First time mom?

Question

My son is almost 6 months old and when it comes to playtime I dont know what to do. I dont want him to be dumb ya know... So basically what im asking is how do I play with him exactly and how do I teach him?

Answer 1

Reading to him is a great activity. I know it won't really look like he's learning much, but trust me, he is. It's not necessary to read all the words to him, pick books with vibrant pictures and name everything in the picture (sun, cloud, sky, grass, flower, cat, dog, whatever).

Nursery rhymes can also be a lot of fun, especially the ones that have hand motions associated with them, such as "itsy, bitsy spider" or "the wheels on the bus". Do the hand motions yourself and then use his hands to make the motions.

Let him explore his world. Encourage him to crawl by placing toys just out of his reach. (Move them closer if this becomes too frustrating for him). If he is already crawling, let him get into stuff, as long as it's safe and supervised. Take him outside, let him feel the grass, pick the flowers, a little dirt won't hurt him. Take him to the pool, let him sit and splash in the water. Take him for walks in the stroller and talk about things you see (cars, trucks, birds, squirrels, grass, clouds, trees, leaves, flowers, houses, fences).

Good toys for this age group are rattles and other noisemakers. There are toy pianos, drums and such available. If you don't want to buy anything expensive, set up some pots and let him wack them with a spoon. Blocks are also fun, but remember to pick out bigger ones, since they will be easier for him to grip and stack. Wooden puzzles also work very well, the ones that have different shapes (letters, numbers, animals) on them and a little peg part that sticks out kind of like a handle. The puzzle pieces don't fit together, they fit into a base instead. They also make foam puzzles of that kind, but I don't recommend them because those pieces can be eaten and choked on and because they usually don't fit together as easily.

If possible, get him involved in a playgroup. This will be good for both of you, since it will give you a chance to interact with other moms and it will teach him to start learning social skills. Don't limit yourself exclusively to a "baby" playgroup, just for children 4 and under. Places to look for playgroups include the library, LeLache League, and religious organizations.

I don't know if it is offered in your area, but you might be able to enroll him in a class to teach him sign language or you could just get out a book or a tape at your local library explaining how to do it. I know it seems a little silly to teach sign language to someone who can't talk, but studies have shown that it helps build their vocabulary.

They also offer Baby Einstien videos and other programing like that. I don't suggest using such things. Studies have shown that it is bad for babies/toddlers under the age of two to watch ANY tv at all, even so called educational tv.

Above all, keep up constant chatter. I know it feels a little stupid talking to yourself, but the more you describe his world to him, the more he will understand it. Explain the minute details of preparing supper (Mommy is going to brown the hamburger and then add the sauce.), folding the laundry (This is Daddy's blue shirt. We fold it one, two, three times and put it in the drawer.), or changing his diaper (First we take of your pants. Then we take off the diaper. You made a poop, good job! We wipe off the baby, throw the diaper away, and get a new diaper. Now we put on the new diaper and put your pants back on.). Keep background noise to a minimum, for expamle, don't leave the tv or the radio running when you aren't watching them.

Answer 2

Great question, and great answers already (for the most part).

As a new dad with a child just past the 2-month mark, I've been wondering the same things. Our health region here in Canada has given us a number of resources about child development and play, so you may have a similar community support where you live that can give more personalized advice.

See the link below for what I think is a good resource -- seems to have some very practical tips on activities and how they might contribute to development at various ages. A Yahoo! search on "child development" also will turn up a number of resources.

Play and development are very much linked at this age... reading him Chaucer or talking to him about theories of relativity are not going to be as important as helping him learn coordination and other basic skills that contribute to later development.

As I'm finding, remember to have some fun -- it's an incredibly special time in your life (and his!), so don't take all of the developmental steps too seriously... kids learn as kids learn, and nurturing parents are a very good first step in encouraging long term development.

Answer 3

First of all read, read, read to your baby! I was a single mom at the age of 20 and didn't know what to do, but I took some parenting classes and thats the first thing I was taught. I didn't allow my son to watch tv until he was 4 years old, and even then it was only a small amount of programs I chose. I read to him all the time and he loved and still loves books! We would sit and read book after book for like 2 hours at a time! My friend babysat once when he was 3 and she asked him if he wanted to watch cartoons and he was like "No, can you read me some books?" and then whipped out his book bag full of books! Now he is 6 years old and just finished Kindergarten and he is one of the smartest kids in his class. He loves reading and last summer before school he couldnt wait to start so he could learn to read! In the early months of school he would complain because they weren't doing enough reading in class! He could write his full name, Anthony, when he was 3, and could even write a few words at that age. Reading is so important! Not only does it help your child learn to read himself and enjoy reading when he grows up, but it also helps him learn to speak and articulate himself. Your child learns to speak by hearing words, so if you read to your child every day he is learning more and more words!
Some other things you can do with your son during playtime is role play. Even at 6 months old they can pretend. If you buy some fake food, fruits and veggies are good, you can show him the bananna, and say some thing like "This is a bananna! Banannas are yellow. Mommy is going to pretend to eat the bananna!" then pretend to eat it. It teaches him the names of foods, colors, and the pretend play is not only fun for him but teaches him what you do with banannas. Any toy or game that you play with him is the best. Putting your kid in a saucer or something isnt bad, but doing it all the time isnt going to help him any. You can put him in a saucer and then sit with him and play with the toys with him and stuff like that. The interaction during play that he has with you is teaching him more that any toy or game. He learns language, movement, emotions, and so much more just from interacting with you. Another great game is doing facial expressions and saying what they are. Like giving a big smile and saying "Mommy is smiling. You smile when you are happy!" It may seem like he is too young to understand anything, but he is like a sponge and just soaking it all in until he has the ability to use it!
Songs are also good. I used to sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" with my son and use the hand motions. Then when he was like 1 he was babbling away in the backseat of the car and when I looked in the rear view mirror I saw him doing the motions of the song!
Good luck and I am sure your son wont be dumb! Just remember to read all the time and also dont use baby talk, otherwise when he starts to talk you wont understand him because he was taught to talk like a baby and not correctly! I find it so funny when people talk overly babyish to there kids and then wonder why they can't understand a thing the kid says and he is like 3!

Answer 4

there is no wright or wrong way to play with him. Get on the floor with him and build with big blocks, read him baby books, show him how to play with the toys that make sounds if you push a button thins like that. All you have to do is make sure hes having fun.

mommy of 2

Answer 5

At six months, exploring is the key...

Let him, touch, taste, and smell everything. Give him new fabrics to feel..
You can intrigue his curiosity with games of peek a boo, and try mocking him. Every time he makes a sound, look at him, and mock his ssounds, he will love that one.. Don't worry, you will find your own fun things to do with him soon, it ounds like you are doin a great job!

Answer 6

Just talking to him will stimulate his brain and help it develop so anything that you are playing with such as a stuffed animal or a rattle can make him smarter as long as you are talking to him. Also try things like mirrors, toys with bright colors, black and white toys with patterns, etc.

Answer 7

Play coordination things first....
And then walking or balancing.
Then you can try language, babies learn language through music better than speaking by parents

Answer 8

talk to him and sing to him all the time. read to him, read books with lots of colors and pictures and few words, play peek a boo, say "(his name) is sooooo big" and while you do that move his hands out to make a "big" gesture (hope that makes sense). play "this little piggy" with his toes. surround him with toys that he can explore.

Answer 9

maybe your son wouldnt be dumb if he didnt have a mother calls herself a whore