😊⛪ So, we as the church and parents & caregiver's support network, need to encourage playing with children. Every day activities can be turned into playtime – and it is these interactions that teach children about other people that develops them into socially competent adults.

Watch 'Building babies’ brains through play' to see how important two-way interactions and positive engagements are for our babies’ brain development: ow.ly/lRZl50PHM3M

Early learning & stimulation can start in pregnancy– it is never too early to start stimulating a baby’s brain! Children are learning through all 5 senses and by looking at activities that can stimulate these senses at different stages of growth, will help stimulate their brains.

TOUCH: Baby massage✋ When your baby is quiet & alert, lay them face up on a soft towel or blanket while in their nappy. Working in sections gently but firmly stroke their legs, arms, and belly rubbing in a little cream to ease the movement. Skills: Body awareness & bonding

SIGHT: Tracking 👀 While your baby is lying on their back, hold a soft toy in front of their face & wiggle it slowly or gently touch them with it. Then move the toy from side to side, encouraging them to follow along with their eyes. Skills: Visual tracking, visual development

SMELL: 👃 Name the smells baby is aware of like the smell of mom and dad, mom’s breastmilk, food. TASTE: 👅 Even through breastmilk baby can taste different foods that mom eats, so moms keep eating a variety of healthy foods!

SOUND: Listening 👂 Sing, talk, and read out loud to your baby using exaggerated tones of voice. Watch your baby's facial expressions and see how they react to different pitches. Skills: Language development

MOVEMENT: Kicking 🦵 Tuck tissue paper under a sofa cushion so that it hangs down. Place baby barefoot on their back, knees bent & with their feet against it. Rustle the paper or tap their feet against it. Skills: Body awareness, cause & effect, sensory integration, chin tucking

"A child's receptive understanding of language starts long before their expressive language, so we want to use as many opportunities as possible to drench them in language." - Dr. Leiderman, Center for Human Development, Nova SE University

He went on to say " At 6-8 months your child will learn to clap so encourage them to clap along with rhymes to build imitation, memory, future vocabulary, auditory discrimination & listening skills."

Here are other sensory activities to try: TOUCH: Stacking 🧱 Materials needed: Plastic measuring cups Take turns stacking cups and knocking them down. Skills learned: Understanding cause and effect, fine motor skills.

SIGHT: Peekaboo 🫣 Place a toy under a blanket, leaving part of it showing. Then ask your baby, "Where is it?" & encourage them to look for it. After your baby has mastered this, move on to hiding the toy completely. Skills: Fine motor skill development, object permanence.

SMELL: 👃Naming the smell of different foods, flowers and even bad smells! TASTE: 👅 Putting things in their mouth is natural to explore textures and tastes.

SOUND: Singing 🗣️ Next time your little one is having a meltdown or resisting a nap, sing them a lullaby in a soothing voice. Don't remember any of the classics? No problem—you can find song lyrics online or just make up your own. Skills learned: Listening, emotional regulation.

MOVEMENT: Flying 🚀 Lay your baby belly-down across your lap & place your hands around their midsection so they're fully supported. Lift them and move like a rocket. Add sound effects as babies like the element of surprise and learn through it! Skills: Body movement, stimulation

Our vestibular system is located in the inner ear & helps us interpret movement, such as speed & the direction we’re traveling in. The proprioceptive system gives your body the ability to perceive its position in space and perform simultaneous actions without thinking later on.

MOVEMENT: 🏃 As your toddler moves to walking & running, it is good to allow for free play at this age. Activities: rolling, swinging, running, pushing, pulling, crawling, chewing, blowing bubbles & jumping. Skills: Body awareness, balance, core muscle development & coordination

TOUCH, SMELL & TASTE: Finger painting Putting things in their mouth is natural to explore textures and tastes. Try yoghurt or cooked pasta & a bit of food coloring. Skills: Fine motor development, color recognition, encourages imagination & can help broaden their taste palate.

SIGHT & TOUCH: Stamp art 🔸🔺🔹▪️ Cut sponges into different shapes & use them as stamps by dipping them into kid-friendly paint. Skills: Shape, colour, size & number recognition, fine motor skills & cause & effect relationships.

SOUND: 🔊 Talking, telling stories (including by elders) through everyday routines and exploring books together. Skills: Future language.