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Facial expressions are a great way to engage with your newborn and encourage their cognitive development.
Facial expressions are an important part of early communication and social interaction for babies. Babies are naturally drawn to faces and they start to recognize different expressions around two months old and can even begin to imitate them.
By making exaggerated facial expressions, you can help your baby learn to distinguish between different emotions and begin to understand the nuances of social interaction.
Here’s how to play with facial expressions with your baby:
- Get your baby’s attention by talking to them and making eye contact.
- Begin by making a simple, exaggerated expression, such as a big smile or a surprised face. You can also try sticking out your tongue, opening your mouth wide or scrunching up your nose.
- Watch your baby’s reaction and respond to their cues. If they seem interested, continue making different facial expressions and talking to them in a playful tone.
- As your baby grows more familiar with different facial expressions, you can try combining them to create more complex emotions, such as excitement, frustration or confusion.
- Don’t be afraid to get silly and have fun with your baby! Making funny faces and playing with expressions is a great way to bond with your little one and make them smile.
You can play this game anytime you want to interact with your baby, whether it’s during tummy time, while feeding or just hanging out at home. This simple activity may even get you your baby’s first smile. Enjoy watching your baby’s reactions and seeing their social and emotional skills develop over time.