Fun activities for your 0-12 months old

July 25, 2023

Since our last post, you should have started planning how to engage your little ones this holiday season. If you haven’t started, this is your reminder to start. We also have plans to hook you up with some ideas of fun activities. But first, let’s start with kids below one year.

Mamas of newborns, we went all out for you and we have a few suggestions on how to stimulate your 3 months to 12 months old kids.

  • Tummy time: Strengthen your newborn’s neck, shoulders and back by placing them on their tummy for a few minutes while they are awake during the day. It is not only fun for them, but you are helping them with their motor, visual and sensory development. Throw in a few tickles in there and wait for the giggles. I tell you, there is no greater joy than experiencing that moment with your baby. Do this every day; for your baby and also for you (mumu button unlocked, seriously!)

  • Play with a mirror: Place your baby in front of the mirror and watch them watch themselves. As they grow, watch how excited they get to see themselves through the mirror. Make it interesting by pointing to their body parts (with a lot of kisses and tickles, of course) and omg! ……… (again, with the giggles)

  • Peek a boo: Place your hands over your face and then remove it while saying the words, ‘peek a boo’. Do this repeatedly and make a play out of it to interest your baby. You can also hide toys and reveal them using the same pattern.

  • Bath time: A beautiful way to make your baby’s life fun is to make a whole thing out of bath time. You could make it a bubble bath, making funny faces on your baby using the foam. Daddy can have a special day of the week when they bath the baby and they can have a whole routine.

  • Let’s work on object grip: Gradually start by placing one object in your baby’s hand and see how well and for how long they are able to hold on to it.

  • Reading: It is never too early to start reading to your kid(s). They may not fully understand, but if you are convinced that they can hear you talk to them from as far back as when they were in your tummy, then they most definitely can hear you read to them. Read books with lots of colors to stimulate them; during the day or at night. They will fully understand what you are reading in time.

  • Practice sounds: At about 4 months, your baby will start to make sounds that might relate to words or even alphabets. Say it with them and even channel it to related meaningful words. Now Mamas, she might end up calling ‘Dada’ first, but it’s okay! (It’s not okay, but ……wetin we go do nau?).

There are so many more activities, but you can begin with this and then work your way to other exciting ones (we will suggest more in the future). In all of these activities, remember to be sure that your kids are having fun. There should be no pressure on them to be like your friend’s kid who already has his/her life figured out at 8 months. Please, let the kids be. Let them enjoy the pace at which they develop.

Kisses and cuddles can never be too much, so let’s have a lot of that everyday, shall we?

Well done, Mamas.

Acknowledgement for images1 

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