“The less we interrupt, the more easily infants develop a long attention span” - Magda Gerber
Babies know how to play. They can learn to play happily on their own, in their safe play area only “if you allow”. It is so natural to play with your baby, please do as it strengthens your bond but let him be the one to initiate – when to play, what to play, how to play and for how long.
Let your baby decide if he wants to play or prefer to lie on his back and just watch the bright door curtains swaying. When your baby is playing, he is not just fiddling rather he is learning about that object, making discoveries about cause and effect. For example, you bought a big Minnie Mouse stuffy and was eager to show to your baby, anticipating that the black, red, white coloured dress would excite him or the big white hands would entertain him but none of this happened. Your baby got intrigued in the black protruding nose. Let it be the nose then! It’s your baby’s choice. Respect it. Let the play be uninterrupted. When babies are given the opportunity to explore and experiment independently, they discover their own inner resources and what interests them. Giving your babay time for uninterrupted play every day helps to preserve a long attention span that many babies are born with. It also helps to promote concentration, self-reliance and problem solving skills.
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