Many people think that when their baby is a newborn they’re just a big “lump”, but you’d be amazed how quickly your baby learns and grows and there are a lot of things that you can do to stimulate them and help them learn. Here are a few simple activities that will help you interact with your little one:

1. Questions and answers
Between four and five months you can start teaching your baby about answering questions with “yes” and “no”. Pick up a toy and deliberately hide it behind your back and ask her: “Does Mommy have the toy?” Encourage her to nod her head while you nod yours and say, “Yes!”. Then do the same with “No” by hiding the toy underneath a blanket and saying: “Can Thuli and Mommy see the toy?” and shake your head, “No!”.

2. Round and round the garden
Hand and finger games are fun to do around three to four months because your baby now knows how to use her hands and fingers. Circle your finger around your baby’s palm saying: “Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear”, then start ‘walking your index finger and middle finger up her arm saying, “One step, two step, tickle you under there!” and, lastly, tickle your baby gently under her armpit.

3. Making faces
As early as one month old your baby can start to recognise your face and facial expressions. To help her along, start acting out different emotions in front of her. For example give her a big smile and say: “Mommy’s happy, so she’s smiling” or a big frown and say: “Mommy’s unhappy, so she’s frowning”.

4. Peek-a-boo!
This is a very popular game with little ones that teaches them to look, observe and concentrate. Put your hands or a blanket over your face and ask, “Where’s Mommy gone?”, then take the blanket or your hands away and say “Peek-a-boo!”

5. Animal sounds
At about two months your baby will start to make her first sounds. Find a colourful animal book and look at it with your baby. Tell her the name of each animal, describe it and make the noise each animal makes.

6. Get the treat
When your baby’s crawling fairly confidently, make a wiggly trail of a favourite treat, such as small pieces of cheese or fruit. Get down on all fours with her and race to get each treat. She’ll have a blast beating you every time!