Things You Can Do To Stimulate Your Baby
Love. First of all, remember love and affection are very real needs. Your baby is never trying to manipulate or control you, she simply has a biological need for your love… never deny her your tender affection. This unconditional love also creates a strong self-esteem and increased development of brain circuitry.
Talk to your baby often with a kind voice, a wide range of vocabulary, and a lot of expression. Your voice is his favorite sound (he has heard it since before he was born).
Respond to your baby's requests (cries) without hesitation. This teaches her that she can communicate with other people and gives her a strong sense of trust and emotional stability.
Touch your baby. Researchers have discovered that premature infants who were massaged grew faster, cried less, and are released earlier from the hospital than those who aren't.
Encourage imitation. Your baby is constantly analyzing you and figuring out ways to mimic your voice and facial expressions.
Let your baby experience different surroundings: go for walks, take him places, show him the sites!
Let your baby explore different textures and temperatures (not too extreme, of course). Provide a safe environment for your baby to explore. She also needs time to discover things for herself.
Read books. Even though your baby can't follow the story, he loves the pictures and the sound of your voice.
Play music for your baby. (Mozart's music has been found to stimulate the same neurons in the brain that are later used for mathematics!)
Be patient. If you get frustrated because your baby keeps dropping objects or pours the box of cereal on the floor, remember — she is trying to figure out how the world operates.
Be their hero from age zero!
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