Movement and play for babies is an important part of their development, particularly their motor skills. In this article we explore the benefits of movement and play for babies and what works well (and what you can expect) at different stages of their growth.
Benefits of Movement and Play for Babies
Play time for young babies (3-12 months) is a critical part of their development, helping them strengthen muscles for movements they develop over this period including lifting and moving their head, reaching and holding with their hands, rolling their body, crawling, and eventually pulling themselves up to standing.
3-6 months
At this age, your child will likely start to reach for and grasp toys and may learn to roll. If they do roll onto their back, they will often reach for their own feet or a toy that is within their reach. They may also attempt to roll from lying on their back to their tummy and from their tummy to their back.
6-9 months
At this stage, babies often prefer to lie on their tummies, instead of on their backs. This can give them more manoeuvrability to turn around in a circle and to reach for nearby toys. Some children will also attempt to crawl at this time. Other things they may try include rolling, sitting, pushing up to hands and knees, or even standing with some support.
9-12 months
This is often the time when children learn to crawl, sit by themselves or pull themselves up to standing. They may also move from sitting, back to being on their tummy or vice versa. Many children also begin playing with things using both hands during this time.
As a parent, it’s very important to understand that while there are typical patterns of development, all children are unique individuals and many babies will do things in their own order and at their own pace. If you’re concerned about your child’s development talk to us. We’re here to help and can provide reassurance and resources.
Movement and Play for Babies – Playtime Ideas
Try the following with your baby:
- Tummy Time: Start soon after birth with short periods (1-2 minutes) and build up slowly over time to a few periods each day of 5-10 minutes.
- Song and Rhymes: Babies often enjoy listening to and moving to music and even making their own sounds with their voice or a toy like a rattle.
- Encourage Reaching: During your baby’s play time, put toys just outside of their reach to encourage them to move toward the toy. This is best from 6 months onwards (and don’t worry, it’s not mean – it gives them a stimulating challenge and helps their development☺︎).
- Quiet Activities: For fine motor development, quiet activities like looking at picture books encourage your baby to use their fingers to attempt to turn pages and helps them with distinguishing shapes and colours with their eyes.