Play Everyday! Blanket edition
Let’s imagine a scenario. Your friend brings over a gift for your baby, cutely wrapped and with a bow on top. You help your baby open it, bit by bit, to reveal the latest and greatest toy from Toys-R-Us (RIP. But I can use it since this is imaginary). Your baby takes one look at the fancy toy…and then lunges for the box! They poke their head in, crinkle up the wrapping paper, try to eat the bow. More entertainment comes from the package than from the toy itself! Sound familiar?? I thought so.
The moral of our not-so-imaginary scenario is this: you don’t need to spend a fortune on toys! (Shhhhh don’t tell the toy stores I told you this!) Anyone who has a little one can relate to them grabbing for your keys, your paper, or the holy grail: your cell phone. Babies are naturally inclined to pay attention to and be interested in their surroundings...so use what you have to provide developmental play opportunities!
I’m going to do a series called Play Everyday where we take everyday items you have at home and turning them into therapy tools to help your little one meet their milestones and goals. Today, we are using a blanket!
Please note that the ages listed below are a very general guideline. Please choose the activity that helps support your baby’s current developmental goals, regardless of their age!
0-3 months:
Grab a mid-sized blanket or towel. Make sure it is clean and soft so it’s comfy for your newborn. Roll it up and create a nest that your baby can lie in to bring their shoulders and hips toward midline and keep their head in a neutral position. This midline, flexed position helps them develop their core muscles and work on visual skills, and it also supports their posture in an age-appropriate way!
Look at this cozy little nest!
3-6 months:
Use that same blanket roll to prop up your baby’s chest during tummy time! This helps give them a boost to lift their head even higher to look around at their environment, and as they start to push up on extended arms it can create a space for them to do “baby push ups!”
Taking the tummy time game up a notch!
6-9 months:
Play cognitive games with the blanket to help stimulate their growing brains! Peek-a-boo is an easy favorite, and to further challenge them, lay the blanket out flat in front of baby and place a toy on the far end of the blanket. Challenge baby to problem solve and see if they can learn the cause-and-effect of pulling the blanket in order to bring the toy closer to them!
9-12 months:
Now that your baby is older, let’s help them get up and moving on their feet! Wrap the blanket around your baby’s waist to create a belt. If your baby is starting to work on standing, you can give them support via the blanket belt to challenge their stability. If they are starting to take steps, help them walk by holding on to the blanket belt instead of having your hands directly on the baby. This takes the challenge up a notch!
The tiniest feet take the biggest steps!
That was fun! Who knew a blanket could come in handy in so many ways?! Next up in our “Play Everyday” series: the laundry basket!
TL;DR
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on toys! Babies are naturally interested in their environment, so use what you have to provide developmental play positions.
A blanket is a good therapy tool for all ages—who knew?!
0-3 months: roll the blanket up and create a nest for your baby to lie in to work on core muscles, visual skills, and support their posture.
3-6 months: use the same blanket roll to prop your baby’s chest over in tummy time to lift their head higher and do baby push ups!
6-9 months: use the blanket to stimulate their brains by playing cognitive games like peek-a-boo and learning cause-and-effect.
9-12 months: fold the blanket into a belt and wrap it around baby’s waist when working on standing and walking. This approach (rather than direct hands-on the baby) takes the challenge up a notch!