Brain Games for Babies!

I've been threatening/promising to blog about this topic for a long time. Well, the time has come. I hope some things I share over the coming months help a young parent, or a grandparent to see what a fertile field a young child's mind is, and how crucial it is to cultivate that field from birth, if not before.

Most of my ideas will be plagiarized from Jackie Silberg's book, 125 Brain Games for Babies, which has impressed me immeasurably. I would not endorse these if they were just attempts to make superbabies, or transform babies into the next Einstein. Rather, these are simple, relaxing, and enjoyable activities for both the parent and child. They stimulate and nourish the innate hunger for knowledge and experiences that every child has-- at least until they hit school!

Here is the premise for these activities as stated on the book's jacket:

The baby's brain is growing at an incredible rate, and learning constantly. Every perception, every stimulus, every piece of information becomes part of the baby's foundation of knowledge for the rest of its life. The baby's brain is the most responsive organ known. It is hungering, yearning for stimulation and interaction.

Many of these activities are disarmingly familiar, natural, and simple. And that is the beauty of them. As in the book, I will use "he" and "she" interchangeably rather than saying "he or she" ad infinitem. I hope you enjoy these.

What Brain Research says:

Birth to 3 Months

The more gentle the stimulation you give an infant, the greater the number of brain synapses and connections that are formed.

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  Infants as young as one day old recognize the voices of their parents. If you patted your tummy and talked to your baby while she was in the womb, she will know the sound of your voice.


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  While your infant is lying on her back, walk to one side of the crib and call out her name.


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  Keep saying her name until she moves her eyes or her head toward the sound.


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  Walk to the other side of the crib and say her name again.


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  Gently massage her body as you smile into her eyes and say her name.