When I had my first baby, I felt like a cruise ship activity director. I’d spend entire days desperately trying to keep my baby entertained for a blessed 10-minutes so I could wash the bottles, talk to a friend or maybe even. More often than not the new activity—the bouncy seat, the swing, the playmat—would only buy me a few minutes of peace. It was just enough time to realize my coffee was cold but not enough to make a new one.
As a music therapist and psychotherapist who has worked with parents for more than a decade, I find that there are two modes we tend to be in when we’re with our babies: The “activity director” and “checked out.” When we’re in activity-director mode, we’re engaged and animated. We’re singing the ABCs or reading a book, and we’rethe activity. Meaning, we’re deciding what song to sing or what game to play and we’re happily engaging with our baby.
The goal of this activity is to experience the world through your baby’s eyes. Although you aren’t leading the activity, you can’t snooze on this one. To get the full benefits you do need to be present and engaged, but not active.Optional: Put on soothing music. Give them a toy to hold. Or, if they aren’t grasping yet, hold something over them without manipulating it.
Beautiful
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