Parentpedia

What Experts Say

Playing with your infant does so much more than keep your baby happy and entertained (even though these are both exceptionally important things). Any time you engage your baby in a fun experience, whether it's singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or pretending to eat his little toes, you're demonstrating an activity that will be essential to his growth and overall development.

Consider what happens when a 6-month-old picks up a toy rattle.

"By simply holding a toy, a child learns that they can touch it, squeeze it, bang it, throw it. Playing is critical for learning about the world and for developing language," says Claire Lerner, director of parenting...

Playing with your infant does so much more than keep your baby happy and entertained (even though these are both exceptionally important things). Any time you engage your baby in a fun experience, whether it's singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or pretending to eat his little toes, you're demonstrating an activity that will be essential to his growth and overall development.

Consider what happens when a 6-month-old picks up a toy rattle.

"By simply holding a toy, a child learns that they can touch it, squeeze it, bang it, throw it. Playing is critical for learning about the world and for developing language," says Claire Lerner, director of parenting resources for Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization devoted to promoting health development for infants and toddlers.

Playing constantly stimulates your baby's thought processes by enticing him to do things like think ("Hmm, this toy is an interesting color."); reason ("I wonder what will happen if I bang on this toy?"); and remember ("Whenever I bang this toy, it makes a loud noise!").

The type of play that interests your child will change and evolve along with his physical and mental abilities. Young infants can't resist mobiles and music, while slightly older babies play by chewing and mouthing on any toy you hand them. By the time they're 6 months to a year old, they're engaged by stacking blocks, rolling balls, and looking at books.

What Do You Say?

Add a Question or Write an Answer

Most Recent Contributors:

Feb 6, 2008 at 3:49:38 PM

see all

Helpful Resources

Tell Your Story