Birth-6 Months
FromActivities for Responsive Caregiving,
Jean Barbre
What to have
– Plastic tubs, such as small washtubs
– A variety of items that are appropriate and safe for infants to explore with their hands and mouths:
- Small toys with different textures
- Fabric samples with different textures (burlap, velvet, faux fur, fleece)
- Clean lids from baby-food jars or frozen
juice cans
- Items that make noise when banged together, such as measuring cups and spoons
Suggested Books
– Baby Touch and Feel 1, 2, 3 by DK Publishing
– Baby Touch and Feel Farm by DK Publishing
– Pooh’s Touch and Feel Visit by A. A. Milne
– Touch and Feel Adventure: Discovering Colors and Textures by Alexis Barad-Cutler
– Whose Back Is Bumpy? by Kate Davis
What to do
Place the items in the tubs. Place the tubs in an area where infants can explore what’s inside the tubs, either by sitting next to you for support or by sitting up independently. For infants who enjoy exploring on their tummies, place the items on the floor in front of them, either at a distance (to encourage crawling) or close enough for them to reach out and grasp. Read
the suggested books, introduce the vocabulary words, and sing and chant with the infants.
Why
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Social-Emotional Development
– Sense of self
– Personal identity
– Relationships with peers
– Sharing
Physical Development
- Fine-motor skills
– Perception
Cognitive Development
- Connecting experiences
– Cause and effect
– Spatial awareness
Language Development
– Receptive language
– Expressive language
– Connecting words with
real-world knowledge
– Concept words
– Using language in play
For more activities check out
Activities for Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos
By Jean Barbre Copyright 2013 Birth-6 Months