Good books on structered play for babies?

[2boysnamedR]

Hi, I have a four year old with speech delay and he is under the care of salt. I have just had another baby am I worried that he too might have issues with speech if don't make time to play , talk to him. With three kids its easy to get on with the house and overlook the importance of getting down and playing with the baby. Does anyone know some good books that I can dip in and out of just to ensure I have something to do just with the baby every day? Thanks

You don't need a book about structured play, you just need to keep your baby close to you and talk to him or her. Why put yourself under unnecessary pressure doing a specific activity every day?

I am sure that your 4 year old's speech delay has nothing to do with anything you did or didn't do, unless you kept him in front of the tv all day and ignored him.

Thanks, I didn't ignore him but I also have a eight year old and i think that I get too sidetracked in dealing with the older kids and doing the washing, ironing etc then saying its time just to ignore everything and concentrate on the baby 100%

I do talk to him about everything I'm doing but it would be good if I also had something had ideas on setting age opprpriate games up. So the SALT lady has given me hand outs on simple things to do with my four year old but I was wondering if there was a book of ideas like this? Or anything aimed at younger children? I didn't know there was going to be issues with my middle boy until he wasn't talking at 18 months and it took a year to see SALT. I'm just not very good with coming up with interesting ideas for play. Getting the farm and its animals out and talking about them etc hasn't helped my four year old much. Maybe because I make it so boring?

I wouldn't bother with a book either.
Just normal every day stuff, done with you, is all child needs. Trips to supermarket, park, a friends house.
Helping you clean and tidy.
Imagination games with dress ups or vehicles, figures.

As for being boring, nothing is really boring to a small child. Its all so new to them.

Think back to what you did with your eldest. You may have three now but you can still do most of the same things?

Over all I'd say chill out and carry on.

No books required !

Just talk to your child as you go about the house - 'I'm going to put the washing on ' 'let's get ready to go in the car' , 'Mummy is just going to have a cup of tea (and a lie down ). Just a running commentary of what you are doing .

Also your third will be exposed to the noise and chatter of the others aswell. Get the older one to read to your other two if you are busy.

I have two boys and the younger was under a SALT - thats was because he had glue ear.

Dont be so hard on yourself.

I don't think you need to concentrate on the baby 100% in a busy family, not in a formal way anyway. Just chat in the way that sleepydog suggests. Do you find it difficult to do that? Some people do but it gets easier if you just keep doing it. You sound a bit under confident about your ability to interest and stimulate your children - I'm sure they don't see it that way.

If you are looking for activities, the Orchard Toys games are great and you could all do them together.

This book

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099297205/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

-posted too soon, sorry!

It really helped me, showed lots of ways to play/interact/encourage speech through play. Nothing pushy at all - all play/fun based & initiated by baby. Play doesn't come massively naturally to me so I found it really useful.

It goes from birth to I think 4 years; each month has its own section on development & how to help them advance (at their own pace). The author did loads of studies too which showed it to be incredibly effective.

HTH

You really don't need to worry. Stick your baby in a sling and let him be a part of all the other stuff you do. Babies don't need to be the centre of attention ever - I think it was Jean Liedloff who said 'centre of activity, not centre of attention'.