Activities to Help a Newborn and an Older Child Bond and Play Together
By Nurche Team · 12 August 2026
Having a newborn and a 7-year-old can feel like living in two completely different worlds.
One child needs feeding, sleep and constant care.
The other has stories to tell, questions to ask, energy to burn and may suddenly need a little extra reassurance too.
So what can you actually do with both of them?
Here are a few simple activities that create connection while respecting the fact that a newborn and a 7-year-old have very different needs.
1. Hello, Baby!
Try this:
Ask your 7-year-old to sit beside you while you're holding the baby.
Say:
“Let's say hello to the baby in different ways. Do you think the baby will notice?”
Your older child can try:
- Saying hello softly
- Singing a familiar song
- Making a gentle sound
- Talking to the baby
Then ask:
“What did you notice?”
Did the baby turn towards the sound? Become still? Move their arms?
What this builds:
For the newborn: Listening and early sensory awareness
For the 7-year-old: Observation and empathy
...
2. Baby's Sound Detective
Newborns are constantly taking in sounds from the world around them.
Turn your older child into a Sound Detective.
Try making one gentle sound at a time.
For example:
Your voice.
A soft rattle.
A gentle song.
Ask your 7-year-old:
“Which sound do you think the baby noticed?”
Then encourage them to observe the baby's response.
This isn't about getting a “right answer”.
It's about helping your older child slow down and notice their little sibling.
What this builds:
Attention + observation + understanding another person's responses
...
3. Tell the Baby a Story
Your newborn may not understand the story yet.
But that's not the only purpose of this activity.
Let your 7-year-old choose a picture book and “read” it to the baby.
They can:
- Show the pictures
- Change their voice for different characters
- Point out colours and objects
- Make up their own silly story
The baby hears a familiar voice.
And the older child gets to experience a new role:
“I can share something with my sibling.”
...
4. Copy My Face
Sit with the baby and say to your 7-year-old:
“Let's make some faces for the baby!”
Try:
🙂 Happy
😮 Surprised
😴 Sleepy
😲 Excited
Ask your older child:
“Which face do you think the baby likes looking at?”
They can observe where the baby looks and whether they seem alert or interested.
What this builds:
For the older child: Emotional awareness and observation
For the newborn: Visual engagement
...
Our Special 10 Minutes
This activity doesn't involve the newborn at all.
And that's important.
Choose 10 minutes each day—or whenever possible—that belong to you and your 7-year-old.
Let them choose something simple:
- A card game
- Drawing together
- Talking about their day
- Building with blocks
- Reading a chapter of a book
No teaching.
No correcting.
No asking them to “be the mature one”.
Just connection.
...
Because sometimes the biggest question an older sibling is quietly asking is:
“Do I still get time with you?”
A Small Reminder for Parents
Your 7-year-old may be excited about the baby and still feel frustrated.
They may love their sibling and still wish things were the way they used to be.
Both feelings can exist together.
You don't have to force them to become the “perfect big brother” or “perfect big sister”.
Give them opportunities to connect.
Let them participate when they want to.
Keep one small piece of parent-child time just for them.
And remember:
Your newborn needs care.
Your older child needs connection.
Neither need you to do it perfectly.
Small shared moments can slowly become the beginning of a beautiful sibling relationship.
...
Tiny Insight
When siblings are seven years apart, they don't need activities where both children perform the same task.
The magic is in creating one shared moment where each child can participate at their own developmental level.
The newborn listens, watches and experiences.
The 7-year-old observes, talks, imagines and connects.
One activity. Two different developmental experiences. One growing relationship.