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Brain Builders
Stimulating Activities for Your 5-month-old Baby
By Tammy Morey
Supervised unstructured play is a significant type of play that is important to incorporate into Baby's day. Supervised unstructured play means that you are always watching your baby. Free play, in contrast, means that she is given the freedom to play without any guided or interactive participation by the caregiver.
Supervised unstructured playtime enables Baby to develop her memory through exploratory play and also encourages the development of natural curiosity and persistence in discovering what happens next. The types of toys and games that you introduce to her should provide immediate gratification so that she can link the movement to the desired outcome.
Some toys to utilize in supervised unstructured playtime include squeaky toys (like rubber porcupines found at your local pet store, which are great because they also provide tactile stimulation); mobiles with components that move in various directions (diagonally, vertically, horizontally and in circular patterns); and rattles, baby maracas and tambourines because she demonstrates the difference between her own vigorous and gentle movements. The maximum amount of time that she will probably be able to handle is about 15 minutes.
The fifth month is such a wonderful time for Baby to begin demonstrating her sense of self as she feels good about her abilities to control more of her environment. This pride and sense of accomplishment is most evident as she enjoys playing with her toys without your constant help. Through establishing routines and building upon her sense of security you have given her a sense of reinforcement that learning is of itself a reward because it is her own internal joy that keeps her playing. As you combine this natural intrinsic emotion with your praise, she will automatically demonstrate a sense of security in her sense of control that allows her to eventually follow simple instructions on her own.
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