NEWBORN : WEEK 2 - Let's Play! Finger Puppets & Shaken, Stirred

1 Finger Puppet Parade

You may have noticed that your newborn's vision is a bit limited; she seems unaware of things that are far away, but bring something right into her line of sight (between 8 and 10 inches from her face is ideal) and suddenly she's all eyes. This is a survival skill; babies come into the world equipped to find food, and 8 to 10 inches is the distance between her face and yours when you're nursing! Explore your baby's developing visual skills with a simple game of finger puppets.

Appropriate for: Newborn to 4 months
Skills developed: Visual stimulation, interactivity
What you'll need: A set of simple finger puppets – you can make your own out of construction paper and felt-tip pens.

Lay your baby on her back or put her in a reclining bouncy seat. Using a set of finger puppets, either store-bought or homemade (see instructions below), put a finger puppet on the index finger of each hand.

Bring your fingers slowly into your baby's line of sight and wait until she focuses on the faces. Then, speaking slowly, introduce each puppet to her. Something simple like "Hello, I'm Clover the cow" will do. As each puppet speaks, bend your finger forward so the puppet bows to your baby. Wait a moment, as if your baby were answering, then continue conducting a one-sided conversation between her and each puppet.

At this age, don't expect your baby to be able to follow the puppets' movement with her eyes and head; instead, just let her enjoy the interaction with you.

To make paper finger puppets (Note: Don't feel you need to do this as the mom of a newborn -- but it may be fun later on.) Use stiff paper, such as colored construction paper. Cut out small rectangles and make simple cylinders the size of your fingertips, taping, gluing, or stapling the paper together around your finger. Paste on ears, whiskers, or a hat for the animal or character you want to create. A man in a top hat is fairly simple, as is a cat with pointy ears.

Finally, draw faces with a felt pen, keeping the features fairly plain: Babies react most directly and dramatically to simple, graphic faces.


2 Shaken, Stirred

Rattles have been around since ancient times, and it's no wonder: Babies love to watch and listen to these percussion instruments.

Appropriate for: Newborn to 3 months

Skills developed: Auditory

What you'll need: At least one rattle, and preferably a few

Gifts for new parents often include a rattle almost as an afterthought, but you can put any noise-making doodad to good use. When your baby is lying on her back, hold a small rattle in front of her face and shake it gently. Move it to one side of her face and shake it again, and then do the same on the other side of her face. She won't yet be able to track it with her eyes, but she will notice the change in location, and it'll certainly get her attention (try not to make it too loud – that might scare her).

Though at this age she's too young to grasp an object, if you place one in her hand – particularly a light one made of fabric or plastic – she may involuntarily curl her fingers around it and move her hand. In this way she discovers that she can move something herself. You may see an expression of delight that's priceless!

Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for this week's activities, don't worry — just try them again in a few weeks.

Posted in: NEWBORN