The early weeks of an infant’s life can seem both predictable and chaotic. Baby eats, sleeps, poops, and repeats the cycle. Oh, and throw in a few crying fits if you will. At some point you begin wanting to play with your baby. And why shouldn’t you? Here are two simple activities that your newborn might enjoy – and benefit from.
Pom-Pom Play
Materials: Brightly colored pom-poms
Watching a brightly colored object move from side to side or up and down helps strengthen baby’s eye muscles so that baby can track objects and focus at different distances, a skill that requires visual convergence, or having two eyes working together. Plus, feeling the pom-poms allows baby to explore new textures.
Source of Sounds
Materials: Bells, Rattles, Parents’ voice, Music
Make soft noises using an object – or even your own voice. The noises will grab baby’s attention and sharpen their auditory awareness. Baby will try to locate the source of the sound thus improving visual discriminatory skills as well.
Kristen Kardos, MA Ed., and Kathy McGuigan, MSW, the co-founders of RI New Moms Connection provide affordable, accessible pregnancy and new mom groups throughout Rhode Island. In “New Moms Tips” they share their knowledge, resources, and helpful ideas for moms just beginning their journey into parenthood or moms that may need a little refresher.
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