Babies at Home
Dear Parents,
How are you all doing?
Have you been able to think about the different things you can do with your children at home? We understand that given the current climate of the City, some of you choose to stay at home and only leave the house when necessary. What we want to assure you is this: Don’t worry too much if your little ones are missing a lot of social interaction. We are sure, at this point, keeping them safe and healthy is a priority.
At their age now, just a simple interaction is more than enough. Spending quality time with them even just a few minutes a day is great for them (without the distraction from your phone, computer, tv, work, etc). Engaging with them through physical touch, maintaining eye-to-eye contact, talking with them will meet their social, physical, cognitive and emotional development.
Establishing a routine as well is good for them too. They learn through repetition and consistency. Try to carve out a specific time in a day and try to stick with the schedule. They will learn to anticipate and will have something to look forward to.
It doesn’t also have to be an hour long. Their attention span at this age lasts only for a few mins at a time which is why short activities at this time are better for them.
We wanna share with you some ideas you can adapt in your homes to keep your baby busy:
1.) If your child is more mobile, ensure they have a safe space to move around.
Allow them to self-explore with supervision. You can try to “hide” things for them to discover and look for. Hide a toy under a blanket or place them in a safe spot they can walk to. Play pretend “look and find” and say “where is that (toy) hiding?”. Playing “peek-a-boo” or for older kids “hide and seek” is fun for them and can help them learn about object permanence.
2.) If your child prefers to be held more, you can wear them as you go on about with your daily chores and explaining simply to them what it is you’re doing.
(ie. We are going to do”..”, Mommy is looking for”...”,etc)
3.) Babywearing also allows you to do simple exercises and dances with them.
You can do lunges, swaying, turn around, side to side steps, walking forwards and backwards, etc. You can do a little dance with them to the tune of a nursery song or even your favorite song. Just ensure you have the right carrier and they are strapped securely and properly. Also, as you move around with them, make sure the space is clear and floor is not slippery. Wearing them is a physical task so be sure you or your caretaker are fit to do so as well.
3.) If they’re more active and are able to do simple movements, you can try to do some baby yoga with them by doing simple poses and stretches.
Have them copy you. Simple stretches and movements can be like raising their arms up and down, circling their arms, standing tall and stretching their arms up to the sky, bending over to touch their knees or feet, etc. Some movements you can ask them to do fast or slow (ie. Arms up and down, circling their arms). An example of a good exercise for them is doing the movement with the song “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”. You can try to do that fast and slow as well. Again, make sure the space is safe and clear of objects. This would be great to do in a padded floor such as on a mat.
4.) For some quiet time, even just reading a book with them and pointing out the objects and making out the sounds encourages their language and cognitive development.
A good book for them now would be the touchy-feel books and interactive books with flaps. You can also try to read books to them with different tones and emotions. Encourage them to try to turn the page themselves. Even ask them to choose the book they want to read or look at. Some babies love to read the same book over and over. And that’s perfectly fine and normal. Each time they read it, it’s still something new for them as they continue to understand and pick up the words and sounds. Repetition is their way of learning so do let them.
5.) To enhance vocabulary, singing nursery rhymes with hand gestures and “fingerplays” are good for them.
Songs such as “Finger family”, “Where is thumbkin?”, “One little finger”. You don’t need to play so many songs for them at one time. Even just one or two at a time so that they can really learn the words and actions. Some babies do like to play the same song on repeat and again, that’s normal.
6.) You can also do sensory play at home with simple household items.
If you want a mess-free option, you can try painting with water. As simple as that. Just need paper, a small cup with water, and a paintbrush (ideally with a toddler size grip so it’s easy for them to hold). Just letting them see the reaction of what the water and paintbrush can do. Have them do whatever strokes they like on the paper.
These are just some ideas of the activities you can do at home by yourself or your caretaker. It doesn’t matter how many you do and how long you do them for. What’s important is that you give them quality time, give them ample time for self-exploration, and repetition and consistency. Just simply have fun with them and remember to laugh and play together. =)
We know of some parents who try to jam-pack their children’s schedule with activities; afraid their child is not doing enough, getting bored at home, etc. especially because being in Hong Kong is competitive. But we believe it is important to remember that each child develops at their own pace. Having them do so many activities can also overwhelm them and in fact, lose their interest of wanting to learn.
At Casita, we believe that “open-ended play” and “learning through play” are much better for their development. So, sit back, relax and just go with your child’s pace and let them guide you and you’ll be amazed at what they can learn.
