It's only natural to want the best for your baby and to provide them with stimulating and enriching experiences. However, there's a common misconception that you need to entertain your baby.
No, your baby does not need to be entertained
Their first greatest motivation in life is to adapt to life outside the womb. The ordinary is extraordinary to your baby, and this remains true for their early years of development. Letting them connect to the simple, mundane aspects of daily life is far more aligned with their interests than extra activities you could construct to fill their time.
It can help to think more about engagement
To help your baby connect more to themselves and their surroundings, it can help to think about engagement rather than entertainment. The latter implies passive activity – the idea that we need to do something in order for them to be on the receiving end of something captivating. For example, a TV show might be passively entertaining, but it is not necessarily actively engaging.
Engagement reminds us that a baby is capable of connecting to activities at their own lead. This is key to their development.
We can inspire them to play, but we want to avoid things that do the play on their behalf.
How do you inspire them to lead their own play?
Your role in your baby's playtime is not to act as an entertainer or director, but rather as a guide and facilitator.
Here's how you can effectively fulfill this role:
Create a safe and stimulating play space on their level. Offer age-appropriate toys, books, and sensory materials that encourage exploration. This allows them to connect directly to activities that may interest them.
Pay close attention to your baby's cues and interests. Babies are naturally curious, and by observing their preferences, you can tailor activities to suit their current developmental stage and mood.
While it's important to be present and responsive to help them connect to an activity, it's equally essential to allow your baby uninterrupted independent playtime once they are focused on something. Know when to remove yourself.
Plus, remember that babies don’t need constant stimulation, and having down time is just as important as active play time. Like adults, babies can become overstimulated, so don’t underscore the importance of quiet cuddle time or simply letting them watch you while you tackle household chores.