Fun Start: An idea a week to maximize your baby’s potential from birth to age 5

responses of body parts when moved

an awareness of left and right laterality

an awareness of hands

Lay the baby face down on a quilt or blanket that has been spread out on the floor. Talk to the baby or make a sound. Does the baby lift his head and try to face or see you? If not, try again. Good voice inflection varies the sound and serves to stimulate the baby’s hearing. If the baby displays some response, try making the sound in different directions. Try first to the left, then in front of the baby and then to the right. It is not necessary to make the sound from the baby’s back, because the baby cannot see you there. Be sure to observe any response the baby makes.

Turn the baby on his back and repeat the above activity. It is important to start on the left and move to the right. Early awareness of left and right laterality assists the baby in learning this concept early.

Stretch the baby’s left arm out. Does it stay straight out or does it curl back? Next, do this with the right arm. Then do the same with the left and right legs. Be sure to alternate left then right to ensure that the baby is learning left and right laterality. This concept may be more difficult to teach at a later age.

Press the palms of the baby’s hands together. Do they stay together? Or does the baby separate them and then put them back together? Separating and putting hands back together shows the baby is aware of his hands.

Interaction With Your Baby With Understanding (#ulink_4cf2ebd6-2f61-5df4-82e9-00188e1342ea)

This activity develops

an awareness of moving objects

a stimulus to initiate a response to moving objects

an awareness of colours

a remote desire to grasp a moving object

All babies cry, but do you understand your baby’s crying? Crying is the only way a baby can communicate at first. Babies develop different kinds of cries and you should learn to distinguish between them. A baby may cry when he is hungry. He may cry when he has a stomach ache. He may cry because he has a wet or dirty nappy. He may cry because he is angry or wants attention. Some babies cry when they are bored. These cues should be your signal to interact with your baby. This is a good time to be ready to do activities. It will not necessarily be the same time every day. You will learn from your baby what is the optimum time.

Whatever cry the baby makes, respond to his needs with love, tenderness and a soft responsive voice. For example, you could call your baby by name, talk to him lovingly and comfort him.

Bright colours appeal to babies. Obtain red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple construction or contact paper. Cover three plastic lids with the coloured paper. Cut the pieces of paper the size of the three lids. Glue or staple the pieces to the front and back of each lid in the following manner. On the first lid use red on one side and orange on the other side. Use yellow and green on the second lid and blue and purple on the third lid. Punch a hole in the top of each lid. Loop a length of one centimetre-wide elastic through each hole and tie a knot as you attach each lid. Cut another length of one centimetre-wide elastic as described in the activity for week 4. Tie one of the three lids to each of the loose knots and secure the elastic to each side of the cot or play pen. Allow them to dangle so that the baby can focus on the objects, watch the movement of the lids and begin to distinguish colour.

Touch the elastic to make the lids move slightly. Observe the baby’s responses but allow him to play alone if possible. Observe if the baby attempts to reach for the moving lids. If he does appear to reach, does he miss or accidentally touch one of the lids? If there is no response to the lids, try again later.

Try repeating the sock ball activity and some of the previous activities, and continue to initiate the coloured lid activity. Does your baby show an interest in any of the activities? Make a note of which ones and reinforce these, and try those that the baby is less responsive to later. Be sure to observe what happens when your baby responds.You may think of other activities to enrich his experiences.

Large Muscle Activities (#ulink_13d03a61-5028-5865-a5a8-ce99181d7762)

This activity develops

the baby’s further awareness of his body and body parts

more of an awareness of left and right laterality

a vague awareness of hand grasping

Gross motor activities further develop the baby’s sense of touch. Place the baby face down on a quilt or blanket that has been spread out on the floor. Gently straighten the baby’s left arm and observe the baby’s response. Gently straighten the baby’s right arm and observe the baby’s response. Do the same with the left and right legs. Does your baby lift his head and focus on his left and right arms when you move them? When you move the left and right legs, does the baby respond in any way? Repeat this activity throughout the week and note if there is any progress. If there is no response, try again a little later.

When the baby shows some sign of response to the movement of the arms and legs, place a stuffed animal or any safe object in front of the baby. Does the baby attempt to reach for it or does he show no interest? Do not expect the baby to grab it. However, the baby may feebly attempt to do so. Continue to repeat these activities until the baby responds successfully.

Eye-Hand Coordination (#ulink_8a644e4e-26b9-5697-bea2-4d9668c6fc33)

This activity develops

a tactile sensation that stimulates the baby to grasp a moving object

skill in focusing on a moving object

skill in listening to sounds when you talk to him

rudiments of eye-hand coordination

Retrieve the sock ball that was used in week 6 or make a new one. A brightly coloured sock ball will appeal more to the baby.

Lay the baby on his back. Put the sock ball on the baby’s stomach. Roll it along the baby’s body across the chest and up to the baby’s neck. Watch the baby’s eyes and hands. Does he attempt to reach for the sock ball, or do his eyes just watch the movement? Be patient, he will respond when he is ready.

This activity should be repeated at various times throughout the week even if the baby showed little or no response. Talk to your baby during the activity and observe and listen for any verbal response or a smile. Remember to repeat some of the previous activities. Although some activities may bore you, babies enjoy and need repetition. The baby will delight in and gain confidence from doing simple activities.

Observing Different Faces (#ulink_af27a439-cc18-53a6-a491-7f5ee1871337)

This activity develops

the baby’s awareness of his face

a purpose for looking and listening

an interest in interacting with another person

Use a large wall mirror or a non-breakable hand mirror and show the baby his face. Call the baby by name and say,‘I see (baby’s name).’With the baby still looking in the mirror, use a paper plate and block the baby’s view. Gradually slide the plate from left to right so that the baby’s face gradually comes into view. As you do this say,‘Peek-a-boo (or Peep po!), I see (baby’s name).’Repeat this several times. Babies recognise and distinguish human faces, especially exaggerated facial expressions, at an early age and may attempt to respond to changes in facial expressions.

With the baby watching, try hiding your face with the plate and gradually expose your face by moving the plate. Once again say,‘Peek-a-boo, I see (baby’s name).’Be sure to observe the baby’s reaction. Repeat this and the other activities at various times. The baby is learning to play a game. He looks. He listens. He responds. At the same time, the baby is becoming more aware of his name.

The Face Observation (#ulink_22d97452-4119-5b8a-94f6-aa30645d4390)

This activity develops

more awareness of a face

awareness of the concepts, front and back

early motivation by initiating a purpose for observing

Draw or glue a large colourful face on a paper plate. The face can be funny and should be only on one side. Show the baby the face on the front. Turn it over and show the baby the blank side. Turn it back over (from left to right) and say,‘Peek-a-boo’or ‘Peep po!’as the face gradually comes into view.

This simple game is making the baby aware of the front and the back of an object. Also the baby’s eyes follow the movement of the face, thus visually training them from left to right.

You can extend this activity by using your hands to hide your face and play peek-a-boo with the baby. The baby may surprise you one day and hide his face to play the game with you.

Repeat this activity and the previous activities, especially those that the baby did not readily respond to. Repetition is very important for sequential learning, confidence and the mastery of basic concepts.