Families For Life | Playing with Newborns

What is - Playing With Your Child

Children need to play, and not just alone or with their peers. In order to achieve their full developmental potential, an essential part of play for young children is to play with their parents and siblings.

Why is play important?

It helps your child to develop cognitive, motor, language and social skills in a fun and enjoyable manner.

It allows your child to explore and interact with the world around him/her. Your child will learn how to manage his/her feelings in relation to others and about the function and properties of daily objects.

It provides an ideal opportunity for you to bond with your child.

How can you play with your child?

Play ideas for babies (3 to 6 months)

Babies first learn to recognise your voice, face and touch, and associate them with comfort. They then explore through grabbing and putting things in their mouths.

• Cuddle and squeeze your baby, use a changing tone of voice and varying facial expressions.

• Play tickling games and blow raspberries on your baby’s tummy.

• Dance to music with your baby in your arms.

• Stimulate your baby with toys that are colourful and make noise (eg. using rattles).

Play ideas for older infants (7 to 12 months)

At this stage, children start to learn about who they are and to experiment being separate from their carers. They need lots of things to touch, but also to be able to move around and explore safely. They also learn to imitate you and to try to communicate.

• Play ‘peek-a-boo’ games. Use your hands or a small cloth in front of your face or go behind your child’s back.

• Pretend to talk on a toy telephone and pass it back and forth. Let your child babble to you.

• Play clapping games (eg. ‘Pat-a-cake’).

• Play in front of a large mirror. (eg. kissing, patting, making faces.)

• Wear hats and sunglasses and encourage your child to explore your face.