When Mac was born, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with her. She slept and ate, but how in the world do you play with a baby? I discovered that there are four very easy activities that should be done with every Montessori baby.

Free Time on the Floor

This is the #1 thing you can do with babies. Mac spent a lot of time just lying around on the floor. This doesn’t mean I sat next to her and shoved toys in her face, or constantly hovered nearby, or even surrounded her with “educational” toys that blared music and flashing lights. I would put Mac in the middle of her blanket and put a few things around her, usually a book, a soft toy, and a rattle or wooden toy for her to chew on. Babies actually don’t need any specific toys.

I allowed Mac to explore her world. As she grew, her world expanded further out on the blanket and she was allowed to explore whatever caught her interest. I baby proofed as she found things to get into.

Out and About

As I have talked about before (here and here) I frequently took Mac with me to run errands and I wore her in a wrap as we went around. A baby can learn so much by just coming along to the grocery store, library, and anywhere else mom or dad need to go. New places mean new people, sights, sounds, and even smells. Babies are using all of their sense to order their world. Every new location means new sensory information to take in.

Talk to Them

Language is so important for babies. While they obviously won’t be able to talk for a while, babies still take in language as they order the world. It might feel silly at first, but talking out loud is beneficial. It is as easy as describing what you are doing. Look at baby’s face and tell her all about the clothes you are folding or the food you are making for dinner. Talking directly to a baby will make them feel accepted and loved while also teaching them about the world.

Just a side note: babies are born predisposed to hearing human voices better. That means they don’t need to watch a television show to “help them learn,” they need to listen to their caretakers converse with them in person.

Go Outside

When I was home from Mac, I made it a point to go outside once we were past the newborn phase. Sometimes I counted a trip to the store, but I usually tried to go out to the park or for a walk with Mac. A baby should be exposed to the great outdoors from an early age, in all kinds of weather. Fresh air and sunshine are great for people of all ages, especially babies.

So, did you do any of these things with your Montessori Baby?