Babies have a natural curiosity about their environment. As their brains’ development continues and they make new connections and neural pathways based on their experiences, parents should consider how this environment can benefit their senses and cognitive abilities. This first year of life is so important in this regard, so let's have a look at what you can do to help them reach their full potential.

How does my baby’s environment shape their cognitive development?

A baby’s experiences help to shape the structure of their brain as well as how it functions. The environment you give them lets them explore and have these experiences.

And what about their sensory development?

Babies are born with the ability to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. As they grow and develop, their senses become more refined, and they learn to use their senses to understand and explore their environment. Exposing them to different textures, colours, sounds, and smells can help babies develop their sensory abilities and learn how to integrate information from different senses.

Creating a stimulating environment

Here are some ways to do this:

Keep them safe. Baby-proof your home and supervise your child at playtime.

Provide age-appropriate toys and activities. Examples include toys and simple household items with different textures, colours, and shapes.

Reading and singing to babies will help stimulate their cognitive development and language skills. Babies love the sound of their parents' voices and can benefit from hearing a variety of words and sounds.

Provide opportunities for physical activity wherever you and your baby are.

Routines not only create feelings of security but also let you schedule some time for learning and fun.

You should also try to plan some time for your baby to interact safely with other children.

You should also think about how your community and society impact your baby’s environment generally. Good-quality healthcare, safe housing, and early childhood education programmes will contribute to your child’s development, so try advocating for policies that support these or voting for public representatives that do the same.

What effect does the environment have on a baby’s cognitive and sensory development?

On Unii’s Baby Development Journey we look at creating the right environment for your child’s cognitive and sensory development.