By Kate Brophy
A newborn's brain is an amazing thing. It contains more than 100 billion cells and is primed to absorb and retain information. But it's all potential until those brand new cells start making connections with one another. Using his five senses, a baby will take in information and make a mental effort to understand it. That's how the connections form.
As your baby's primary teacher, you can help him experience the new sensations that get his brain cells buzzing. Here are nine super-simple at-home activities that can boost your baby's brainpower while you have a great time together.
1. Touchy Feely
Sense stimulated: touch
A newborn's hands are usually curled up into tight fists. Gently play with her hands and fingers to encourage her to unclench them. Touch her palms and fingers with soft toys, the edge of a silky blanket, or a nubby towel (the idea is to use different textures). Follow these soft sensations with solid ones, using a wooden block or plastic rattle so she can feel the difference. Label the textures as you go: this is soft, this is rough, this is smooth.
Brain bonus: Feeling a variety of sensations and textures teaches your baby about differences in environment. Switching between soft and hard, rough and smooth, also helps her develop rudimentary intellectual skills, such as the concept of opposites.
2. Colors and Contrasts
Sense stimulated: sight
Your baby's still-developing vision responds better to high-contrast patterns. Up to around 2 months of age, he prefers black and white to color images. Use a black marker on white paper to doodle spirals or simple faces. Hang these where your baby can see them. After 2 months, he can better distinguish colors and the differences in light. Carry him around the house so he can see how the light changes from room to room.
Brain bonus: Looking at contrasting shades helps develop your baby's perception of color and form. Color also affects his mood and behavior: blues and greens help to calm and relax him; reds and yellows energize him.
3. Let's Dance
Sense stimulated: hearing
Put on some music — whatever you like best — and hold your baby close to you in your arms or in her baby sling while you dance. Sway from side to side, slowly spin around, and move him back and forth and up and down. (Make sure you support her head at all times.)
Brain bonus: By experiencing the feeling of motion and seeing the world from different angles, your baby is making brain connections that will ultimately help her with balance when she's walking — and dancing — on her own.
4. Shake, Rattle, and Roll
Sense stimulated: hearing
Seat your baby in his bouncy chair and shake a brightly colored rattle 8 to 10 inches away from his face to attract his attention. When he focuses on the rattle, slowly move it from left to right so he can try to track it with his eyes.
Brain bonus: One of the things your baby will learn over time is that not all the sounds he hears actually come from him. Once you've piqued his interest in the bright, noisy rattle, he'll want to search for the source of the sound. Presto — you've got him thinking!
5. Chime In
Senses stimulated: hearing and sight
Hang a simple wind chime where your baby can see it sway and hear the tinkling sounds it makes. You can even make your own with spoons or other objects.
Brain bonus: When your baby sees the wind chime move at the same time she hears its song, she'll eventually associate its movement with the pleasant sounds that she hears. You're sowing the seeds of cause-and-effect understanding: certain events lead to predictable outcomes.
6. Puppet Pop-Up
Sense stimulated: sight
Wear a finger puppet on each hand and sit in front of your baby with your hands a couple of feet apart. Close your hands so he can't see the puppets. Then, slowly reveal one puppet at a time, alternating between each hand. Watch as he works out that there's a pattern to what you're doing: you'll see his eyes start to alternate their focus, fractionally pre-empting the appearance of each puppet!
Brain bonus: You're encouraging your baby to get his eyes to work together to focus on something, an ability known as stereoscopic vision. Plus, being able to recognize a pattern is vital for learning day-to-day routines.
7. Massage Moment
Sense stimulated: touch
Skin is the largest sense organ and your newborn is incredibly sensitive to touch. Her brain will register and respond to the slightest pressure on her skin. When you're changing her diaper, take a few moments to gently stroke and caress her skin. Trace the tips of your fingers down her legs and draw circles on the soles of her feet. Have skin-to-skin contact with your baby every day, holding her against your bare chest and gently stroking her back.
Brain bonus: Every time you touch and cuddle your baby, connections are made in her brain. The more connections her brain makes, the smarter she'll be.
8. Chatterbox Challenge
Sense stimulated: hearing
This one seems easy — but a busy parent at home with an infant may forget to talk to her child frequently. Try to provide a running commentary on your actions. Here's Mommy with your hat, so we can go outside now! ... Let's go see what's in the kitchen ... Want to sit in your seat while I make your lunch? Use a high-pitched, singsong voice. Babies seem to take more notice of higher tones. Once he starts to coo and gurgle, at around 2 to 3 months, give him the opportunity to reply and then be sure to answer back.
Brain bonus: Your high-pitched voice attracts your baby's attention. When he hears how you modulate your voice, he also learns crucial lessons about the tone and pace of speech. It's his first lesson in having a conversation.
9. Baby Aromatherapy
Sense stimulated: smell
Open one of the seams of a soft play cube and pop in a couple of cotton balls scented with lemon oil. Then, sew it back up securely. Your baby will breathe in the lemon scent as she plays with his newly fragrant toy.
Brain bonus: Certain smells will calm your baby or make her alert. Lemon and peppermint are linked to mental alertness, while lavender and orange promote relaxation and calm. Being alert or relaxed are both ideal states of mind for your baby to absorb and learn about what she's seeing, hearing, and feeling.
From: Parent & Child 2/2007
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