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Brain Builders
Stimulating Activities for Your 3-month-old Baby By Tammy Morey
Reaching her 3-month birthday is a significant milestone for Baby because she is now able to create her own stimulation through active play. Instead of passively relying on you, she can now reach and grasp a toy or put her thumb or fingers in her mouth.
She will also begin to enjoy the process of communication. You may also notice that her smiles are for real and not just caused by gas or the relief thereof. She will begin to consistently and intentionally grace you with her first true social smiles. So remember, the more you show her yours, the more she'll show you hers.
Robert Provine, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, says "Laughter helps to cement the relationship between a parent and a baby by creating trust. It's one of the ways your infant 'talks' to you before he can speak."
At 3 months, your baby will laugh when she's tickled, bounced or given kisses on her tummy. The stimulation gives her nervous system a pleasantly mild boost. Playing "cause and effect" games will also arouse the same response as she learns to associate the rhythm with tangible touch or tickling and the feelings of delight.
She will begin to coo and babble and make noises purposefully by repeating and modifying the sounds that she hears. Try to let her finish what she's saying and then respond to her. Through this process you will be giving her an introduction into the art of active listening and communication. This is a key opportunity to begin raising a good listener. Tune into her as she speaks, look into her eyes and respond to her when she has finished.
Reading aloud is another wonderful opportunity for you to expose your baby to language. Reading books, the comics, magazines, even the newspaper are all ways that you can expose your baby to language on a daily basis. Remember that 75 percent of what your child learns will be delivered through speech. Therefore, by establishing solid listening skills, you will prepare her to reap the benefits of being a good listener.
