Here's some ideas you can do right now with your newborn:
- Sing, chat, tickle, cuddle, count toes, blow raspberries – simple things are best for newborns. Newborns love nursery rhymes involving touch, like 'Round and round the garden. Sharing nursery rhymes or traditional songs from your own culture or language is excellent too.
- Make faces, smile, laugh, roll your eyes, or poke out your tongue. Your baby loves watching your face and playing peekaboo games. Nappy-changing is an excellent time for face-to-face play.
- Give your baby different objects to feel – soft toys, rattles, or cloth books with pages of different textures are fun. Feeling different things helps your baby learn about the world.
- Give your baby different things to look at – outside, inside, with different people, or in other rooms.
- Give your baby tummy time each day using a playmat or blanket on the ground or floor. This encourages your baby to move and roll, gives your baby practice holding up their head, and lets them see things from a different perspective. Always watch your baby during tummy time and put your baby on their back to sleep.
- Talk or make sounds with your baby, and wait for them to respond. Make sure your baby can see your face when you talk. This shows your baby that conversations involve taking turns, listening, and responding to social cues. You might be surprised at how much your baby has to 'say.'
- Try reading to your baby. It's never too early to start, but remember to hold the book close – newborns can see only about 20-30 cm before their eyes.