What to do with this activity?
Young babies find gentle rhythmical movement, like rocking or swinging, very relaxing. Notice how often babies fall asleep in cars, buses or trains. They simply love gentle movement. Combine that gentle rocking with a soothing song or lullaby to help them sleep. That could be any gentle pop song you know, or see sleep rhymes and lullabies for ideas.
It's very important never to shake or swing your baby roughly - it can cause them catastrophic injuries. Always support your younger baby's head when you hold them.
As your baby grows older and is able to sit up by themselves, swings become a source of fun. From the age of about 6 months up to 4 years old your child should be in a swing harness to keep them safe from falls.
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Why am I doing this?
Talking is one of the most important skills your child will learn. It seems to happen naturally, but in fact you have a very important role to play. Your baby will learn to talk by hearing other people talk. The more you talk with your baby and respond to their noises and babbles, the more you help them learn to communicate. This will help them in every aspect of their life.
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How can I do more?
Songs and rhymes are especially good for children as the rhythms and repetitive language make it easier for babies to learn language skills. Babies love songs and rhymes, especially hearing the sound of your voice. This is a great way to help your child to talk and listen. Rhymes with actions explain what words mean - "pour me out" in "I'm a little teapot". You can also create sound effects when you are singing songs and saying rhymes. Use your hands to clap, your fingers to click and your mouth to make playful sounds and whistles.
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