Older Infants Activities
( 6- 12 months)
One of the most important reasons to play with your infant is their cognitive development. Squeeze toys or any toy that makes noise when activated can be a great tool to teach cause and effect. Hiding toys and encouraging the baby to look for it teaches them the existence of things they cannot see. Anything that supports memory and language skills while being safe for infants is a possible learning tool.
Activity 1: Cups and Spoons
Goals: To increase social awareness; to increase sensory motor skills
Materials: A variety of plastic cups with handles, plastic spoons KDI : Resource Place the infant in a highchair and place a cup and spoon on the tray. Encourage the infant to explore each item. Demonstrate how you can use the spoon to hit the cup or to stir, and then give the item back to the infant. Encourage her to pick up the cup with the handle and pretend to drink from it or eat with the spoon. Repeat this using a slightly dif-ferent cup. For younger infants introduce the cup and spoon separately before pairing them. As infants gain experience, give them several different cups and spoons to play with at the same time. Activity 3: Hidden Toys
Goals: To increase cognitive development; to increase social awareness
Materials: A small toy, several cloths KDI Resource Get the infant intrigued with a toy. Then cover the toy completely with cloth and say, “Oh, where did it go?” Encourage the infant to find it. Start by partly covering the toy with cloth. If the infant does not attempt to get it, point to the toy and again encourage her. If she still does not find it, take the cloth off dramatically and say, “Here it is!” If the infant Infant massage increases body awareness, helps the infant relax, and establishes a close trusting relationships between the infant and her caregiver.is willing, play the game again. If the infant easily finds the toy, hide it first under one cloth, and then move it to the other, covering the toy completely. Initially, expect that the infant will hunt under the first cloth and then go to the second Activity 5: Grab it!
Goals: To increase sensory motor skills; to increase cognitive development
Materials: A variety of small blocks of different sizes KDI : Resource With the child in a sitting position, hold a small block just outside of the infant’s reach and see if he will reach for it. If not, place the block closer to the infant’s mid-line or preferred hand, if established. If the infant takes the block, offer a second and then a third to see what he does. Vary where you place the block for reaching. Sometimes place it close to the center of the infant’s body, sometimes more to the right or left so he has to maintain balance while reaching. Give the infant two blocks and keep two matching blocks. Clap them together or bang them and see if the infant will imitate you Activity 7: Row, Row, Row your boat !
Goals: To increase creative development; to increase sensory motor skills
Materials: None KDI Resource Place the mobile infant in an upright sitting position facing you. Place her so she is sitting between your outstretched legs so you can provide her with support for sitting if needed. Take her hands in yours and beginning singing “Row, row, row your boat.” As you sing, rock back and forth with the infant—this will feel like you are actually rowing a boat together Activity 9: Choo Choo Train
Goals : Crawling, gross motor
Materials : None KDI Resource Stand with your legs a little wider apart than your shoulders. Tell your baby she's the train and you're the tunnel, then encourage her to crawl or scoot through your legs. Add a few "chug-a-chug-a's" and train whistle sound effects as she passes through.After she's done this a few times, tell her that now the train needs to go through the tunnel quickly before it collapses. (She won't understand your instructions, of course, but she'll get the hang of this game as you play it together.) As she passes through, squeeze your legs together and try to gently catch her, or lower your body (bending your knees) as if you're about to sit on her. Expect giggling! Activity 11 : Climb every cushion
Goals : Gross Motor development
Materials : lots of cushions with various texture and size KDI Resource Pile up a stack of pillows for a safe, fun climbing activity. Use the largest, most stable pillows, such as couch cushions and bed pillows, on the bottom, then add chair pillows, throw pillows, and so on.Holding your baby steadily, help her climb up the mountain of pillows and stand triumphant on top. If you have a lot of rectangular pillows, you can use them to create more of a stair-step structure, but you'll need to hold your baby's hand to make sure she doesn't step off the top tier into thin air. Safety note: Never leave a baby alone with her pillow mountain; this activity should be supervised constantly. And move any furniture with sharp corners, so there's nothing for her to bang against if she falls. Activity 13 : Super Sorting !
Goals : Fine motor, hand-eye coordination
Materials : Several small bowls and plastic containers with lids; finger foods KDI Resource Fill small bowls with a colorful assortment of your baby's favorite finger foods – like small chunks of soft fruits or well-cooked veggies, O-shaped cereal, tidbits of chicken or fish, and little cubes of cheese. Give her some empty containers as well, and encourage her to mix and match, transferring the foods from one bowl to the next. (Be prepared for some smearing and throwing, too.) This is a great way to make a meal last long enough for a grown-up conversation. Activity 15 : Bubbles Surprise
Goals : Understanding of object permanence, hand-eye coordination
Materials : Bubbles for blowing (store-bought, or you can search online for recipes to make at home) KDI Resource Place your baby in his highchair. Duck down below the tray so that he can't see you, then blow clouds of bubbles, letting them cascade down on him. Pause for occasional intervals, then blow some more. Each surprise soapy shower will elicit fits of giggles – somehow, not being able to see you but knowing you're right there producing the bubbles is endlessly funny to babies.Once he's on to you, try changing locations (move behind the chair or over to one side) so the bubbles suddenly come from a new direction – guaranteed to get the giggles going all over again. You may want to try this activity right before bath time, as your baby will probably get soapy! Activity 17 : My little Trampoline
Goals : Standing, walking
Materials : A bed with a springy mattress or cushions Resource Stand your baby upright in the middle of the bed, carefully supporting him with your hands holding both sides. Help him bounce up and down, lifting him off the bed, then landing him in a standing position. If your baby is already walking, you may be able to just hold his hands, once he gets used to the springy motion of the bed. Another fun game: Have him sit on the bed with his legs out in front of him and gently bounce the bed with your hands while crouching in front of him so he can't fall off. Safety note: Never leave a baby unattended on a bed. Activity 19 : Where to plant a kiss ?
Goals : language, naming body parts, taking turns
Materials : lips ready for kissing! KDI Resource This activity works well right after a diaper change, when your child is already lying down. Tell her, "I think I need to give you a kiss. Hmm... where should I put it? Maybe I should put it on your..." pause theatrically and let the suspense build. Then say, "hand!" Follow up with a big smooch on her hand. Repeat this process with another body part or two, and then say, "What about the next kiss? I don't know where to put it!" Feign confusion, and see if she'll help you out by pointing to her foot or tummy. Then say, "Oh, your tummy! What a great idea! [Smooch!] Now where should the next kiss go?" When the game has run its course, you can say, "Are we all done, or should I give you one last kiss?" Follow her directions – even if she declines that one last kiss. You can use this activity to teach body parts that your child may not yet know the words for (elbow, wrist, ankle, heel). Eventually, your child may initiate a switch and decide to be the kisser while you're the kissee. |
Activity 2: My Active Activity Book
Goals: To increase language and communication skills; to increase sensory motor skills
Materials: Three-hole plastic sleeves, markers, a digital camera or camera with film, photographs of mobile infants’ being active, construction paper or poster board, paste, three-hole binders (optional) KDI Resource Take photographs of mobile infants engaged in active activities throughout several days. Some examples are crawling, rolling, walking, dancing, clapping and so on. Print the photographs or have them developed. Cut construction paper or poster board into 8 1/2′′ × 11′′ pieces so each fits inside the plastic sleeve. Paste the photographs of the mobile infants on both side of the construction paper (one or two per side) and put each page into a separate sleeve. Make a name page to identify the mobile infant and fasten them together with yarn or place them in a three-hole binder. Add photographs as mobile infants learn new skills.Procedure: Place the mobile infant on your lap or sit beside him. Look through the book with him and talk about each photograph and what he is doing, how important physical activity is in making him strong and healthy and how wonderful he is. After reading the book encourage him to move like some of the photographs. If time has passed point out how much farther or faster he can move now. Encourage him to see how far he can walk or run and for how long Activity 4: Mimic
Goals: To increase cognitive development; to increase language and communication skills
Materials: Three vegetables of different colors (e.g., broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms) steamed for about 10 minutes and cut into very small pieces, plates KDI Resource A serving size for a mobile infant is approximately 2 tablespoons. Put each color of vegetable on a small plate and encourage mobile infants to pass the plate (with your help) and choose a piece(s) of vegetable to put on their plate (or make individual plates but mobile infants are more likely to try things if they can choose). Eat with the mobile infants and talk about the vegetables and how you enjoy them. Help them learn the names of the foods they are eating. Activity 6: Push and Pull
Goals: To increase sensory motor skills; to increase cognitive development
Materials: A variety of push and pull toys KDI : Resource First allow the infant to explore the toy and then roll the toy slightly out of his reach. Encourage him to crawl after the toy. As he reaches it push it a little farther, then encourage him to push it rather than retrieve it. (Don’t do this to the point where he is frustrated.) Help push the toy in front of the infant. Move it slowly so he can crawl after it. Choose toys that move slowly with a small push, and encourage the infant to follow it as quickly as he can. When the child understands about pushing toys, introduce toys that can be pulled as well. When the child is comfortable using push and pull toys, encourage him to push or pull them to a specific location. Activity 8: Book about Me
Goals: To increase social awareness; to increase language and communication skills
Materials: Plastic sleeve covers, three-ring binders, markers, digital or regular camera, photographs of the infant, construction paper, paste KDI Resource To Make: Take photographs of the infant doing various activities throughout the day. Print them or have them developed. Cut construction paper or poster board into 8 1/2′′ × 11′′ pieces so that each fits the plastic sleeve cover. Paste the pictures of the infant on both sides of the construction paper and put each page in a plastic sleeve. Make a beginning page to identify the infant’s book. Place in a 3-ring binder. Pictures can also be laminated or covered with clear contact paper.Procedure: With the infant on your lap, look through the book with him and talk about each picture, what he is doing, and how wonderful he is. For younger infants, keep the book short and if possible have the pictures of the child alone doing everyday things (eating, sleeping, playing, and so on). As children get older have more pictures in the book with a wider range of events or make several shorter, more specific books such as “Shalini at Home,” “Shalini at School,” “Shalini Playing with Her Friends." Activity 10: Splish Splash Splosh !
Goals :Fine motor, sense of cause and effect
Materials: A small, empty, clean plastic food container (like a tub that held cottage cheese or yogurt) with a lid; something sharp to make holes in the container's lid KDI Resource Using a knife, fork, or scissors, punch small holes in the container's lid. Fill the container with water and snap the lid on. Once your baby is in the bath, show him how to turn the container upside down and sprinkle water into the tub. A water toy like this has endless potential: As your child becomes more skillful, he can help a doll or rubber ducky take a "shower," he can take a shower himself like Mom and Dad, or he can make it "rain" over the water – and you can point out how the droplets make ripples on the surface.Note: Never leave a baby unattended in the tub for even a second. If he's not a steady sitter, hold off on this activity until he's more solid. Activity 12 : Cruise Control
Goals : Gross motor, Hand-eye co-ordination
Materials : Adult-Sized Chairs KDI Resource Line up a row of chairs against a wall (preferably in a carpeted room). Help your baby stand up and hold on to a chair at one end of the row, then show her how to use the chairs to steady herself as she moves slowly along from one to another.If she needs extra incentive, take a favorite toy and place it on the farthest chair, and when she reaches the toy, help her get it, then clap and give her a big hug. Put another toy at the opposite end and send her back in the other direction. You can keep it up as long as she's having fun and still steady on her feet. Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for this week's activities, don't worry — just try them again in a few weeks. Activity 14 : See-Saw
Goals : Concept of cause and effect
Materials : A cardboard tube stuffed with newspaper for stiffening, a short square board or large rectangular children's book, a small stuffed animal, a child's hammer or mallet Resource Lay the tube on a flat surface – preferably a smooth floor. Balance the board or book on the cylinder like a teeter-totter with one end down and the other angling upward. Set the stuffed animal on the lower end of the book or board.Announce, "Let's watch Bunny go for a ride," and have your child hit the high end of the book with the child's hammer or mallet. (If you don't have one, have your baby use his fist.) Then watch your baby's face as the animal goes flying. Warning: He'll want to repeat this over and over, so for your entertainment you may want to add a challenge, such as measuring how far away it lands. Activity 16 : Tube Tunnel
Goals : Fine motor, sense of cause and effect
Materials : One or more long cardboard tubes, such as those inside wrapping paper or paper towels; balls. Cut the tubes in half lengthwise to make a trough (as shown in the photo). You can use strong tape to join two troughs together to make one longer one, if you like. Resource Sit on the floor with your baby, and show him how to hold the trough at an angle to the floor. Then start placing balls at the high end of the trough and let your baby watch them roll down. Let him put the balls onto the trough himself, and help him tilt the trough more or less to make the ball roll faster or slower. Once he gets the hang of rolling the ball down the slide, you can play games such as marking where each ball finishes and seeing which ball rolls the longest distance. Your baby won't care much about this, of course, but it may make the game more fun for you! Safety note: Don't use any balls that are small enough for your baby to swallow or choke on. (A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything small enough to fit through a toilet-paper roll.) Activity 18 : Crawl
Goals : Gross motor
Materials : Two adults KDI Resource Lie on the floor next to your partner or another adult and challenge your baby to crawl over you. Leave a little room between you so that she can crawl first over one adult and then another. As she's crawling over you, wiggle a little and pretend that she's tickling you. And if she gets caught between you, move toward each other and gently "squish" her, or give her a little tickle. The opportunity to use a grown-up as an obstacle course is one no crawler can resist. Activity 20 : Doodle Bug
Goals : fine motor control, color identification, drawing, understanding cause and effect
Materials : paper, masking tape, crayons Resource Tape some big sheets of thick paper onto the floor or a table, and let your little one doodle to her heart's content. Start off with just a few crayons in primary colors so she doesn't get overwhelmed by choices. As she picks up each crayon, name its color. (Hint: Consider investing in washable crayons in case she decides to try her hand at wall murals while your back is turned.) Shower your toddler's creations with praise. And don't forget to display her work! It will show her how much you value her efforts. Your toddler will love seeing what she can do with the funny little colored sticks she used to chew on. |