Learning and touch - activities for newborns
Tactile exploration includes rocking, stroking, patting, and cuddling. Research indicates that babies who do not receive adequate touch have stunted growth across all areas of development, including physical growth. On the other hand, tactile techniques like baby massage create positive cognitive pathways that lead to an increase in future active exploration. Research also reveals that massage increases the baby’s alert periods and lengthens sleep periods. You can take advantage of training in baby massage or hire a local consultant to get started with formal baby massage techniques. In the meantime, try these sensory activities:
Understanding your baby’s sensory
inputs and gently expanding his experiences build what early childhood
specialists and psychologists call attachment. Attachment is the strong
bond built between a newborn and his care-givers that promotes both
health and learning. Regular positive interactions foster a sense of
security and build pathways in the brain that allow for developmental
expansion across all areas of development.
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