A summer vacation would not be complete without a trip to the beach, however, the extreme heat we experience during this type of season can also be one of the reasons why some parents don’t want to take their babies out under the sun. But did you know that a visit to the beach turns out to be good for your baby’s brain development? Exposing them to the beach introduces an entire slew of developmental benefits.
So if you think going to the beach with a baby can seem to feel overwhelming, you are wrong. It’s totally worth it! Here are some reasons we’re going to share with you if you want to get your baby out of the air-conditioned, fresh playrooms and into the sand and sun.
Reason #1: Giving a Nice Sleep
Did you know that there are actually sound machines invented that play ocean sounds and white noise has helped babies to lull them to sleep? However, don’t place them too close to infants’ heads or play them loudly. The machine is pricey, so why spend plenty of money when the ocean ambience gives the real-life version? The sound of overtaking and whirring breezes produce a familiar sound for babies. Your baby would surely want to come back to that comfort for a little while!
According to Smart Parenting, seeing “blue space” such as the ocean and other water-related spaces are correlated with reducing stress levels and better mental health.
Reason #2: Explore Cognitive Development
If you pour water in front of your baby, s/he will likely poke it out to feel the water and try to catch the flow with their hands, which can already enhance their complete and fine motor skills. Aside from the fact that playing with water can be therapeutic also, water also gives your baby math and science lessons.
This happens when they’re able to grasp small containers and transfer water into a large one, they can explore and see how many small containers it will take to fill a large one, studying about volume. If they can see how sand dissolves in water, they will learn about chemistry. It’s an effective way to learn and understand the world. Your kid’s brain is simply learning the basic concept of cause and effect.
Reason #3: Learn to Appreciate Mother Nature
The beach is definitely the place for babies to see such complex and impressive new things and sea creatures. According to HuffPost, there’s research from the report of the Early Head Start National Resource Center that found out that attitudes about nature are created early and that being unconcealed to unstructured, outdoor environments such as the beach helps babies and toddlers grow a lifelong appreciation for nature, which in turn leads to lower obesity rates and healthier lifestyles.
Reason #4: Acquired a Sense of Wonder
The beach is a bold and daring new world for kids and babies. Just think about the feeling that kids would have by standing before the ocean’s wideness, looking out to the horizon. Even an adult would still feel the same way every time they’re at the beach, right?
This kind of sense of wonder and awe plays an important role in the developmental experience as a fascination has shown to be an important motivator for lifelong learning.
Reason #5: Salty Water and Salty Air
Being at the beach is healthy since saltwater is nature’s cure for everything from a stuffy nose to eczema as children breathe in the salty air and splash in saltwater. The water of the ocean contains magnesium and its salt content can help lessen skin irritation while the beach’s natural humidity can help moisturize stuffy nasal passages.
Author Bio: Ivandrea Ollero is a writer for Kims Romantic Getaways Sydney, one of Australia’s beach retreat places immersed in subtropical rainforest offering a cluster of lavish individual timber bungalows and spa villas on the beach. She is also a content crafter who researches and writes custom content about travel, fashion, finance, business, home improvements, health, and beauty in order to provide helpful information and tips for her readers. Ivandrea graduated from St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2016.
