Peekaboo to Playdough: The Power of Infant Playtime!

As part of my parent and baby yoga training, I’ve recently been spending some time researching sensory play and toys.

Playtime with your baby can be a beautiful bonding experience that nourishes your relationship and supports your baby's development. Spending quality time with your baby through play allows you to connect with them in a way that builds trust and understanding.

By engaging in different types of play, you can watch your baby grow and learn new skills, while also providing them with opportunities to explore and discover the world around them. Whether it's watching your baby marvel at the sound of a rattle or building towers with blocks together, playtime can be a joyous and heartwarming experience for both you and your baby.

As you engage in play with your baby, take the opportunity to show them your love and affection. Sing songs, cuddle, and make eye contact as you play. This will help your baby feel secure and loved, while also promoting language development and social-emotional growth.

I thought we could explore the different types of play and provide tips on how you can incorporate playtime into your daily routine to support your baby's growth and learning.

Types of Play:

Sensorimotor Play

This type of play involves the use of the senses, such as touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell. Infants love to explore their environment through their senses. Examples of sensorimotor play include shaking a rattle, feeling different textures, and mouthing objects.

Object Play

This type of play involves using objects such as toys or blocks. Babies love to grasp and manipulate objects to see how they work. Examples of object play include building towers with blocks, stacking cups, and playing with toy cars.

Pretend Play

Pretend play involves using the imagination to create scenarios or characters. While babies may not be able to engage in pretend play until they are older, you can start introducing the concept by using simple props such as a toy phone or stuffed animal.

Physical Play

Physical play involves movement, such as crawling, rolling, and jumping. Babies need physical play to develop their gross motor skills, which will help them as they learn to walk and run.

Social Play

Social play involves interaction with others. Babies can start engaging in social play by playing peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake. This is particularly lovely for grandparents and other relatives to get involved and start bonding from an early age with your little ones.

Incorporating Playtime into Your Daily Routine:

When it comes to incorporating playtime into your daily routine, remember to follow your baby's lead and pay attention to their cues. It's important to make playtime a comfortable and safe environment for your baby, so they can enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed (which is quite easily done in the early days!) I often see brightly coloured, loud toys for newborns when I’m out shopping and toys that produce a lot of noise can actually be quite overwhelming for newborns. Newborns have sensitive hearing and can easily become overstimulated by loud or sudden noises.

I would recommended choosing toys for newborns that are soft, textured, and easy to grip. Toys that have contrasting colors or patterns can also be stimulating for newborns without overwhelming them with noise. Often black and white toys are favourites in the early days. Additionally, toys that can be chewed or mouthed are great for newborns who are exploring the world through their senses.

Schedule Playtime

Set aside a specific time each day for playtime. This will help ensure that playtime is a regular part of your baby's routine. My husband and I would try and follow the “eat, play, sleep” baby schedule and this worked pretty well for us. The idea here is, when your little one wakes up from a nap or night sleep, you feed them, play with them…then when the time comes, put them down for sleep again. You continue with this pattern throughout the day.

Follow Your Baby's Lead

Let your baby guide the playtime. If your baby seems interested in a specific toy or activity, go with it. Babies learn best when they are engaged in activities they enjoy.

Rotate Toys

This one was a game changer for us when the twins were little. I would keep a variety of toys available for them to play with at our house, and rotate them regularly to keep things interesting by swapping with some from my mums house.

Make it Interactive

Engage with your baby during playtime. Talk to them, sing songs, and make silly faces - just like we do in a Calmer Llama class. This will help build a bond between you and your baby while also promoting language development.

Make it Safe

Always make sure that the toys and activities you choose are age-appropriate and safe for your baby.

In conclusion, playtime with your baby is not just about supporting their development; it's about creating a loving and nurturing relationship that will last a lifetime. So, embrace playtime as a chance to connect with your baby on a deeper level and watch as they flourish!