14 week old playtime, what do you do?

[Dozeyland]

What activitie/playtimes (at home or baby groups) do you do with
Your 14 week old?

what activites at home do you find useful for their development/
What they enjoy?

My DS is 5 months but I still dont do anything 'specific'. At this age I believe the most important thing is to interact with babya lot in the 'normal' sense, talking, holding, smiling, singing (!) pointing different everyday things out etc etc.

Secure attachment/Emotional development is paramount at this stage and babies brains are sponges that learn from things we woulnt even notice!

When DS is 1 ish I may enrol him in a group, but as he will be going to nursery 3 days a week he will get lots of different stimulation there as well so doesnt really need it.

The main thing, if you fancy a group is to do something yoU fancy and willbe relaxed with and enjoy!

Took this approach with DS1 and he is very bright (if this is important!) has an extemely enquiring mind, knows alphabet, counts to 50 etc etc, so I take this as anecdotal evidence that you dont NEED to do 'specific' activities with babies unless you want to yourself.

DD loved her activity mat from about 5 weeks (it had flashy lights and music and she loved kicking her legs). Also loved baby groups etc as she was a nosy little girl and spent the whole time gawking at everyone.

I also did sang songs and gave a running commentary on everything I was doing and we would sit on the sofa and play with (ie hold and attempt to eat) whatever small toys were around.

We did to a couple of the baby classes too like baby sensory and the like but I wouldn't say that they're an absolute must. I just liked getting out and about a fair amount.

I sang, read them stories (it doesn't matter what they just like to hear your voice, 'danced' with them to music, let them experience different textures (the 'that's not my' books are great for this,and put them on their mat and blew bubbles or bounced balloons around them. Not all on the same day of course. I have twins and didn't manage to get out the house much when they were young so I used to try to do something different every day.

I put him on a babygym, carried him in the sling, talked to him while I did housework.

We went to a rhyme time at the children's centre from about 4.5 months, which he loved.

When DD was that age we went to a couple of mum and baby groups, they gave me a reason to get out of the house and she enjoyed the change of scene and toys.

She loved tummy time on her play gym, songs, lots of talking, and giving her various different objects and textures to explore.

Yeah i alwasy talk, sing, dance, hold, hug, silly faces etc! also talk whilst im doing things just so she knows im still there and knows that mummy is interacting lol

i love taking her out and about even if its just for a walk, she stares at the surroundings a lot, and now i have my parent-facing pram way on pushchair its great to sing and talk whilst on the go - which some people might think im barking mad, but i dont care - she loves it!

but yeah, ive just got a nursery rhyme dvd and cd for in the car, shes watching the dvd one as we speak whilst playing on her playmat. she loves it. but i do think that nothing beats parent/adult to baby interaction :)

allofmyfavthings* also read too about the ecure attatchment thing.

Do you let your baby's watch tv? not literally dump them in front of it, but if they glance at the tv do you mind?

i prefer talking to her but if im doing things around the house i let her play on her mat whilst having that dvd on in the background, or music, or i sing...