– Raghav Himatsinghka
Parents should avail every opportunity for children to develop strength, stamina, flexibility, social and cognitive skills before age five-six. Here are ten activities that provide early stimulation to infants, preparing the ground for their optimal physical and cognitive growth
Raghav Himatsingka
The first years of a child’s life represent a critical period when foundational neural networks are formed, setting the course for future development. According to latest neuroscience research, 85 percent of a child’s cumulative brain development occurs before six years of age, highlighting the importance of providing appropriate care and brain stimulation in the early years. Therefore, parents should avail every opportunity for children to develop strength, stamina, flexibility, social and cognitive skills until age five-six. Here are ten activities that provide early stimulation to infants, preparing the ground for their optimal physical and cognitive growth:
- Establish routines. Routines provide infants with a comforting sense of predictability, safety and security. Regular sleep, feeding, and play routines enable their physical and emotional development.
Tip. Start a calming bedtime routine at the same time every night to tune your baby’s internal clock. A calm and soothing environment signals to her that it’s time to wind down.
- Use stories to enhance vocabulary. Stories are not mere entertainment; they are gateways to learning, introducing new vocabulary and enabling language development. Storytelling also stimulates children’s imagination and prompts creative thinking.
Tip. Include interactive elements in storytelling sessions. Use props and/or encourage your child to act out parts of the story. This makes the activity more engaging and deepens her understanding of new words and concepts.
- Encourage sensory play. Sensory play engages children’s senses and boosts cognitive development.
Tip. Create a sensory bin and fill it with different materials such as sand, rice, and water beads. Encourage your child to touch, explore and articulate what she feels, hears, and sees.
- Encourage physical play. Physical exercise and activity are vital for children’s overall development. Encourage crawling, climbing, and playing with toys to develop gross and fine motor skills.
Tip. Create a safe play area with soft balls, push toys, and puzzles. Motivate her to play with them.
- Introduce sorting games. Toys of varying forms, shapes and colors lay the foundation for mathematical thinking. As your child learns to distinguish between shapes and colors, she will begin to understand basic math concepts.
Tip. Extend this activity by asking your child to identify objects of the same color at home. This reinforces her learning and shows how theory can be applied in the real world.
- Read regularly with your child. Reading together is a powerful way to connect with your child and enhance her language development. Books introduce children to a world of words, images, and ideas.
Tip. Start a reading ritual at night. Choose books with repetitive stories and engaging pictures. Point and name objects in pictures to reinforce vocabulary and meaning.
- Use colorful crib buntings. A colorful bunting placed above your baby’s crib provides essential visual stimulation, capturing her attention and encouraging her to track the movement of hanging toys. Improves focus and hand-eye coordination and lays foundation for developing depth perception and spatial awareness.
Tip. Choose a hanging with contrasting colors and patterns, as infants are drawn to high-contrast visuals, especially in their early months. Consider buntings that also play soothing music or nature sounds to stimulate auditory development and create a calming environment.
- Use puppets and role play. Puppets or role-playing games enable your child to express emotions and understand others, laying the foundation for emotional intelligence.
Tip: Use everyday situations to begin teaching. For example, if your child is frustrated, encourage her to express similar emotions and demonstrate appropriate coping strategies, such as deep breathing or engaging in problem-solving discussions.
- Choose age-appropriate activities. As your child grows, her developmental needs change. Select age-appropriate toys and activities to provide adequate stimulation.
Tip: Change toys and activities to suit your child’s interests and development potential. For example, introduce puzzles as she learns assembly skills, or switch from noisy to challenging toys to encourage problem-solving.
- Start early education. Early education at home helps your child develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, which will prepare her for formal school.
Tip. Introduce her to numbers, letters, and shapes through playful learning activities. Use songs, games, and hands-on experiences to make early education enjoyable and effective.
About the author: Raghav Himarsingka is Co-founder of the Mumbai-based Raising Superstars and inventor of the Prodigy Baby app, a platform that nurtures the latent potential of 0-6 year-old children.
Also read: EW Interview: Raghav Himatsingka, Co-founder, Raising Superstars