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Play Tip: LEARNING BODY AWARENESS
Yoee Team • October 14, 2020
Make the Most of Playing Together
Babies rely on all sorts of sensory experiences to learn about their bodies and how to move them in deliberate ways. From your gentle caresses and the kicking of feet, to putting hands to mouths and learning to roll, babies are gaining valuable
body awareness.
The key to nurturing body awareness is to give your little one lots of opportunities to move and stretch their bodies as they interact with their surroundings. Naming body parts while giving baby a massage, caressing with the soft material of a toy, and allowing plenty of tummy time exploration when awake are all excellent ways for baby to learn body awareness.
A baby’s earliest learning happens through their senses. Sensory play encourages baby to explore and investigate while building body awareness, motor skills, and helping form strong neural connections in the brain. Use a silk scarf, a feather boa, or a soft toy to lightly caress baby’s face and body. Baby may find these interactions calming and soothing or they may become more alert as they track the object and delight in a new sensation. Young babies often respond to touch with a full body reflex. If you tickle one foot, both feet may start to move and baby may start to squirm in response. As babies develop, they increasingly gain muscular control and control over their reflexes, allowing them to respond with more targeted responses. Gentle massage is another way to engage their senses while making them feel safe and loved.
Tummy Time is time for exploration and play. Tummy time is important for baby’s visual, motor, and sensory development. It also helps develop muscles in the neck, back, and shoulders. Getting started is as easy as introducing your newborn to even a short session of Tummy Time (3-5 minutes) when they are alert and well-rested. Over time, this can easily be increased, since there’s really no limit to Tummy Time other than making sure that it’s only done while you and baby are alert and engaged. Make Tummy Time fun by using rattles (not too loud), toys, and mirrors to encourage reaching and visual tracking. Get down on the floor at baby’s eye level. Baby loves your face! Sing a song to calm and soothe if baby gets fussy. Don’t forget to give baby lots of words of encouragement and smiles!
