Tia Mowry's Tips for Playing with Babies
Tia Mowry, new mom, actress and author makes playing with her son a priority. "I love to see Cree thrive and discover new things through play. You're interacting, laughing, just enjoying each other's company, but it also gets the brain going and helps with cognitive development. It's so rewarding!"
Here are some of Tia's favorite ways to interact and bond with your baby:
report abuse- Don't be afraid to be silly! Allow yourself to go back to being a child and just have fun! It's very important to not hold back. Babies love expressiveness, so make silly sounds, make funny faces, let it all out!
- Be present! It's hard to play with your kid if you're thinking about your to-do list. Take away the phones, the computer—all distractions—so you can be in the moment and be relaxed!
- Plan your playtimes! Put aside dedicated time every day to dedicate to playing. Your kid will look forward to it at the same time each day and will be anticipating the experience with you, which will make it easier to get the fun started.
- Do what you can! Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of time you have to dedicate. It doesn't have to be an hour. It's hard to balance work/chores and being with your child. You don't necessarily have to play for an hour for your kid to be satisfied. Put aside 15-20 minutes a day. If you know there's a limit, it can be easier to give it your all, just like a workout.
- Make it fun for you, too! Love the park? Take it outside! Love yoga? Do a mom and baby yoga class together! Incorporate the things you love to do rather than sitting there dreading that you have to play with a baby toy. Don't love music? Then put away the toy guitar and find something that you both will have fun doing together!
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