It’s so exciting when your kids start having their own children. Nothing warms the heart more than seeing the smiles of your grandbabies. The first 24 months of a baby’s life are just so precious.
At this stage of life, you’re transitioning into retirement and have nothing but love to share. But when you get the chance to have the baby for the day, there might be a small part of you that worries you’ll do things that the parents don’t approve of. Especially these days, some parents can be pretty strict with their rules, so you want to make sure that you are entertaining the bubs in a way that benefits their brain, social and motor skill development.
Here are five activities to try with your grandbabies that are fun for you and great for boosting bub’s development.
1. Baby Sensory Activities
Sensory play is the new thing among parents these days – and it’s both fun and beneficial. It’s all about boosting motor skills and brain development via the senses. It also helps them discover awareness of themselves and their body.
Here are some simple baby sensory activities to try:
- water play in the bath with bubbles, cups and sponges
- playing with squishy foods, including cold cooked pasta, jelly or yoghurt
- tummy time on a play mat
- playtime with rattles, hanging mobiles, blocks, balls, ribbons and more.
You want to stimulate all their senses, so try and go for a variety of textures, sounds, smells and even tastes. Because they are so young, keep it to one object or toy at a time – and don’t be afraid of being messy!
2. Sharing Your Own Childhood
Now is the perfect time to share stories and culture before the kids start rolling their eyes and groaning at another story from “back in my day.” These stories and experiences are what make children feel loved and connected to their grandparents.
Sharing your childhood doesn’t need to be telling your life story. It can be as simple as reading baby a book that you loved when you were younger. Lots of grandparents grew up with the stories of May Gibbs, and these books continue to delight little ones today.
While your grandchild may not be communicating with actual words yet, every interaction in these early stages is helping to develop language and strengthen your bond. Especially in their first year, babies learn communication skills through babbling, smiling, moving their bodies and making noises. Smile, talk or babble back – baby will be delighted!
If bub starts jerking, fussing, looking away or rubbing their eyes, this could indicate that they are not enjoying the activity, are overstimulated, or are due for a nap, feed, nappy change or extra cuddles.
3. Music, Dance and Games
A big part of developing communication and language skills with babies is with music, rhyming and actions.
Ideas include:
- Singing songs, especially with actions and movement. Try Incy Wincy Spider. You can always make up your own actions to songs!
- Listening to music together. This enhances baby’s cognitive, auditory and social development. Just make sure the music isn’t too loud.
- Make noises when playing with toys. e.g. “vroom” with a car, “boing” with a ball. Babies will try and mimic sounds and movements as they learn.
4. Going Outside
A walk is always a great idea for bonding and boosting the immune system. This can be as simple as walking to the local park.
If you’d like to venture further, you may like to visit:
- the zoo or other animal centres
- the beach
- a museum or art gallery
- botanical gardens and nature reserves
The goal is to observe something new. It’s a great excuse to do something different, get outdoors, and stay active. You can even take bub along on errands like grocery shopping, where you can show them different fruits and vegetables, telling them their names and letting them have a feel.
5. Books
It is never too early to read books. Fabric books are a wonder for sensory play. Motivate your grandchild with tunes, sights and sounds by being interactive and animated as you read.
Children’s story time at the local library is also a great option for a short outing. They are often tailored to babies and focus on developing language. You might run into other grandparents with their grandbabies, making it a lovely social outing for you and your beloved grandchild.
