Here’s why baby time equals playtime
Who invented work? Baby doesn’t know. They don’t draw a line between toy time, bath time and food time. All these are playtime to baby. We agree. We think every child has the right to play. But what about your time? Grown-ups work, kids play, right? Taking baby’s lead can make everything you do with baby feel a little more like playtime for
you, too. From your first goofy smile at baby, you’re playing. Don’t let yourself forget
it and the goofy smile will stick around.
Child’s play should be simple, but never boring. Find 4 tips for playtime below…
Tip 1: Switch off the phone
Playing is easy. That’s the theory. But as adults we train ourselves to be masters of the To-Do list. The art of play is harder than it looks. To get the most out of play with baby, turn off the smartphone, forget about the next task (even if it’s only for five minutes) and let yourself be absorbed in the moment.
Tip 2: Trust in storytime
Baby loves the sound of your voice, so enjoy it while it lasts! Storytime acts as a reassuring rhythm, particularly before sleep. Picture books are perfect for telling babies pre-language stories. We have even developed picture books such as DJUNGELSKOG connected to soft toys in the IKEA range.
Tip 3: Be bright and bold
Babies love bling. It’s not a taste thing, it’s a perception thing. Baby’s central nervous system is still developing and so they are more attracted by strong contrasts of colour, light and shade, and bold shapes. The more you put in baby’s reach that wows them, the longer and happier play time will be.
We’re all born with a playful spirit, and all people should play. From the youngest child to the oldest grandparent, playing keeps you free.”
Qian, IKEA Play Report
Tip 4: Play needs a pause button
An important part of the play that fills baby’s waking hours is the recharging time. This isn’t a time when play vanishes, it just goes internal. This is the time when their brain processes all the stimulation of play and sorts out what it all means. And psst! This is also your chance for your own play time. Where was that smartphone…? (For the yoga video, of course!)
Create the next adventure
What does baby see?
The world looks different when you’re small. That’s why our mobiles, such as KLAPPA, aren’t just pretty, or colourful, or made to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They are, like all our baby products, designed from baby’s perspective, to be seen from the ground up, rather than the top down.
Play safe
Play is all about interaction – with others or with objects. It’s baby’s way of developing their senses, orientating and understanding their world. We make sure all our baby products are designed and tested with baby’s safety in mind, with no sharp edges, small parts, loose cords or harmful chemicals.
Baby proof before they start exploring and you can relax and enjoy it with them.”
Jenny Wik, Interior Designer at IKEA
Baby proof your home
When baby begins to crawl, home gets smaller. Baby proof before they start exploring and you can relax and enjoy it with them. We have developed a whole range of baby proofing products including corner bumpers, bathtub mats, safety catches and latches for drawers, safety plugs and door stops.
Baby-led nursery storage
When children play, it can often feel like chaos to adults. Bringing storage, like the SMÅGÖRA shelf unit, into their play space can actually aid a child’s creativity. One of the earliest forms of play is to order toys into different storage items. Lead the way and baby will soon follow with the tidy up!
Create order from chaos
Stay safe
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