One really nice thing about babies is that they do not require a lot of work from us in order for learning and growth to happen. In fact, floor time is one of the easiest but most crucial activities to allow your baby to partake in.

Great, so what is floor time?

Well, floor time is as simple as it sounds… time spent on the floor. Now this can be on a specific mat or blanket or maybe under a play arch or on the grass. Basically it’s just an open space for your baby to reside in. Toys can be included, but as I mentioned before, babies don’t need much. So when thinking of toys for engagement, think simple – rattle, crinkle paper, soother, mirror, or soft balls, but only one or two of these at a time.

Playing on the floor allows baby the chance to learn about their body. While tummy time can be on you in the newborn stage, tummy time on the floor is important to practice. When baby is on the floor they learn to hold their head up, move their limbs, roll in each direction, superman, and more. Tummy time is an important milestone to work on because it helps build the strength to roll which in turn builds the strength to sit then crawl then pull up then cruise then walk. Your baby may be fussy at first while on their belly, but over time they will become more and more use to being in that position.

One nice thing about floor time is that it does not take a lot of prep on our end to make it happen. Yes, you will want to ensure that baby is playing in a safe space, but besides that it’s really up to them to explore and learn. Basically, our only role is to prepare the environment, not to entertain.

Now I don’t know if that was refreshing for you to read, but it definitely was refreshing for me to type.

We don’t always have to entertain our babies. Floor time helps babies learn to play independently and helps them learn the art of concentration. So it’s okay to put your baby on the floor while you sit back and drink your coffee. It’s okay if you have a few toys scattered about and they do not engage with the toys. It’s okay if your baby just wants to stare at the ceiling fan. It’s okay if your baby only wants to play with their feet. And you know what, it’s also okay if you want to play with them too. Just know that you might have a bit more freedom than you think when you give your baby the chance to play on their own.

Another nice thing and probably what I love most about floor time is that it can happen in a common area space, like the living room. Your baby is free to be in their space while still being around family. They may enjoy watching older siblings or animals walk around them or they may want to play with their toys. Either way, they are a part of the family dynamic, which allows the whole family to get use to and grow along side the newest little addition.

It is crazy how quickly babies grow out of the floor time phase and into the crawling, cruising, and walking phase. It’s almost like you blink, and then bam! They are completely mobile, which is a whole ‘nother blog post for a different day. So enjoy the stationary floor time while it lasts. 🙂

For more ideas on floor time and your baby’s learning, check out my instagram, @teach_them_young23.

Happy day y’all!