Isabella celebrated her nine month birthday last week. It is absolutely crazy for me to think back to that sleepy little newborn that she was, to the little girl she has grown and blossomed into.
I cannot stress the importance of the developmental growth and appropriate stimulation of infant’s precious little minds in their first year. Studies show that in an infant’s first year of life, their brain grows 35% larger then it was at birth. Babies, contrary to what many believe, are born with all five senses. They possess at birth, the ability to comprehend/understand relationships, emotions, languages, and reasoning. However, it is so vital that babies get the appropriate stimulation to enhance and grow those senses and comprehensions.
Talk with babies- I hold entire conversations with Isabella. Yes, they are one way conversations with the exception of her sweet baby babble back at me. Many people baby talk. This drives me crazy! If you want your baby to turn one or two..or worse three or four and continue to talk like a baby, then go ahead and keep at that baby talking. Otherwise, talking to babies in your normal, everday voice is perfectly acceptable.
Music- Not only is it incredibly soothing and calming for a baby, it is developing a early understanding of beat, rhythm, and sound. Isabella has been bopping up and down to the beat of any and all music she hears in the house, for about a month now. I absolutely cannot get enough of it. I love that she gets the rhythm and beat and can recognize the difference between music and song verses spoken words.
Texture- I use everything from pudding, to soap bubbles, texture books, bubbles, shaving cream, etc. Obviously these must be supervised carefully at all times. It’s important for babies to use their sense of touching/feeling early and recognize the various textures of many objects.
