BabyGym Bloemfontein with Anne

"If you limit movement, you limit a baby’s potential to learn and develop." ~ Dr Melodie de Jager

https://babygym.co.za/

BabyGym Classes & Workshops | Join us BabyGym® optimises brain development in the first 1000 days by awakening the senses and strengthening the muscles. Pregnancy, birth, and baby milestones are our developmental specialty.

INVEST IN THE FIRST 1 000 DAYS!

The BabyGym Foundation envisions thriving babies and empowered communities who prioritise and optimise the first 1 000 days of life. We empower parents and caregivers with simple, highly effective massage and movement strategies to support optimal brain and body development during this sensitive stage.

We offer:
• Parent-and-baby classes.
• Workshops and training for caregivers, educators, and all adults working with young children.
• Children’s storybooks and educational resources.

As a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), we can issue Section 18A certificates for qualifying donations, making your contribution tax-deductible.

💛 Your donation is an investment in the future of our children, helping create a stronger, brighter South Africa.

📩 Support early childhood development today!

WhatsApp 082 301 5860
Email [email protected]

"The child who feels heard grows into an adult who communicates freely – because they learned early that speaking truthfully doesn’t end love, it deepens it." ~ Unknown

https://www.babygym.co.za/

MASTERING MILESTONES
See the comments section below for where this developmental journey started.

WAVING AND CLAPPING HANDS

Waving hello and goodbye, as well as clapping hands, are motor skills. The baby needs to be aware of their hands before they can control the movement and perform these actions. They also require the necessary muscle control and coordination. However, these skills are also firmly rooted in emotional and social development as they teach the baby to initiate and respond to non-verbal communication and social interaction.

Similar to hugging, waving and clapping hands are skills babies imitate. Thus, a baby who has not seen an adult wave or clap hands might take a lot longer to perform these actions than a baby who has been made aware of the hands and has observed adults wave and clap hands many, many times.

As early as 7 months of age, a little one may begin to show signs of hand movement development by waving or bringing their hands close together. By 9 months, many babies can clap, although at this point, it is in imitation, not yet deliberate celebration.

Teach the baby to wave hello and goodbye and clap hands. Be patient – it may take time and a lot of repetition.

Would you like to support your baby's natural brain and body development?

Follow the link below to find a BabyGym Instructor near you:

https://babygym.co.za/

MASTERING MILESTONES
See the comments section below for where this developmental journey started.

HUGGING
Nothing makes a parent’s heart beat faster than a spontaneous smile, hug or kiss from their baby or toddler. These little signs of love are often what make the selfless job of being a parent feel worthwhile.

Loving behaviour is learned and, just like holding a spoon or making a friend, it takes time and a good role model or two. The mirror neurons in a baby’s brain respond to the behaviour the baby sees, so when a baby or toddler sees aggressive behaviour like hitting, shouting, snatching objects, etc., this is most likely what will be mimicked. However, when a baby or toddler sees loving behaviour, loving behaviour is mirrored.

Would you like to support your baby's natural brain and body development?

Follow the link below to find a BabyGym Instructor near you:

https://babygym.co.za/

THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM

Register now for January and February classes — and pay 2025 prices!

See the Instructor list below for classes near you!

https://babygym.co.za/instructor_list/

MASTERING MILESTONES
See the comments section below for where this developmental journey started.

CRAWLING
Did you know that rolling develops the left and right sides of the brain, while crawling integrates the two sides to work together as a team?

Crawling is one of the most important milestones, as it:
• develops both inside and outside senses
• develops both big and small muscles
• develops both voluntary (somatic) and involuntary (autonomic) systems.

Crawling (on all fours!) is a complete workout for the entire body. It is superb for motor planning and for developing quick and efficient protective responses. This means your baby can move quickly and effortlessly without injury.

Crawling also organises various brain areas all in one go! It stimulates and integrates primitive reflexes and prepares the brain and body for fundamental skills—like maintaining posture, crossing the midline, establishing dominance, distinguishing left from right—and more advanced skills like planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Offer your baby all the time they need to master crawling. Some researchers suggest they may need up to 50,000 repetitions before that milestone has been mastered and they are ready for the next one.

BabyGym offers a few easy but effective exercises that help a baby become mobile on hands and knees.

EVERY HEALTHY BABY CAN CRAWL!
We would LOVE to teach you how.

Follow the link below to find a BabyGym Instructor near you:

https://babygym.co.za/

AN INTRODUCTION TO AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPULSE CONTROL, DISCIPLINE & PARENTING. There are very few things that register higher on the ‘daunting-scale’ than to be a new parent. The awe of holding your very own baby in your hands luckily registers equally high, but on the scale of wonder. These two equally intense bu...

NEW ARTICLE BY Dr Melodie de Jager - INTRICATE CONNECTIONS: AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPULSE CONTROL, DISCIPLINE & PARENTING

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most awe-inspiring, yet daunting experiences. In this insightful introduction, Dr de Jager explores how a baby’s developing brain depends deeply on bonding, protection, and gradual exposure to the world.

Dr de Jager delves into fascinating questions like:
• Why are babies born 18 months too early?
• How does the human brain differ from instinct-driven animal brains?
• What do these early differences mean for parenting, discipline, and the development of impulse control?

This article lays the foundation for exploring the delicate dance between brain development, behaviour, and parenting.

Read the full article here: https://www.mindmoves.co.za/2025/10/27/an-introduction-to-impulse-control-discipline-parenting/



BabyGym Institute International

ATKV
AONetwerk
SAOU Nasionaal / National
Naptosa I National Teachers' Organisation of South Africa
Baba & Kleuter
Your Pregnancy & Baby Magazine
Akademia