parenting apps

[music playing] i remember when my little ones firststarted sitting up on their own and then crawling. we had so much fun together. it was when play really startedto feel like play. they're changing so fast,and learning so much. and playing with your baby is a greatway to help them develop motor skills, discover the world around them, andstart communicating with others. there are so many games andfun activities to play.

but here are three that were favoritesof mine, and how they helped my children develop. as they get a little older, your babystarts developing some fine motor skills which helps them controltheir hands and fingers. sensory bag is a game that helps themdevelop these motor skills, and it stimulates their senses to helpwith brain development. sensory bag is a fancy namefor what it sounds like-- a cloth or a sturdy paper bag filledwith lots of objects that are fun to

touch, hear, see, and smell,but too big to swallow. make sure it's big enough to holdmultiple items, and has a way to keep your baby from seeing inside. a pillowcase can work in a pinch. we would take turns feeling aroundinside of the bag and pulling an object out. then we'd play with the object for awhile and put it back into the bag. my kids love trying to imitate me, soi'd pull out something first, and then they would try and pullout the same object.

my children learned to love stories atan early age, and they still do. it was fun when they started makinganimal sounds and other noises along with me as i read to them. not only did they enjoy it, but seeingand hearing the stories helped them make all kinds of new connectionsin their brain. and even if you feel silly doing it,that baby talk voice is actually helping them understand words betterand learn language faster. so try to use lots of varietyin your voice when you read. they'll love it, andit's good for them.

my kids enjoyed books full of varioustextures, and they were especially fond of flap books. we made our own by cutting pictures outof magazines and then gluing flaps of paper over the top of them. they loved the anticipationand discovery. i tried to make my voice reallydramatic as i read it to them. her dad and i would act out ourstories with hand puppets made out of old socks. old white socks, decorated as much oras little as you like, work great.

we would have the puppets talk to ourkids, tickles them, kiss them, hug them, and sing and dance. babies need a variety of experiences. it helps them discover more about theirworld and it helps their brains make new connections. a variety of movement isgood for them, too-- snuggling, working, walking aroundtogether, and even dancing or health and development. we danced with our little ones a lot,even before they started walking.

i would hold them and dance andsing around the room, and they would laugh and laugh. they also enjoyed bouncing on my yogaboard, keeping time with the music. they just seemed to love moving theirlittle bodies in any way that they could, and i love the timei got to spend with them. once they started pulling up, i'd findthem holding onto the couch or a chair and dancing. so i started putting onmusic during playtime. it seemed to get them moving, andit always got me smiling.

once my kids got more active and mobile,i looked for a nappy that would keep them dry and move withtheir body as they played. i found some great ones. they were soft and comfortable, they fitgreat around the legs and tummy, they had stretchy sides, andthey were super absorbent. so my little ones were freeto explore their world. ok. thanks for letting me share someof my favorite games and

activities with you.

i'm sure you're discoveringyour own unique favorites. i'd love to hear about them. visit pampers youtube channelfor more parenting tips.