Play time is an important part of a baby’s learning and development. The more your baby plays, the more they get to practice new movements and skills. Playing with your baby also allows you to build a stronger bond.  

Play time for a newborn isn’t all about games and toys. It's more about talking, touching, listening, looking and the interactions between you that encourage baby to be active. Talking, singing and reading stories are also fun for your baby. 

Play time spread throughout the day can have many benefits for your baby, such as: 

• Building confidence  

• Understanding emotions 

• Developing social skills, language and communication  

• Learning to care for others and the environment  

• Developing physical skills  

• reaching, grasping, pushing, pulling 

• strengthens the neck and upper body muscles needed to hold their head up and move around  

• Feeling loved, happy and safe 

Be sure to watch your baby at all times when they play. Remove any potential hazards from your baby’s reach like power cords, pets or small objects they could put in their mouth. 

Watch this video from Raising Children Network to see how play helps with development 

[Source: DoH Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, Raising Children Network]