Mental development and related exercises you can do with your baby during the first 12 months.

In this blog post, I discuss some general mental development and corresponding exercises that you can do with your baby during the first twelve months. Keep in mind that every baby develops at their own pace. It is therefore important to adjust the activities to the individual needs and interests of your child. In addition, positive interaction and emotional support are crucial during all developmental phases when it comes to positive mental development.

First month

Mental Development

• Newborn babies have limited vision and mainly see high-contrast patterns.

• They respond to sounds and can calm down when hearing familiar voices.

Exercises:

• Use black-and-white cards with simple patterns to stimulate vision.

• Speak calmly and softly to your baby to promote the auditory response.

Second and third month

Mental Development

• Beginning visual tracking skills.

• Development of the grasp reflex.

Exercises:

• Hang soft toys above the crib or playpen to stimulate visual tracking.

• Place soft objects, such as rattles, in your baby’s hands to practice the grasp reflex.

Fourth and fifth month

Mental Development

• Beginning of the social smile.

• Development of the sense of touch and hand-eye coordination.

Exercises:

• Make eye contact and smile often at your baby to encourage the social smile.

• Place soft toys within reach so your baby can grab and explore them.

Sixth and seventh month

Mental Development

• Further development of hand-eye coordination.

• Introduction of solid foods and sensory exploration.

Exercises:

• Let your baby explore different textures by allowing them to touch various soft objects.

• Introduce soft pureed food and let your baby explore it with their fingers.

Eighth and ninth month

Mental Development

• Increase in mobility, including rolling and possibly crawling.

• Improved object permanence.

Exercises:

• Place toys just out of reach to encourage movement and crawling.

• Play peekaboo to stimulate object permanence.

  
  

Tenth and eleventh month

Mental Development

• More active exploration of the environment.

• Possible first words and babbling.

Exercises:

• Talk a lot to your baby and name objects and actions to promote language development.

• Offer safe obstacles to crawl over or hide behind.

Twelfth month

Mental Development

• Improved language development with possibly a few first words.

• Actively engaged with the environment and interaction.

Exercises:

• Read simple books to stimulate language development.

• Offer stacking blocks or other building materials to promote fine motor skills and creativity.