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Supporting your baby’s learning and development doesn’t need to involve lots of toys, classes or days out. Start with you and things you have around at home. Your baby needs the adults who look after them to chat with them and be interested in what they do; and being able to move, explore and play with people (this can be a trip to the park, or a catch up with friends and family) is free and fabulous entertainment!

Making the most of everyday routines

When your baby drops a toy, then drops it again, and again – it might not feel that amazing to you. But, dropping a toy and looking to see where it has gone is a big step in their development. To help when you are picking up that rattle for the thousandth time, we wanted to tell you why!  

Does it seem like months since you've had a good night’s sleep? Even if you are starting to feel like you're adjusting to parenthood, some days will feel really hard. When you are tired or busy you might get to the end of the day and wonder if you had any time to play with your baby. 

There is a myth that babies only learn when you have decided it is playtime, or have set up a special activity. The reality is that some of the simplest things you do every day are great for your baby’s development. 

We often talk about building and strengthening connections in your baby’s brain, and you might have come across the phrase, ‘developing brain architecture’ – but what does that mean and what do you need to do with your baby? 

Movement and brain development are closely linked

As parents, we can feel guilt over pretty much anything at times. From screen time and the amount of time we spend with our children, to what they eat and how much stimulation they’re getting – there are countless things that can trigger the thought that our parenting isn’t good enough. We just want to remind you that there is no such thing as a perfect parent! 

Tackling negative thoughts 

Sharing songs with your baby is a great way to bond and build your relationship. There are also many other benefits to sharing songs with your baby, especially action songs. 

Action songs that involve hand and arm movements are great for developing both gross and fine motor skills, and will also help them to focus, and make it so that they are likely to join in on the fun. 

Rolling and rolling games are great fun for your baby and support them to master lots of skills. As well as helping to develop and strengthen visual tracking skills, rolling games are fantastic for encouraging your baby to sit up for longer periods, which supports their growing core strength. 

Feely bags are a great resource that you can make at home, using things that you already have in your cupboards and drawers. 

Building a play kit for your child is great for when you are stuck for something to do. Having something like a feely bag on hand is a fantastic way to fill up time when you have a quiet moment in the day, and having them prepared saves you precious time.

Feely bags and development 

There are many areas of development that feely bags can support.  

When you're chatting with your baby, do you notice them moving their mouth or trying out some different facial expressions? They might copy some of your expressions. There is some debate among scientists about if babies copy from birth, or if this is a skill they develop. You don’t need to know the exact moment your baby starts to copy you, but it might be interesting to know how much they learn through imitation.^[1][2]

Copying and learning about people

Spending time in the great outdoors is great for new parents and babies. Even small amounts of time spent outside will work wonders for you, and your baby’s health, mood and spirit.