Cognitive Development

There is no telling how far your little girl will go in this world of equal opportunity. To give her every advantage, be sure to stimulate her intellectual growth. Did you know that your daughter’s brain grows and develops faster during this first year than at any other time in her life? Don’t miss this opportunity to encourage cognitive development. But no need to rush out and buy expensive or high-tech toys at this early stage. Talking and singing to your daughter and playing games with her fingers and toes are fun and effective ways to boost brain power. Your newborn looks like she’s ready for action as her arms and legs move, kick, and punch the air. But these motions are simply reflexes that she cannot consciously start or stop. Fine motor skills that will allow your daughter to grab hold of her toys to explore and play will develop in an orderly progression but at an uneven pace filled with rapid spurts and harmless delays. You can help you daughter develop the fine motor skills so important to her growth and development through infant games and play. The hands of a newborn are closed most of the time. Like the rest of her body, she has little control over them. But in a wonderful innate reflex, if you touch her palm, she will unconsciously open her hand and clutch your finger. This reflex disappears within two to three months. During this time your daughter will also grasp at any object placed in her hand, but without anyawareness that she is doing so. Then, the fist will relax and she will drop the object, still unaware of what she has done. But it’s all part of her developing abilities. By two weeks, she may begin flailing at objects that interest her (although she can’t yet grasp them without your help). That’s a good time to play with your daughter by showing her a brightly colored toy with strong, contrasting colors. Hold it just out of reach and watch her focus on it and then begin to wave her arms and move her legs in excitement. Bring the object down to her hand and let her grab on. If you give her a baby rattle, for example, she will clutch and shake it with vigor (although not with intentional will) and then suddenly drop it as her hand opens. By eight weeks, although she still has not developed a deliberate grasp, your daughter will begin to discover and play with her hands. Using the sense of touch alone, she will explore her fingers and bring them to her mouth for further investigation. The mouth has many nerve endings, making it an ideal tool for learning. At three months, she will add the sense of sight to her daily “play” and stare at her fingers in absolute awe. With fascination, she will watch them move and wiggle for long stretches of time. At this age, her own hands may be her favorite toy. When hand-eye coordination begins to develop between two and four months, your daughter will discover the joy of focusing on an object and reaching out to intentionally grab it. Once in hand, it will immediately go to her mouth for further exploration. Your newborn’s escalating alertness allows more time for active play as the weeks go on. Try a few different things to see what she enjoys and responds to. Show her rattles and demonstrate how they can make noise. Play with textured objects such as stuffed animals, guiding her hands to touch them. Gently tickle and kiss her tummy and feet. Hold a rattle or small toy in front of her and allow her to track it with her eyes. By three months, your daughter will be ready for some traditional baby games. This is when games that repeat a sequence of rhyming words are especially fun. In a singsongy voice, try “Pat-a-Cake,” “Row Row Row Your Boat,” and “Ring Around the Rosey.” It’s important to respect your daughter’s feelings about playtime. When she is hungry, tired, or uncomfortable, meet those needs first before attempting to play. And pace your games according to her reactions. Keep going only as long as she remains interested and stop when she seems to have had enough.