5 Games For Healthy Brain Development Of Toddlers & Infants

Engaging the little ones in healthy brain development activities is usually a priority for every parent and caregiver. However, in today’s times, parents either resort to mobile phones or laptops to keep their children engaged. This can not only hamper their eyesight but also affect their cognitive growth adversely. But do you know some responsive games are designed to appeal to different ages while still providing an engaging experience and ensuring healthy brain development? Here are the 5 best responsive games for your toddlers that would help grow your child’s cognitive skills.

1. Story-Telling

Children of all ages love stories, as it sparks their imagination and encourages curiosity. Telling stories is an effective way for parents to impart important morals and values to their children. It also helps to cultivate emotional intelligence as children learn how to express their thoughts and feelings. In addition, through stories, parents can educate their children about the family's heritage and essential virtues while teaching them empathy and practising listening skills.

2. Sensory Activities

Sensory activities are designed to develop a baby's sensory skills and help them explore their environment. This game involves tactile surfaces with exciting rattles and play mats that offer a range of textures, sounds, smells, lights and colours. These activities encourage the development of problem-solving skills and motor skills in babies.

3. Solving Puzzle

Puzzles play an integral role in early childhood development by fostering finger strength and attention span as well as shape recognition. The movements involved in picking up the pieces and placing them into their correct positions also help to build hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Furthermore, solving puzzles can directly promote problem-solving skills by allowing children to test ideas.

4. Touch And Feel

Gather a variety of fabrics in assorted textures and colours and cut them into small squares. For easy storage, take a hole punch and make a small opening in the corner of each fabric square before threading them onto a sturdy metal ring. This is an excellent way to allow your baby to explore their senses by touching different fabrics, such as sandpaper, cotton, satin, etc. This sensory experience helps stimulate your baby's tactile awareness and encourages them to use their sense of touch to distinguish between various textures.

5. Peek-A-Boo!

When you hide a toy under the blanket or put your hands in front of your face, an infant may not initially understand that the object is still there. They may search for the toy with their eyes or reach out to grab it and become confused when they cannot locate it. However, with some time and patience, your baby will understand that even though they cannot see the toy under the blanket, it is still there. This concept of object permanence is an essential milestone in a baby's development as it makes them understand that object still persists even if they cannot see, touch or hear them. 

As a parent, you can play an essential role in promoting your children's brain development by keeping a close eye on their behaviour and actions. To further stimulate their minds, introducing them to various extracurricular activities will help them develop critical thinking skills, understand cause-and-effect relationships, and build positive character traits. Not only will this be enjoyable for your child, but it will also help them develop essential cognitive abilities efficiently. If you have more questions,

Consult Apollo’s Expert Paediatricians

 

Medically reviewed by Dr Sonia Bhatt.