Let's Play! Swat Team & Switch Swatch
Between 2 and 4 months, babies are perfecting their swatting technique, and there's no more irresistible target than an unfamiliar object suspended overhead. Reaching for something – and actually making contact – helps your baby gain confidence and coordination.
Appropriate for: 2 to 6 months
Skills developed: Hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: String and some simple, light objects such as plastic measuring spoons or a rattle. Optional: A piece of tinfoil, a ball of wool
Use strong string such as fishing line or dental floss to dangle a rattle, a ball of wool, or a set of plastic measuring spoons just within swiping range: touchable but far enough away that your baby can't accidentally grab hold of it and yank it down. Vary the objects every few minutes to keep your little one's interest. (Just in case, make sure you use objects that can't be choked on – a good rule of thumb is to avoid anything small enough to fit through a toilet paper roll.)
Variation: If it's warm enough, bring some string and a toy or two outdoors, and try a fresh-air version of the same game.
Babies love to feel different textures, and a collection of fabric swatches is a great way to help develop his sense of touch.
Appropriate for: Newborn to 6 months
Skills developed: Sensory stimulation
What you'll need: 5 to 10 swatches of different textures of fabric, or cloths made of different materials (such as a dishcloth, a washcloth, and a chamois)
Gather a range of fabrics, from leather to silk to faux fur, and put them in a pile on the floor. Pick them up one by one and run them through your baby's hands, letting him tug and pet each one as he sees fit. Talk to him about what he's feeling, and use specific words to describe each piece: "Isn't this one smooth? Doesn't it feel a little warm against your skin?" As he gets older, he'll be better able to grasp each item by himself. Because he's likely to put everything into his mouth, be sure any swatches you use are clean and big enough not to present a choking hazard – and don't use any cloths that you wouldn't want to get wet!
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.
1 comments:
By far the most important releasing stimulus to the human infant is the sense of touch. The skin of a new baby is far more sensitive than that of an adult. It flushes and mottles at every sensation. It is through his kinesthetic awareness, through being touched and moved and handled, and through the things that touch his sensitive mouth, that a baby first locates himself and makes contact with reality.
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