a child’s learning potential. In other words, they either ‘use it or lose it’.

Think of a child’s brain as a computer. It organises and stores information.

Repeating activities is very advantageous. The more a baby repeats an activity, the more secure and responsive he will be. This is the baby’s foundation for learning. It is called rote learning. An infant’s thinking, reasoning and association processes are very immature. Rote learning will help develop these abilities to their fullest potential.

The developmental skill activities in this section are designed to help develop thinking, reasoning and association. The key to a baby’s learning is introducing and developing skills at the right time. A gap in the learning and development of an infant is what educators believe causes many learning and behaviour problems at home and at school. That optimum time is of the utmost importance. The child should be nurtured with love, gentleness and consistency. The recommended activities should be administered at appropriate times throughout the day. A set time is too regimented and may cause anxiety for mother, infant or both. The way a mother interacts with her child is very important. Good voice inflection with praise, consistency without pressure, and gentleness and love will enable your child to grow with a positive attitude toward himself and his environment.

Move the Body Parts

Observe the baby’s head movements. Is the head wobbly? Support it when the baby is not in a reclining position. Support the head with a collar, blanket, hand, lap or cradled arm. Does the baby turn his head from side to side? If not, gently turn the baby’s head while he is in a reclining position. This helps the baby to become aware of both sides of his head.

Observe the baby’s hand movements. Does the baby have a strong grasp? Let the baby grab and hold your finger. The baby is beginning to react to other people by feeling. The grasp is a prenatal reflex and will weaken as the baby’s eye-hand coordination develops. When you are playing with or holding the baby put his left and right palms together. This helps to develop a feeling and awareness of both sides of his body.

Observe the baby’s arm movements. Straighten the baby’s left arm and note the baby’s reaction. Straighten the baby’s right arm and note the baby’s reaction.

Observe the baby’s legs. Straighten the left leg and note the baby’s reaction. Straighten the right leg and note the baby’s reaction.

Observe the baby’s foot movements. Touch and hold the baby’s left foot and note the baby’s reaction. Touch and hold the baby’s right foot and note the baby’s reaction.

This week’s activity is primarily for the observation of your baby’s movements and reactions. By touching the baby’s body parts you are giving the baby his first awareness of his body through the sense of touch.

Wrap the baby securely in a blanket during the first weeks of life. For nine months the baby has been curled up. This makes a baby of this age feel secure. It is like a cocoon.

As you exercise your baby’s body parts throughout the first few weeks, you will notice that the baby will stretch his arms and legs as he adjusts to his new environment. The secure blanket wrapping will not be as necessary.

Talk to your baby. Use brief phrases that reflect your personality. Sing or hum to your baby. If you prefer not to sing or hum, use a music box or a tape recorder and play soft lullabies. This stimulates your baby’s sense of hearing.

Response to Light

This activity develops

 visual stimulation

 early awareness of light and darkness

 awareness of reflection of light

How does your baby respond to light? At birth a baby is sensitive to light, to shiny and moving objects, and will usually respond by turning his head to follow the stimulus. The baby’s eyes may appear to be out of focus. However, there is no need for concern. Open the blinds, draw the curtains or let in light from a window. Notice if your baby’s head turns to the light. Close the blinds or curtains and turn on a lamp on the other side of the room, or use a torch. Avoid shining the light in the baby’s eyes. Let the light shine on the wall. Notice if your baby’s head turns toward the direction of the light.You are making your baby aware of left and right, and at the same time you are teaching your baby to react to a light stimulus.You are teaching him to move his head from side to side for a purpose.You will also note that your baby learns to recognise and respond to his mother’s voice at a very early age.

Repeat the above activities from time to time throughout the week. Being consistent with your interaction with your baby may help to prevent a learning lag.

Repeat all of the activities that were suggested in week 1. Babies learn best at this age by rote learning. That is, you repeat the same activities over and over. Gradually the baby will learn by other means.

Remember to talk, sing, hum or play music. Babies need this auditory stimulus.

Moving an Object

This activity develops

 early awareness of moving objects (visual stimulation)

 awareness of tactile perception

 auditory stimulation

Observe your baby’s eye responses. Does the baby fix his eyes on you? Hold a rattle or other object in front of the baby’s line of vision. Does the baby look at it? Move the rattle from left to right. Do the baby’s eyes follow from left to right?

If your baby’s eyes do not react to the stationary or moving rattle, do not be concerned. Infants do not develop at the same rate in all areas. However, be sure to repeat this activity many times throughout the days and weeks to come, and observe the baby’s reactions. This is the beginning of left-to-right eye movement training. This is a prerequisite for reading.

Repeat the exercises suggested in week 1. Touch and move the head from side to side gently. Touch and move the left and right arms. Place the palms of the hands together. Touch and move the left and right legs. Touch and move the left and right feet. Also repeat the eye/light exercises from week 2 and remember to talk, sing, hum or play soft music.

Make a Cradle Gym

This activity develops

 parental bonding

 awareness of moving objects (visual stimulation)

 awareness of the bell sound (auditory stimulation)

Cut a piece of one centimetre-wide elastic about 10-20 centimetres longer than the width of the baby’s cot. Tie three knots loosely in the elastic, approximately 10 to 15 centimetres apart, before tying each end to either side of the top rail of the cot. Cut and slip three shorter pieces of one centimetre elastic through the loose knots. Loosely tie two of the short pieces and retain these for later use. Tie a coloured cotton reel (or colour one with a red felt marker) securely to the other loose knot. Pull the elastic and tighten the knot. The cotton reel and the other two objects that will be attached should hang low enough so that the baby will be able to reach them when he is ready.

The first day, try to interest the baby by moving the cotton reel back and forth. Observe the baby’s eyes. Does he watch the cotton reel swing? Does the baby attempt to grasp the cotton reel? Does your baby smile? Talk to your baby while you interact with him.

The second day, attach a plastic lid that has been covered with shiny household aluminium foil securely to the knot beside the cotton reel. Follow the same procedure for the lid as was done with the cotton reel. Observe the baby’s reaction. Then move both the cotton reel and the lid back and forth. Observe to see if the baby responds in any way.

The next day, attach a large jingle bell or rattle securely to the third loose knot. Move the bell to make a sound. Observe the baby’s reaction. Does the baby attempt to touch the object that makes a sound?

For the remainder of the week and later, repeat the procedure with the reel, lid and bell. The baby will soon discover that the cotton reel and lid make no sound when moved, whereas the bell makes a sound. This activity may serve to entertain the baby briefly at various times.

Observe your baby and become aware of any changes in his responses or movements. Have your baby’s arms and legs straightened out? Does he turn his head more easily? Does he lift his head slightly? Does the baby follow a moving object? Does he tend to turn his head when you move throughout the room? Does the baby’s whole body seem to lean in the direction that you move, the direction of light or sound?

Repeat all of the activities that have been suggested. Remember to begin on the left when moving the body parts so that body laterality continues to be established. Also continue to move the baby’s entire body gently from left to right at various times to reinforce this. It is also important to repeat the light and eye exercises and to talk, sing, hum or play music to keep the baby’s senses keen.

During the first month of life, a baby is adjusting to his new environment. The key point is the baby’s sense of touch, which needs much stimulation. The beginning activities deal with touch in relation to body parts. The light and sound activities initiate the stimulation of the eyes and ears.

At various times, all of the first week’s activities should be repeated to reinforce the baby’s awareness of his whole body, body parts, left and right laterality, as well as his sensitivity to light and sound.

Periodically, you should move your baby from his stomach position onto his back. Also, alternate positions by laying the baby at the head and foot of the bassinet or cot. This further stimulates the baby’s sensitivity to his new environment.

Mirror and Pendulum

These activities develop

 a baby’s awareness of his own image

 beginning listening skills

 a baby’s interest in making sounds by watching

 visual stimulation

 an awareness of movement initiating a response

Use a mirror (preferably non-breakable) or hold the baby close enough to look at himself in a large mirror. Does the baby smile or coo? If he does, smile or coo back. Talk to the baby and call him by his name as you both look in the mirror. Does the baby reach out for the image in the mirror? Use an expressive voice when you talk to your baby.

Prop the baby up in an infant seat or chair. Be sure to support the baby’s head with an infant collar or rolled blanket. Hang a cotton reel, funny face drawn on a paper plate, or any safe object, from a string or use a piece of one centimetre-wide elastic that is attached to the top of a door, doorway, ceiling fan or something high. This must be in clear view of the baby’s eyes.

Push the object on the string so that it swings back and forth like a pendulum. Try to encourage the baby to watch it move back and forth.

Repeat some of the first week’s activities.You may be tired of them, but a baby needs much repetition for awareness and association.

The cradle gym used in the week 4 activity can be hung across a play pen. The pendulum can also be hung above the play pen or cot. These activities should serve to interest the baby for brief periods of time. However, do not offer both activities at one time. The baby needs only one activity at a time to avoid over-stimulation and confusion.

The Sock Ball

This activity develops

 beginning steps in eye-hand coordination

 an awareness of the sock ball and the movement of it

 an enhancement of the sense of touch

 a stimulus to encourage eye-hand movement

Take an old sock and fill it with polystyrene, newspaper, rags or old stockings. Tie it securely to make a sock ball. Attach it very securely to the side top rail of the cot or play pen with string or sew a Velcro strap to hold it. With the baby lying on his back, move the attached sock ball back and forth from left to right and in clear view of the baby’s eyes.

Does the baby look at the ball and watch it move? Does he attempt to touch or move it, or does he just ignore it? If the baby is not interested, try again later. Do not forget this activity. Keep trying each week until you meet with success. If the baby is interested, encourage the sock ball activity, but remember a baby’s attention span is very brief. Be patient. Keep the sock ball; it can be used again later in another activity.

Throughout the week, reinforce the activities that you have done before. Observe your baby’s responses. Can your baby raise his head slightly while he is resting on his stomach? You will notice that the baby’s neck is stronger. Pat the baby’s back and talk to him. Remember to use good voice inflection. This stimulates the baby’s hearing. As you talk to the baby, turn his body over several times and observe his head and neck. Throughout the ensuing weeks you will notice how much stronger your baby is becoming.

Response to a Noise Maker

This activity develops

 the baby’s listening awareness

 eye-hand coordination and association (this will be noted when the baby responds to the sound direction)

Make a sound with a noisy rattle or bell. Does the baby turn his head, eyes or body in the direction of the sound? Then make the sound on the left of the baby and observe. Next, move to the right of the baby and make a sound. Do this several times. Move it first to the left of the baby, then in front of the baby, and then to the right of the baby. Let the baby touch the rattle or bell. Hold the rattle or bell in front of the baby. Does the baby reach for it? If so, let the baby touch or attempt to grasp it. If the baby does not reach for it, move to the left and make a sound with the rattle or bell. Does the baby’s head turn?

Be sure to repeat the previous weekly activities. These activities are necessary for sequential learning.

Awareness

This activity develops

 an awareness of the source of sound

 responses of body parts when moved

 an awareness of left and right laterality

 an awareness of hands

Lay the baby face down on a quilt or blanket that has been spread out on the floor. Talk to the baby or make a sound. Does the baby lift his head and try to face or see you? If not, try again. Good voice inflection varies the sound and serves to stimulate the baby’s hearing. If the baby displays some response, try making the sound in different directions. Try first to the left, then in front of the baby and then to the right. It is not necessary to make the sound from the baby’s back, because the baby cannot see you there. Be sure to observe any response the baby makes.

Turn the baby on his back and repeat the above activity. It is important to start on the left and move to the right. Early awareness of left and right laterality assists the baby in learning this concept early.

Stretch the baby’s left arm out. Does it stay straight out or does it curl back? Next, do this with the right arm. Then do the same with the left and right legs. Be sure to alternate left then right to ensure that the baby is learning left and right laterality. This concept may be more difficult to teach at a later age.

Press the palms of the baby’s hands together. Do they stay together? Or does the baby separate them and then put them back together? Separating and putting hands back together shows the baby is aware of his hands.

Interaction With Your Baby With Understanding

This activity develops

 an awareness of moving objects

 a stimulus to initiate a response to moving objects

 an awareness of colours

 a remote desire to grasp a moving object

All babies cry, but do you understand your baby’s crying? Crying is the only way a baby can communicate at first. Babies develop different kinds of cries and you should learn to distinguish between them. A baby may cry when he is hungry. He may cry when he has a stomach ache. He may cry because he has a wet or dirty nappy. He may cry because he is angry or wants attention. Some babies cry when they are bored. These cues should be your signal to interact with your baby. This is a good time to be ready to do activities. It will not necessarily be the same time every day. You will learn from your baby what is the optimum time.

Whatever cry the baby makes, respond to his needs with love, tenderness and a soft responsive voice. For example, you could call your baby by name, talk to him lovingly and comfort him.

Bright colours appeal to babies. Obtain red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple construction or contact paper. Cover three plastic lids with the coloured paper. Cut the pieces of paper the size of the three lids. Glue or staple the pieces to the front and back of each lid in the following manner. On the first lid use red on one side and orange on the other side. Use yellow and green on the second lid and blue and purple on the third lid. Punch a hole in the top of each lid. Loop a length of one centimetre-wide elastic through each hole and tie a knot as you attach each lid. Cut another length of one centimetre-wide elastic as described in the activity for week 4. Tie one of the three lids to each of the loose knots and secure the elastic to each side of the cot or play pen. Allow them to dangle so that the baby can focus on the objects, watch the movement of the lids and begin to distinguish colour.

Touch the elastic to make the lids move slightly. Observe the baby’s responses but allow him to play alone if possible. Observe if the baby attempts to reach for the moving lids. If he does appear to reach, does he miss or accidentally touch one of the lids? If there is no response to the lids, try again later.

Try repeating the sock ball activity and some of the previous activities, and continue to initiate the coloured lid activity. Does your baby show an interest in any of the activities? Make a note of which ones and reinforce these, and try those that the baby is less responsive to later. Be sure to observe what happens when your baby responds.You may think of other activities to enrich his experiences.

Large Muscle Activities

This activity develops

 the baby’s further awareness of his body and body parts

 more of an awareness of left and right laterality

 a vague awareness of hand grasping

Gross motor activities further develop the baby’s sense of touch. Place the baby face down on a quilt or blanket that has been spread out on the floor. Gently straighten the baby’s left arm and observe the baby’s response. Gently straighten the baby’s right arm and observe the baby’s response. Do the same with the left and right legs. Does your baby lift his head and focus on his left and right arms when you move them? When you move the left and right legs, does the baby respond in any way? Repeat this activity throughout the week and note if there is any progress. If there is no response, try again a little later.

When the baby shows some sign of response to the movement of the arms and legs, place a stuffed animal or any safe object in front of the baby. Does the baby attempt to reach for it or does he show no interest? Do not expect the baby to grab it. However, the baby may feebly attempt to do so. Continue to repeat these activities until the baby responds successfully.

Eye-Hand Coordination

This activity develops

 a tactile sensation that stimulates the baby to grasp a moving object

 skill in focusing on a moving object

 skill in listening to sounds when you talk to him

 rudiments of eye-hand coordination

Retrieve the sock ball that was used in week 6 or make a new one. A brightly coloured sock ball will appeal more to the baby.

Lay the baby on his back. Put the sock ball on the baby’s stomach. Roll it along the baby’s body across the chest and up to the baby’s neck. Watch the baby’s eyes and hands. Does he attempt to reach for the sock ball, or do his eyes just watch the movement? Be patient, he will respond when he is ready.

This activity should be repeated at various times throughout the week even if the baby showed little or no response. Talk to your baby during the activity and observe and listen for any verbal response or a smile. Remember to repeat some of the previous activities. Although some activities may bore you, babies enjoy and need repetition. The baby will delight in and gain confidence from doing simple activities.

Observing Different Faces

This activity develops

 the baby’s awareness of his face

 a purpose for looking and listening

 an interest in interacting with another person

Use a large wall mirror or a non-breakable hand mirror and show the baby his face. Call the baby by name and say,‘I see (baby’s name).’With the baby still looking in the mirror, use a paper plate and block the baby’s view. Gradually slide the plate from left to right so that the baby’s face gradually comes into view. As you do this say,‘Peek-a-boo (or Peep po!), I see (baby’s name).’Repeat this several times. Babies recognise and distinguish human faces, especially exaggerated facial expressions, at an early age and may attempt to respond to changes in facial expressions.

With the baby watching, try hiding your face with the plate and gradually expose your face by moving the plate. Once again say,‘Peek-a-boo, I see (baby’s name).’Be sure to observe the baby’s reaction. Repeat this and the other activities at various times. The baby is learning to play a game. He looks. He listens. He responds. At the same time, the baby is becoming more aware of his name.

The Face Observation

This activity develops

 more awareness of a face

 awareness of the concepts, front and back

 early motivation by initiating a purpose for observing

Draw or glue a large colourful face on a paper plate. The face can be funny and should be only on one side. Show the baby the face on the front. Turn it over and show the baby the blank side. Turn it back over (from left to right) and say,‘Peek-a-boo’or ‘Peep po!’as the face gradually comes into view.

This simple game is making the baby aware of the front and the back of an object. Also the baby’s eyes follow the movement of the face, thus visually training them from left to right.

You can extend this activity by using your hands to hide your face and play peek-a-boo with the baby. The baby may surprise you one day and hide his face to play the game with you.

Repeat this activity and the previous activities, especially those that the baby did not readily respond to. Repetition is very important for sequential learning, confidence and the mastery of basic concepts.

Stomach Position and Free Movement

This activity develops

 the baby’s body muscles by using a stimulus to initiate stretching and squirming in an attempt to grasp

 an awareness of movement through the sense of touch

 motivation to move forward

Place the baby face down on a soft mat or carpet and allow the baby to stretch his arms and legs to squirm. Place near him several large cotton reels that have been strung with one centimetre-wide elastic and tied securely at the ends, but leaving enough slack so that the reels can be rolled. Roll the reels in front of the baby encouraging him to watch as you roll them. Does your baby watch you roll the spools? Does the baby wiggle slightly to grasp the spools? Make sure that the reels are in clear view and reach of the baby. If the baby attempts to reach for the rolling reels, move them slightly away so as to encourage the baby to wiggle forward.You want to stimulate the baby enough so that he will attempt to stretch his arms, legs and torso and move towards the spools.