Baby activities set the foundation for future motor skills. There are plenty of easy-to-do exercises that can help your baby develop, no matter what stage they're in.
Published
UK baby brand Nuby has put together five exercises that are sure to bring fun and growth to the playmat.
Tummy time
Tummy time is a great exercise for strengthening your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles, Eventually, your baby develops the necessary muscles to hold their head up, sit, crawl, and walk. The earlier infants, toddlers, and preschool children get exposure to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy development in later life.
As babies initially spend a lot of time on their back, turning them onto their stomachs so they are lying flat, or propping them to sit up with a range of toys will provide a change of scenery and support an even distribution of muscle development.
Tummy time can be performed in different ways, depending on the age and development of your baby. Begin with short periods of one to two minutes and gradually increase the duration to at least 20 minutes per day.
You can also put toys just out of reach to encourage them to reach and roll over to grab them.
Position your baby on a firm, flat surface, such as a blanket or
playmat, and always supervise them to ensure they’re safe and
comfortable.
You can make tummy time even more fun by engaging your baby with
toys, rattles, or books. A tummy time roller, for example, will help
strengthen your baby’s muscles while keeping them entertained and
engaging them in sensory play. A tummy time pillow can also strengthen
muscles, along with stimulating the development of your little one’s
coordination, prepping them for crawling and walking. Getting down on
the floor with your baby and interacting with them is also beneficial.
Rolling over and rocking
This is an important milestone for babies because it helps develop their core muscles and coordination.
Use nappy change or playmat time to gently rock your baby from side
to side from their shoulders and their legs. This will help them learn
how to use the different parts of their body to move and start to roll,
as well as develop their muscles.
Once your baby becomes familiar with rolling on their back and tummy,
you can assist them in doing it on their own by putting them on their
side so they will initiate the movement. This usually happens around
three to six months of age. Make sure to support their head and neck if
needed. You can also put toys just out of reach to encourage them to
reach and roll over to grab them.
Balancing
You can help babies develop their coordination, body awareness, core muscles and strength through developing balance..
There are multiple ways you can perform balancing exercises with
babies for each stage of their development and expand as they grow,
leading up to walking.
Start by encouraging your baby to sit on the floor. Place a soft toy
or ball in front of them and encourage them to reach for it. As they
reach for the toy, gently rock them side to side. This will help them
learn how to balance while sitting.
Once your baby can sit and balance, it's time to move on to standing.
Hold your baby's hands and help them stand up. Gently rock them back
and forth to help them learn how to balance on two feet.
When babies are comfortable standing on two feet, encourage them to
stand on one foot. Hold their hands for support and help them lift one
foot off the ground. Encourage them to balance on one foot for a few
seconds before switching to the other foot.
Once your baby has mastered balancing on one foot, it's time to move
on to walking. Help your baby take a few steps while holding onto their
hand. Encourage them to balance on each foot as they take steps.Feel
free to use props such as a yoga ball or other unstable surface to
challenge their balance.
Bicycle legs
Improve your baby’s flexibility through a range of bicycling motions to
strengthen their leg muscles. By moving their legs in a cycling motion,
babies engage their quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, which can help
improve their ability to crawl, walk, and eventually run. Additionally,
bicycle legs can help promote good posture and balance, as it requires
babies to maintain balance while moving their legs.
Another major benefit of bicycle legs for babies is that it can help
promote good digestion. Bicycle legs can help stimulate the intestines,
which can aid in digestion and relieve gas and constipation. This is
especially beneficial for babies who may struggle with digestive issues.
Incorporating simple exercises into your baby's daily routine can significantly improve their overall development, from strengthening their muscles to enhancing their cognitive function.
You can start engaging your baby from about three months of age, as
long as they can hold their heads up and have good neck control. Place
your baby on a playmat or a blanket, gently hold your baby’s legs, and
move them in a cycling motion as if they’re riding a bicycle.
You can also talk or sing to your baby to keep them engaged and make
the exercise more enjoyable. Repeat for a few minutes each day, take a
break, and then repeat. You can end the exercise when your baby stops
showing interest by smiling, kicking or making eye contact. Gradually
increase the duration of the exercise as your baby gets stronger, and
make sure your baby is safe and comfortable at all times.
Assisted crawling
Crawling is an essential developmental milestone for babies, as it helps
them build strength and coordination in their arms, legs and core
muscles. It also promotes the development of hand-eye coordination,
spatial awareness, and sensory integration, which are essential skills
for cognitive development.
While babies usually learn to crawl naturally, assisted crawling can
be a beneficial exercise to support and enhance their growth.
To perform this exercise, take a towel or a blanket and fold it over a
few times lengthwise. Place it on the floor and lay your baby on top of
it. Lift either side of the towel or the blanket with both hands so
that your baby’s chest is resting on top of it but is off the ground. As
you lift your baby’s chest and belly upward and slowly move side to
side, their arms and legs will dangle toward the ground. This will help
your baby get used to the crawling motion, and you can eventually loosen
your grip until they can crawl on their own.
Incorporating simple exercises into your baby's daily routine can
significantly improve their overall development, from strengthening
their muscles to enhancing their cognitive function.
By encouraging your little ones to engage in physical activity from a
young age, you are setting them up for a lifetime of healthy habits and
strong physical and mental development.
Classes such as Tumble Tots are specially designed to develop children’s physical, cognitive and social skills through a range of activities using brightly coloured bespoke wooden, foam and handheld equipment. For more information visit www.tumbletots.com.
