Not only adults, babies can also do gymnastics. Gymnastics for babies is commonly called baby gym. Besides being useful for entertaining babies, baby gym also has a myriad of benefits. One of them is to improve the baby's motor development.
baby gymnastics or baby gym is a collection of movement games that aim to stimulate optimal growth, development, and motor skills of babies. baby gym This is usually done when the baby is 3-12 months old.
Various Benefits of Doing Baby Gym on Baby
A study revealed that baby gym very useful in building a baby's character who is more confident, active, and easy to socialize. However, the benefits baby gym not only that.
Some benefits baby gym Other things you need to know are:
- Close the relationship between parents and children
- Teach children to interact with their environment
- Improves baby's gross motor development, such as crawling and walking
- Train the baby's muscle and joint strength to be more mature in preparing for motor development
- Makes it easier for parents to monitor the development of their children's muscles and bones
- Optimizing hearing function, vision function, and baby's development
- Increases baby's appetite and makes him sleep better
- Promote blood circulation and nourish the baby's heart
- Improve baby's self-balancing ability and alertness
Way to do Baby Gym
If you are trying for the first time baby gym for the little one, this activity should be guided by a trained midwife or instructor. The goal is for you to know how to apply baby gym correct and safe, so that in the future you can practice it yourself at home.
Because it is intended to stimulate the baby's development, movements baby gym differentiated according to the age of the child, starting from the age group of 3 months, ages 4-6 months, ages 7-9 months, up to the age of 10-12 months.
The following is an example of a move baby gym What to do on a 3 month old baby:
- Hold the baby's hand, then extend his left and right arm to shoulder height.
- Move the baby's arms over the head, then return to the original position.
- Move both arms to the sides of the body, then return to the original position.
- Move your arms crossed in front of your body, then return to the starting position.
- Bend the baby's legs together toward the stomach, extending them back to the starting position.
- Bend the baby's legs alternately like a paddling motion, then return to the starting position.
- Bend the baby's legs then rotate the thighs outwards, inwards, then return to the starting position.
- Bring your feet together in front of your stomach, then shake them left and right.
- Repeat each of the above movements 4 times.
In addition to being carried out according to the method taught by the midwife or instructor, baby gym can also be combined with tools or toys that have been specifically designed for baby gymnastics.
Equipment baby gym These usually have the form of a wooden or plastic pedestal and arch on which to hang some colorful, sounding baby toys. These toys will stimulate the baby's skills in reaching with his hands.
Whatever the method, baby gym can help babies accelerate motor development and prevent delays. However, you should consult with your doctor first before trying baby gym, especially if your little one has certain medical conditions or special needs.
