Brain Boosting Games to Help Your Baby's Development

Many parents are not aware that there are special games you can play with your baby that will help their brain development and make them more aware of their surroundings. Here is a look at some different games that you can do with your baby starting as early as a few days old.

After your baby has come home from the hospital and is all settled you can begin by simply saying their name quietly to them. You can talk to them, tell them stories, just how much you love and adore them. This helps boost your baby's brain power and leads them to recognize your voice as well as help them to learn their name. They will begin to look towards their mom or dad's voice and show small signs they recognize their name.

Once your baby has been home for two or three weeks and begins to stay awake more often one fun game is to see if they will mimic your movements. Have your baby in your lap so they are looking at you. Stick out your tongue and see if they will mimic this movement. The majority of the time they will stick their tongue out as well. Next try and open your mouth as wide as it will go or make your eyes look real big. Chances are your baby will try and do the same thing. This will help he or she with their communication especially between the two of you.

Next you can try to play a similar game to hide and seek with one of their favorite toys or an item they seem to really enjoy. Show them the toy or item and then put it under a blanket. More than likely they will follow the item with their eyes and start to show expressions that they want the item back out to look at or try and grab. As they continue to grow they will likely start to try and get the item out themselves and eventually crawl over and unearth the item from under the blanket.

One of the best brain boosting games you can do with your baby actually involves reading. Begin reading to them even when they are just a month old. They will enjoy hearing your voice. You can get some books specially designed for infants with special colors. As they get older you can invest in some books that are more age appropriate. Be sure to make expressions along with the story and before you turn the page, say "turn the page" and show them how to turn the page. Babies as young as 9 months old will begin to try and turn the page for you.

By practicing these games your baby will associate learning with fun and provide the two of you with a great chance to bond.