6 exercises to play and stimulate your baby from the first month
The baby, like us elders, needs to be at ease and relaxed, that is, to feel good. In the first days of his life he changed from a liquid and comfortable state, where all his needs were covered, to an air atmosphere with new sensations of hunger, sleep, cold, heat, etc.
To face this change the child constantly demands your attention and above all your affection and love. You need to feel loved. When you are relaxed and calm, take the opportunity to communicate to your child everything you want.
It's time to enjoy your child: the affective bond
Sit in a rocking chair, take the child in your arms and hold him in a regular and slow rhythm. Pick up the phone, turn off the television and radio; create a pleasant atmosphere with relaxing music and at low volume, which will help you relax. Follow the rhythm of your child's breathing: inspire and expire at the same time. You will feel in harmony and in close relationship. Remember that during pregnancy, when you were in your womb you could hear and feel your breathing, therefore, this situation causes you to evoke a pleasant state.
When you have been in this position for a while, take it with the other arm to change your head sideways. Finally, place it in front of you, while with one hand your back and with the other your head. When you hold him with one arm, his face is in front of yours; then the two ears and the two eyes will then have the same opportunities to be stimulated.
You will observe that your child recognizes you from the moment of his birth and with this game you will create a wonderful bond of union, an intimate atmosphere, a place where both of you will feel happy. The best way to contact him is through the look, words and caresses. It is more positive to contact your child and enjoy the two together playing, than to carry it in your arms without paying attention. Your baby notices, through your skin, your mood. If you are calm, he will feel at ease.
Your baby discovers the outside world
Your baby does not know what his corporal limits are; Little by little, he discovers his little body and learns what he can do with his hands and feet. You need to start moving by your own will, but you will have to help to awaken your motor and sensory system to achieve an accurate recognition of your environment.
In the latest research it has been discovered that the movement of rocking babies helps the development of their memory, very useful in the school stage. In addition, there is a misconception that babies spend their first months sleeping and eating. Reality shows us the opposite, we must contact him from the first days and, the more we communicate, the greater his capacity to establish contact with others.
On the other hand, you should try to change your position in the crib, because babies need to expand their knowledge and observe their environment from different angles. The eyes become accustomed to observing the movement and begins the calculation of distances, visual ability that is acquired by experience.
Exercises to play and stimulate your baby from the first month
Exercise 1. My first ball
Objective: awaken your motor and sensory system. Development of memory.
Activity: With a beach ball on a towel, you kneel and gently place the baby face down on the ball, holding it with the palms of your hands, at your waist.
With your fingers you grasp the ball and gently push forward and backward, in a short swing, as if cradling it. Then from right to left, to finish describing circles of little amplitude towards both sides.
Observations: in the first few days he deflates the ball a little so that he feels more at ease.
Exercise 2 . I help mom get in shape
Objective: Developing your ability to communicate with others.
Activity: sitting on the floor, crosses the feet and shrugs a little knees. Place the baby between your thighs, center your head and hold it with gentle pressure. Slowly raise the legs off the floor, flexed. You will notice that the muscles of your abdomen are tense, they are the abdominals of the postpartum exercises. Contact the little one through the look, the speech, smile and tell him affectionate phrases, constantly repeating his name.
Observations: Smile to convey a positive message.
Exercise 3. My baby goes by boat
Objective: calculation of distances.
Activity: sitting on the bed, with one hand holding her head underneath and with the other holding the culete. Flex the arms, bringing the child closer to your body, but without supporting it so that it is suspended a little in the air.Measure it with wide movements, like the swaying of a boat, to one side and to the other, with more and more wide paths, until putting the baby in an upright position. You hold him like that for a few seconds. His field of view is 180 ° C, like that of an adult, which will be what he uses when he stands up.
Observations: With this game you infuse the child with security, as long as you make it very sure of your movements.
Exercise 4. Moving in freedom
Objective: encourage him to start moving.
Activity: place him in the center of the bed, naked or with a diaper, to give his little body a lot of freedom. Never stop looking. Face up, your arms and legs can move and we provide good visual field. Then turn it over and place it face down; We help you with digestion, breathing, circulation and we provide you with a space to move around. Then lying on one side and then the other. Thus, you will obtain the enrichment of the surrounding environment.
Observations: Your baby can move. If you are on the changing table, always put a hand on it, when you are not looking at it.
Exercise 5. Mimicking Mom
Objective: provide you with your first learnings.
Activity: Sit with your knees bent and place your baby on your thighs, looking him straight in the eye and without making any noise. Then he sticks out his tongue, with an exaggerated gesture. Wait a little and repeat it again. Surprisingly, you will observe the baby's attempt to imitate you and you will notice how he slightly pulls the tip of his tongue out. You can also open and close your mouth a lot with a broad gesture, at a slow and leisurely pace. Your child will also try to move his mouth. Smile with exaggeration, or try other gestures.
Observations: you can make voices, twitter, sing, talk, etc. Global sensory learning will boost your intelligence.
Exercise 6. The awakening of the senses
Objective: Develop your intelligence through the ear.
Activity: sitting on the floor, with your baby on flexed thighs, show objects that have different sounds. So that he can observe them, place them at about 25-30 cm. of your eyes and gently shake them to get their attention. First make it sound on one side of your head and then on the other. You will observe that what the child perceives first is the sound and then tries to bring his eyes to the object from which he comes.
Observations: You can hum some children's song and gently rock it with your legs.
Mª Carmen García-Castellón. Psychologist Master in Neuropsychology and Education. Coauthor of the book A whole world of sensations.
