Cognitive Development
Shake It Out
What is Needed: A shoe/tissue box, tape, scissors, small toys
Cut one or two holes anywhere on the box, just big enough for your materials to easily get through. Get creative and decorate the box. Put small toys in box and tape it shut.
Demonstrate to your infant how to shake the box to get the toys out. Once it comes out, demonstrate how to put it back in and shake it out again. Through their observations of you, your infant will be intaking and processing that information. This helps accelerates developing their own skills by learning how to strategize and critically think.
WARNING: Depending on silliness factory, objects may go flying!
Skills to Practice: Investigative and creative problem-solving skills.
Extended Learning: Add tissue and hide one or two objects inside. See how your child tries to get it out.
Show and share two different shaped objects with your infant, then put them in the box. Ask your infant to get out one specific object by reaching in. This creates sensorial thinking abilities.
Physical Literacy
Ring Around the Rosie
Demonstrate how to hold hands and how to walk in a circle slowly. Sing Ring Around the Rosie while going in circles together and sit down and laugh on the lyrics, “We all fall down.” Doing this together will create simple social play opportunities that create awareness around teamwork
Ring-a-ring-a-Rosie
A pocket full of posies
A hush-a, A hush-a,
We all fall down.
Skills to Practice: Following simple directions, Social Bonding
Extended Learning: Parachute Fun. Get a blanket and lay it on the floor. Put a soft ball in the middle. Show your baby how to make waves by holding the blankets edges and waving your arms up and down. Watch the ball bounce everywhere! What happens when you go slow or fast?
Social-Emotional Development
My Body Talks
Say this chant with your child. Encourage them to mimic your actions. Point out the ways you use your body to communicate. The earlier a person understands that their words and actions are resources and tools to communicate, the easier the social world becomes for them.
When I want to say hello, I wave my hand.
When I want to say no, I shake my head
When I want to say yes, I nod my head
When I want to say celebrate, I clap my hands
When I want to say stop, I raise my hand
When I want to say good-bye, I wave my hand
When I want to say I love you, I wrap my arms around you and squeeze
Skills to Practice: Body Language – Imitation play for communication and relational skill-building in creatively expressive ways
Extended Learning: Get Silly. Turn on the “Chicken Dance” and teach your infant the moves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt81gzIAt18
Language Development
Communicating with Sign Language
Start with Please and Thank You.
Infants learn through modeled behaviour. Every time you say the words please or thank you, use the sign at the same time. Consistency is use, gestures and language are key. Create a game by asking your child to retrieve a toy from somewhere in the room. They will love hearing please and thank you as they go in search and bring it back
Signing is a simple communication tool for child and adults, and a means to expressive language. It enhances further language and communication skills, including verbal communication.
Skills to Practice: Expressive Language, Communication, Bonding
Extended Learning:
Teach your child these signs for by using them daily when communicating to your infant– More, Help, Eat, Milk, Diaper, Stop, All done. Life will be easier when your child can tell you what they need.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/3096293480134131/
Creative Activity
Family Handprints
Gather 3+ paint colours, 2 canvas/papers, and a sharpie.
On one canvas, add each family member's handprint in a different colour. Start with the largest hand. Wait for the first handprint to dry before adding the next. Add your family name(s) and the date. Hang as décor!
On the second canvas, let your infant create! Let them dip their hands in paint and get creative. Encourage them to pat, rub, bang and explore different colours.
Having two art projects allows your child to freely explore, create and enjoy, while participating in a project that requires a process and team work to create.
Skills to Practice: Sensory Exploration, Motor Control
Extended Learning: Paint with your feet! Find a large piece of cardboard/paper and have your infant walk, jump, and dance their way around the page!
Additional Resources:
https://www.crayola.com/athome - This website has a collection of videos and art instructions for young children.
https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/blog/ - Mommy blog about foods toddlers will eat and made easy
Learning at Home Infant Week 4
Learning at Home Infant Week 24
