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Infant Play

It is obvious that children need few toys during babyhood to play with. Those parents who try to give all their love and attention to the baby are far more critical for infants' healthy development and well-being.

Newborns are more captivated by human faces than by inanimate playthings, and infants continue to prefer people over toys. The child's earliest impressions of the world if he feels secure, being gently and playfully cuddled, touched, and talked to are wonderful and safe and he feels like he can explore this world without fear.

Remember that infants need extremely close and almost constant, supervision. They are engaged in the vigorous process of self-discovery, and are becoming acquainted with their new world by looking, listening, chewing, smelling, and grasping. All their feelings that would be so important in further life are now in the process of development. Most of their learning comes through play. Thus, they require safe toys that appeal to all of their senses and stimulate their interest and curiosity.

Babies have extremely short attention spans, so simple, repetitive play and sensitive, appropriate responses from you are best. Look to your baby for clues for changing a game. Play only while your infant seems to enjoy it. For example, if your baby begins to look bored after mastering a game of batting and trashing at a dangling toy, vary the play by moving the toy farther away or off to one side.

Your infant needs to feel some control over the new environment. That is very important for getting use to the surrounding things. Play experiences that encourage your child to make things happen lead to a solid base of confidence and trust. Your baby learns what to expect when he or she drops a ball or squeezes a squeak toy. Your little one also delights in causing you to do something over and over like picking up a toy that has been dropped again - and again. Be patient and attentive to your child and encourage his craving for perception.

By the end of your child's first birthday, a strong preference will probably develop for some toys over others. Of course all the toys should be safe and help your child to develop.