Babies require asssistance in sensory development activities from birth to age five.
Babies require movement and experiences to expand their senses. They do not need a formal gym-like organized program, but young children do need to move and explore. While there are numerous products on the market that claim to provide the perfect sensory exercise, any baby can receive an adequate amount of sensory exploration with only a few items and an interested parent, relative or caregiver.
Developing Strength
It is important that children crawl and move. Avoid carrying children to each location and handing the child items when they ask or point at the object. Babies should use their arms and legs to exercise. Although some babies do not enjoy "tummy time," it is important that children learn to turn over using their own strength. Allow a little longer time before turning your baby over. If the child is rocking back and forth, give the baby an extra minute or two to explore that action. They just might surprise you and turn over without any assistance. It is not difficult to tell when your child is becoming frustrated, so assist the child when you are sure that the baby cannot complete the action.
Developing Coordination
Studies show that children who have better coordination test higher on standardized intelligence tests. Links between piano keyboard skills and higher math skills have been shown in several noted clinical studies. Exercise activities that create sequences or physical progression help to develop a child's coordination.
Crawling is the key to later development. While parents may be excited to see a child pull themselves up and begin walking, the child is risking development of many skills by missing the experience of crawling. The crawl development step allows the brain to move between the two hemispheres. The cross-use of the two hemispheres is used both in reading and in other physical processes that require coordination. If your child is pulling with their arms, and not using their legs in the crawling process, then assist them by lighting placing a hand on each leg to model the process. Lightly touch the child's knee to the ground, so that the child is completing the steps in crawling. Make sure that the crawling is even and in a fluid motion. Your physician can provide pamphlets to assist in this process.
Developing Tactile Skills
The most simple skill development for babies is the sense of touch. Montessori method is based on touch for early childhood development. Always consider this sensory skill when adding toys or objects into a child's play routine. Consider a small indoor box where a sand can be placed for the baby to create patterns or to simply feel the texture of sand. Buy toys with unusual textures or raised patterns. What might seem common place to an adult is highly interesting to a young child.
Caution
One caution before the activities begin: More is not always better. If the baby is not interested on any given day, do not force the sensory exercise. Begin with a short session and work up to longer sessions. You know you own baby, if the child looks happy, then they are enjoying the experience.
Tummy Exercises
Tummy activities are ones that babies can do as a first exercise. Most children can lift their heads at three-weeks of age, but that is an average. If your child can lift his or her head, then animate a toy on one side of the baby. Slowly shake a stuffed animal and then pause. Move the toy to the other side and repeat the same process. Do not move the toy from side to side quickly; the purpose of the exercise is to have the child lift the head and look on one side, not to shift from side to side. Alternate this activity with the child on their tummy and on their back. A morning tummy session and an evening back session works well for most children.
Play
Toys are an important part of baby's visual stimulation and exercise. While some toys seem like sure hits with adults, they may not be the best for undeveloped senses and muscles. Too much visual stimulation can actually be counterproductive to your child's development. Crib toys that feature swimming fish, bells, spinning wheels and a host of other activities, are many times overwhelming for young babies. Begin with a simple toy that has one basic element. Professionals argue whether children will be stimulated by colors. Some doctors claim young babies see in monochromic grays, while others maintain babies can see a wide range of colors. It is best to make your selection by the function of the toy, rather than the color of the toy. Expect the unexpected use of the toy and plan for the safety of your baby.
Avoid toys that require advanced physical processes for young babies. These toys will frustrate, rather than advance sensory stimulation. The major toy companies test their products with babies and children and mark the product with suggested age levels. Your child may be advanced in one sensory level, but it is important to purchase items in an appropriate age level. If the child masters the activity of the toy, they will not be bored by repeating the experience. Part of the development process for children is to repeat action and find success. Your child will enjoy repeating the process offered by toys. This will sometimes cause the adult distress, but it is important to the baby's sensory development.
Push and pull toys
Once a baby is walking, these toys develop both arm and leg strength and coordination. Make sure the toy is sturdy and will hold the child up if they stumble. Toys with a push bar, as opposed to two handles, are the safer toys. Some push toys allow children to load items into the toy. These are excellent choices for your baby. Reasoning skills are developed in determining how many toys will fit into the toy. As the child bends and dips to retrieve items to place into the toy, the child is exercising muscles and improving coordination. Select at least one toy that incorporates these activities.
A small cardboard box with a large rope knotted on both ends is a perfect homemade toy that meets developing arm and leg strength, as well as the cognitive skills of filling the box. Make sure the child can easily pull the box. With a rope attachment, supervision is necessary when the child plays with the toy. The rope should be no longer than the child's arm and should be at least an inch in width.
Too Much Visual Stimulation
Most pediatricians would agree that sensory input from videos should be limited. Canadian studies show that young children overexposed to sensory tapes had higher incidents of hyperactivity than those who did not see the tapes. The jury is still out for the conclusions of these studies, but any one activity in excess should be avoided.
