Baby Learning Activities

The more curious a baby is, the more they learn, so nurturing your baby's curiosity with baby learning activities is one of the most important ways you can help them become a lifelong learner.

We have listed a few baby learning activities to get you started!

Model Interest in the World Around You

Take a walk outside and wonder aloud about the trees, the sky, the stars. Encourage him to engage his senses—listening to birds, smelling flowers and feeling the rough bark of a tree—as sensory stimulation can be critical to your little baby’s happy, healthy development. Also let your baby see you pursuing interests of your own.

Encourage Natural Interests

Babies learn much more through activities that capture their attention and imaginations. Ensure engaging in baby learning activities which they genuinely like. If they like music, play it for them often, make and play instruments together and dance together.

Answer Questions Simply and According to Your Baby's Development

You will answer a question about where babies come from much differently if your child is 3 or 13. And, no matter your baby's age, always ask him first what his thoughts are before answering.

If You Don't Have the Answer, Say So

An essential baby learning activity is to let your baby know it’s okay not to have all the answers. This also provides an opportunity to model how to find answers. Go with him to the library, research the question online or call someone else who might know.

Use the Library!

Take this field trip together often. Find out when your local branch has its story time. Books are windows into all kinds of worlds to delight the curious mind. Young babies who are exposed to books become better readers. Let your baby choose his own books. Studies show that it doesn't matter whether babies are reading books about rockets or comic books; the key is that their interest is captured and that they like to read.

Stimulate Your Baby with Open-Ended Questions

These are questions that don't have a right or wrong response, and can't be answered with only one word like "yes" or "no". For example, ask him "How do you feel about…", "What was (such and such experience) like for you…", or "Tell me about what happened in school today." These kinds of questions encourage your baby to develop his thoughts and ideas, they show love and interest, and will give you a window into his inner life.

Create an Interesting and Safe Environment

Babies spend one-fifth of their waking hours in focused gazing. They're curious about their surroundings. Pictures on the wall and normal family activity are naturally fascinating. Give your baby safe toys and objects to explore. Rotate your supply to keep it "fresh."

Redirect, Don't Discourage

Try to figure out what is capturing your little baby’s interest, or what skill he’s trying to master, and create a safe and acceptable way for him to explore. This will also teach him problem-solving skills, and creative and acceptable ways to do and get what he wants.

Allow Time for Open-Ended Activities

In all baby learning activities unlike some toys that are designed to be used a certain way, materials like boxes, blocks, water, sand, pots and pans and any art material, can be used imaginatively. Do not tell your baby what to do with the material, how to do it or what it should look like in the end because it’s a learning activity for him. Let your little baby’s curiosity be his guide.

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