Games to Play with a Newborn Baby

Newborn babies spend so much time sleeping, eating, and crying that it can often seem there’s not time for anything else. But newborns love playing games and newborn brain development benefits from game playing as well. Very young children learn primarily through play, so while the games you play with your newborn may seem like silly distractions that mean little, they are actually valuable tools for cognitive development. Games for newborns generally focus on basic relationships, focusing attention, and other fundamental skills. Here are the five best games to play with your newborn baby:

Playing With Reflexes
Newborns have several reflexes that help them to remain healthy but also provide lots of material for play. Very young babies have a stepping reflex that can help them develop leg strength. Hold your baby around her chest and under her arms (making sure not to put too much pressure on her underarms, which can cause injury), and place her on her feet. She will tense her leg muscles and appear to be attempting to stand. This reflex usually fades by about three months of age, but this early practice in walking can help your newborn develop balance and stronger leg muscles for when she begins to walk.

You can also take advantage of your baby’s grasping reflex and use this as an opportunity to play games. Try placing your baby on her back, allowing her to grasp both of your hands, and slowly lifting her arms up and down. You can sing songs to her or talk to her about what you are doing. This action helps to develop arm strength and is also a stimulating and fun game for newborn babies.

Making Eye Contact
Very young newborns are just beginning to focus their gaze,but this provides a fun opportunity for play time. While holding your baby, wait for her to look at you. Then, move your head slightly so that she has to track you with her eyes, and make funny faces as a reward when she makes eye contact again. This game will help your baby learn to focus her eyes and will also encourage stronger relationships with adult caregivers.

Sing
Babies tend to respond to sing-songy voices, which is why so many babies love lullabies. However, singing things to your baby in other contexts can help her learn associations and feel more comfortable in her surroundings. Sing to her about everything you do- changing diapers, going to the store, etc., and she’ll soon begin to recognize the songs. Even better, singing has a similar effect on babies as talking, which means singing to your baby frequently will help her develop vocabulary skills from a younger age.

Surprises
When babies begin to lose their startle reflex and become more accustomed to their surroundings, they love games that involve a surprise. Make eye contact with your baby, and shake a rattle outside of her field of vision. Slowly move it closer till she can see it and make a surprised face. Repeat over and over again and your baby will begin to anticipate the rattle and the surprise. This game is not only fun; it helps with your baby’s short term memory and helps her begin to understand cause and effect.

Imitation
Very young babies still don’t quite understand that other people are both separate from them and similar to them. Try helping your baby develop this skill by imitating her noises frequently. After seeing you do this, she will begin to respond by imitating you. This can serve as an early form of communication with babies who don’t yet smile, talk, or babble.

Source: Experience.