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Chapter 5
Activities for the Young Baby
(Birth to 6 Months)
A new baby does not usually look as though she is doing very much.
She spends most of her time eating, sleeping, and resting. But even
though she may not seem aware of her surroundings, a new baby is
already starting to learn about her world. She does this by using her
senses: hearing, touch, smell, taste, and sight.
A baby who is blind or who cannot see well also begins learning as soon
as she is born. But she needs your help to introduce her to a world she
cannot see.
You can help by giving her many
opportunities to listen, feel, and
smell. Encourage her to explore
and play.
If a baby cannot see toys or people’s
faces, she does not know that there is
an interesting world to explore.
That’s a
spoon, Rosa.
It’s fun to
play with.
She needs your help to find that out.
As you do activities with your baby, talk to her. Even if you think
she is too young to understand the words you say, remember that
listening to a person’s voice is one of the main ways she will learn
about the world. For information on communicating with your baby
as you do these activities, see the chapter on “Communication”, page 45.