month 13:

Making bubbles, getting into nature

Greetings

Sometimes your baby just won’t stop fussing. You’ve fed them. You’ve changed their diaper. You’ve given them toys. You’ve even tried to entertain them with music, but still they cry and fuss. This is a great time to take them outside into nature.

Research has shown that older children are calmed by being in nature, and babies are similarly soothed by being outdoors, even if you're simply napping outdoors or visiting a city playground or park. According to some educators and psychologists, when children don’t get enough time outdoors, they may even come to suffer from “nature-deficit disorder.”

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Activities that you can do

Here are some activities you can try with your baby this month.

1. Catching bubbles

Start by making a simple bubble solution and wand. If it’s not too cold, go outside with your infant and blow bubbles with the wand and solution. Show your child how the bubbles float and pop on your fingers. Encourage your child to reach out their hands and touch the bubbles. This activity provides a fascinating sensory experience and develops your child’s hand-eye coordination.

2. Push boxes

Your child is accustomed to being pushed in a stroller. As your baby starts to walk, they might like to try pushing the stroller themselves. You can buy a toy baby stroller for your child, or you can simply put toys in a medium-size cardboard box and allow your baby to push it. You can also attach strings to the box and encourage your baby to pull it. Your baby might decide to sit down and play with their toys, or they might climb inside the box and want you to push them. Here are 12 more ways your child might enjoy playing with a cardboard box.

Remember: If your baby begins to fuss or cry during an activity, it might be a sign that they're hungry or need a rest.

Tips for your own self-care

There’s a misconception that happiness means walking around with a permanent smile on your face. Everyone, even self-described “happy people,” have setbacks, frustrations, and times when they feel down. The recipe for becoming a happier person actually has little to do with chasing happiness, and everything to do with learning how to be present in the moment and focus on the positive. Simple rituals, like sharing something you’re grateful for or a daily “win” around the supper table, can help you and your family train your brain to look for the good.

Things to watch for this month

These are some of the things that your baby might be doing this month:

Clapping hands
Walking a few steps without support

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Disclaimer: The activities provided in this newsletter are for educational purposes only. If you choose to proceed, do so with caution and at your own risk.

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