Playing is learning
Did you know? Imaginary play and ‘talking time’ are essential to your baby’s healthy development.
Your baby’s smiles, giggles, and expressions will tell you when they’re having fun during playtime, and you’ll enjoy those special bonding moments too. Yet playing is far more than entertainment for babies. Behind every tower of blocks, every role play, and every word they hear, their life skills are developing fast.
Creative thinking, motor, and problem-solving skills are all learned through play. It’s also during play that your baby will start to learn how to entertain themself. Making active play the family norm, rather than each family member being glued to a screen, is a great way to introduce healthy habits that may last a lifetime. Play also helps promote healthy growth.
Baby talk
One of the ways your baby begins to learn words is by hearing the sounds you make when you talk to them. The number of words babies learn to speak is directly related to the amount of time parents spend talking to their little ones. That’s why it’s so important to have plenty of ‘talking time’, even if the conversation feels a bit one-sided! You might provide a running commentary of what you’re doing (“Look, Mommy’s making your dinner!”) or point out things you can both see when you’re outside (“Look at the black dog!”).
If your baby’s spending this ‘talking time’ in front of the television, they’re missing out on the chance to listen to you and the other adults in their life. Experts have found evidence that watching TV can slow down how quickly your baby learns new words.
Traditional play
A recent study looked at the impact of electronic toys versus traditional toys on language development. Playing with traditional toys and reading books together was superior to playing with electronic toys in promoting rich communication between parents and their babies.
Sources
Christakis DA. The effects of infant media usage: what do we know and what should we learn? Acta Paediatr 2009; 98(1):8-16.
Christakis DA, Gilkerson K, Richards JA et al. Audible television and decreased adult words, infant vocalizations, and conversational turns: a population-based study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2009; 163(6):554-8.
Sosa AV. Association of the type of toy used during play with the quantity and quality of parent-infant communication. JAMA Pediatr. 2016; 170(2):132-7.
Related articles
Did you know?
During babies’ first year of life their nutritional needs are higher than those of adults
1 min to read
3 tips for your baby’s happy, healthy tummy
By Dr. Ted Jablonski, family physician
3 mins to read
Becoming an independent eater
Now that your 10-12-month-old is really getting the hang of feeding themself, keep offering them a wide variety of foods and textures to establish good, healthy eating habi
4 mins to read
10 month baby development | Months 10-12
“Come on, make Mama (or Papa, of course) proud.” It’s likely already crossed your baby’s mind without you even saying it, since his desire to please you is strengthening along with
5 mins to read
Changing food and nutrition for your 8-to-12- month old
Take this quiz and test your nutrition knowledge!
1 min to read
How to strengthen your baby's immune system
By Dr. Ted Jablonski, family physician
3 mins to read
Physical Activities for Infants – What you need to know
Did you know? Spending time playing with your baby at this age can lead to them being more active when they are a toddler.
3 mins to read
Sharing meals teaches healthy eating
Did you know? Studies show that the more often families share mealtimes, the more likely children are to have healthy diets and stay at healthy weights as toddlers.
2 mins to read
Baby's most nutritious food choices
A quiz for moms of 6 to 7-month-olds
1 min to read
Benefits of probiotics for babies
This article includes contributions from Dr. Dina Kulik, pediatrician, and Charlotte Geroudet, GD.
5 mins to read
Baby Teething: Signs and Relief
Teething begins at different times for different babies, although most have already started by six months of age.
2 mins to read
The importance of family mealtimes and letting your baby lead the way
Research has shown that shared family meals—no matter the size of your family—provide benefits for your baby beyond the joy of simply eating dinner together.
3 mins to read
The ins and outs of babies’ digestive system
By Dr. Jeff Habert, family physician
3 mins to read
Mix up the menu!
It’s easy to fall into the habit of offering your baby the same foods every day, especially if you know they’ll happily eat them.
3 mins to read
Newborn Sleep Development - What you need to know
You’re half-awake at 4 am with a wide-awake baby in your arms and wondering if you’ll ever get a full night’s sleep again. Don’t worry, you will.
6 mins to read
Signs your baby is full | Old’s hunger and fullness cues
Is your hungry baby eating enough? Here are some hunger and fullness cues to watch out for during your toddler's development.
3 mins to read
Feeding Tips for Older Babies
Your baby is now used to eating solids and may be grabbing at the spoon or picking up food by herself. This means she is ready for more self-feeding, a whole new messy adventure!
6 mins to read
Ready, steady… walk
By now your little one is likely to have started to get the hang of crawling, and is probably well on their way to cruising.
2 mins to read
Your baby is growing by leaps and bounds
Your baby is growing fast! The first year, a baby multiplies his weight by 3 and his length increases by 50%! Follow month-by-month.
1 min to read
