Babies and Toddlers - Baby Development and Entertainment

As time progresses, there should be fewer and fewer crying sessions. A more prolonged period of sleep usually develops throughout the night – and in the waking hours of the daytime, the baby will begin to take more interest in his/her surroundings. He/she will learn to make eye contact, smile and learn to make his/her own individual and special sounds. The baby will learn to entertain himself/herself with cuddly toys, rattles and the like.
Anything safe, which you are able to provide for your baby son/daughter, or toddler, - involving colours, sounds, different textures and activities, serves a dual purpose: baby and child entertainment and baby and child development.
Never underestimate the benefits of bathtime. This can be an invaluable learning time. Bath crayons, waterproof books and bath toys are not only fun. They also assist crucial educational development.
Never leave a baby, toddler or young child unattended in the bath.
Even bedtimes have a further role to play in a baby's educational development. Befoe it is sleep time, set time aside to look at pictorial books. Talk them through the pictures of animals and insects, fairy story characters, or whatever the book has to offer. Initially, this will just be viewed as a bonding time with a parent. But it is never long before they start to recognise things themselves. Many children have become well versed in the basics of reading, and recognising numbers, from their bedtime 'book times' with a parent. Learning letters of the alphabet by word association of a picture in a book, and starting to count by seeing a row of eggs on page, is their commencement of having the benefits of literacy and numeracy.