It’s a Small World After All
August 4th – 8th, 2014
Infants 6 – 12 months
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / FridayLanguage and
Music
Goal:
To experience the natural flow of language patterns / Color Glove
Take a pair of white work gloves & paint alternate fingers
Pink & orange. Sing:
“Where is pink? Where is pink?
Here I am, Here I am!” Show me if you can, show me if you can.
Where is orange? Where is orange?”
Baby Sign: elephant, giraffe, mouse / Baby Book
Make simple picture books for the babies. Ask parents to donate photos or use the school camera. Glue on heavy cardstock, laminate and attach together with a metal key ring. Keep these in the nursery all month. Talk with the babies when you look at the pictures. / Friends Picture Wall
Take pictures of all the babies or ask parents to provide. Laminate for durability and place at the baby’s eye level. Spend time looking at & talking with the babies about them. / Guess Which Hand
With baby watching, place a small toy into one of your hands & then close both hands into fists. Ask baby to choose the hand with the toy in it. If she selects the correct one, clap & cheer.
Baby Signs: slide, elephant and giraffe / We Love Pink
Point out pink objects throughout the day to baby & sing:
Pink (tune: Jingle Bells)
Cotton candy, fat pink pigs, Girls with socks and bows, P-i-n-k, p-i-n-k, That is how it goes! Bubble gum, valentines, These are all pink too. Pink icing and pink balloons. We can spell can you? Yes!
Fine Motor
Goal:
Refine
eye-hand coordination / Poking Holes
Give baby toys with holes to poke with his fingers. Use toy telephones, Chinese checker boards, pegboards or make your own using sturdy cardboard. Be sure the holes are large enough so baby’s fingers won’t get stuck. Give baby a small wad of play dough & invite baby to poke holes in it too. / Johnny Whoops
Take baby’s hand into yours. Start at the pinky & using the child’s name, say the following as you point to each finger:
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Whoops!”
On “Whoops!” when you get to index finger, slide your finger down to the thumb & back again. / Paper Cup Nesting
Place a stack of cups on the floor between you and baby. Unstack the cups then stack them again. Encourage baby to copy you. Provide verbal support and continue this game as long as baby is interested. / Stacking Rings
Place the rings and post on the floor in front of baby. Show them how to place the rings over the post then take them off again. / Find the Peg
With baby sitting on a clean rug or fuzzy carpet, drop a peg or toy into the rug while baby watches. Encourage her to pick it up. Say “Can you find the peg Sophia? It’s down in the carpet. Pick it up.” Note: when using small toys w/babies, supervise carefully.
Fun
With Fitness /
Gross Motor
Goal:
Strengthen upper-body muscles / Toys in New Places
Spread toys around in different areas of the floor. Place baby down on the rug where there are no toys & then show him where the toys are. Encourage him to scoot or crawl over to the new toy places. Provide lots of encouragement & praise when he locates the toys. / I’m a Little Baby
Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider
“Oh, I’m a baby
I’m soft & round & small.
But when I’m busy stretching,
I feel so big and tall.
My arms are getting long,
And my legs are getting strong.
And then next thing you know,
I’ll be learning how to walk.”
Make-up movements / Crumple & Throw
Sit baby across from you on the floor. Bring out an old newspaper and crumple it up in your hand. Toss the paper ball to baby saying:
“I am throwing my ball to you Paulette!”
Encourage baby to toss it back. / Climb Aboard
Position yourself on the floor in a playful position. Call out to the crawling babies to come play w/ you. Let babies approach & initiate the rest of the game such as climbing on top of you. / Left & Right Awareness
Help baby bend and rotate his head and trunk by stimulating hand & foot play. Place baby in a sitting position between your legs; support his head & elbows while bringing one arm forward to reach for the opposite foot. The baby will begin to pull himself forward in order to reach his feet.
Sensory /
Art Exploration / Air Stream
Gently blow through a plastic drinking straw and aim the airflow at baby’s hand, arm or foot—but not the face. The baby will experience the feel of moving air; is it a pleasant sensation for baby? Ask “Does it tickle Maria?” / Cymbal Sounds
Locate several pot & pan lids-- approximately the same size. Show baby how to hold a lid in each hand by its handle & clash them together to make a thundering noise. Babies can also brush the lids together, moving one up & down. / Spice Socks
In a baggie, place 4 cotton balls and sprinkle with a few drops of vanilla or pumpkin spice. Shake them up. Place the cotton balls in a tube sock and tie it in a knot. Talk with baby about what he smells. / Baby Belly Massage
Start by placing one hand on baby’s belly, just below the ribcage. Stroke downward very, very gently; stopping at baby’s diaper top. Alternate w/other hand, repeat. Do this activity before baby naps—it’s very relaxing. / Dough Bags
Place play dough in a zip-closure bag. Help baby to pound and push the dough through the bag. Show baby how to make a hole in the dough: “Look, you made a hole in the play dough, Jessica!”
It’s a Small World After All
August 11th – 15th, 2014
Infants 6 – 12 Months
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / FridayLanguage and
Music
Goal:
To experience the natural flow of language patterns / Orange Story
Choose orange objects, such as a block, a crayon, or a marker. Then start telling a story about orange. Whenever the children hear the word "orange," have them hold up their orange objects. Continue the story as long as interest lasts.
Language Cards & objects: cup, plate, fork / Routine Time Talks
While feeding, diapering, dressing, washing or moving baby, talk, talk, talk to her. Tell her what you are doing & what’s happening to him.
“Are you wet, Mathias? Let’s go to the changing table.” / Faces, Faces!
Use photos provided by parents or cut from magazines. Laminate all for durability. Sit near baby & expand on his recognition of physical characteristics with comments like “Yes, she has brown eyes like you do Ebony!” / A Little Ball
A Little Ball (Clasp hands together)
A Bigger Ball (Curve hands into a ball shape.) A great big ball I see (Raise arms above head)
Now let’s count the balls. One (hold arms above head in a circle). Two (Curve hands in a ball shape). Three (Clasp hands together) / Talk to Me!
You distinguish baby’s cries; he sounds different if hungry, angry or tired. Label these differences for baby: “Oh, you’re telling me you’re hungry”. “I think you’re saying you’re angry”. Baby begins to learn that he’s a powerful communicator.
Fine Motor
Goal:
Refine eye-hand coordination / Upside Down Pictures
Show the baby the Language Cards and talk about each one. Place these face down on the ground. Encourage baby to pick them up and turn the picture back over. / Stuck on You
Collect a variety of novelty kitchen magnets; ask parents & staff to bring them in too. Make sure none are choking hazards. Let the babies play with the magnets on a cookie sheet. Show them how to slide the magnets along the tray & pull them off. Supervise closely and remove when not in use. / Down, Down, Boom!
Place several soft blocks in the center of a large open space. Help baby build a tower 3-4 blocks high. Say “Down, down, BOOM” & on “BOOM”, knock the blocks over. Repeat & see if baby will attempt to knock them down on “BOOM” / Pounding Play
Demonstrate to baby how to pound a golf tee into Styrofoam. Gently place toy hammer in his hand & help him pound a tee on the right side of the Styrofoam, so that he has to cross the body midline. Switch hands & sides. Remove this activity when not in use. / Clapping Game
Sit baby across from you while seated on the floor. Say “Clap, clap, clap.” Encourage baby to imitate you, providing lots of encouragement and smiles when he does!
Fun
With Fitness /
Gross Motor
Goal:
Strengthen upper-body muscles / Mirror Play
Place baby on a blanket and set an unbreakable mirror in front of him. Encourage baby look at himself in the mirror. Sit down next to the baby and look together. Move the mirror to the left and the right to encourage baby to look in different directions. Can baby imitate your actions? / Toe Touches
By lying on her back and reaching for her toes, baby will strengthen both abdominal and hip muscles and stretch her hamstrings. Securely sew jingle bells to the cuff of a baby sock. Place the sock on her foot; encourage her to reach for her toes. / Little Tyke Basketball
Place a laundry basket (or similar) in the middle of the floor & position baby about one foot away, depending upon baby’s age & coordination. Show baby how to toss a ball into the basket & encourage her to imitate you. Play indoors or out. / Ball Rolls
This activity helps baby develop motor control of arms & legs. Sit on the floor about 3 feet away. Roll a ball against his feet & encourage him to kick or bat it away. Say:
Roll the ball, roll the ball. Back & forth, back & forth. Roll the ball, roll the ball.
One, two…Whooo!” / Leaning Over a Log
Fold a towel or blanket in half & roll into a thin log shape. Lay baby on his tummy over the roll & give him a few toys to play with. Move the toys from side to side so that baby has to reach for the toy. Make sure baby can get the toy after he reaches a few times.
Sensory/
Art Exploration / Bubble Blow
With baby on the floor or in an infant seat, gently blow a few bubbles to the left and right of her. “Look at the pretty bubbles; Can you catch one, Deshante?” / Listen Softly
Play soft music while baby is playing on the floor. Classical music is the best. Baby’s brain cells are developing & research indicates that classical music helps with its development. / Nature Walk
(weather permitting)
Take a nature walk outside with babies in the stroller. Take a blanket along so that when you find a warm spot you can spread it out. Enjoy the fresh air with babies beside you on the blanket. / Baby Found
Place a handkerchief over baby’s head & pretend you cannot find her. Say, “Where’s Maleeka?” When you pull the handkerchief off, get excited & say, “Oh! There you are!” / Pink Toys
Find the pink toys in the classroom—especially w/interesting textures and shapes—and place within baby’s reach. As baby notices them, be sure to talk about the items: “You’re holding the fuzzy pink bear”
It’s a Small World After All
August 18th – 22nd, 2014
Infant 6 - 12 Months
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / FridayLanguage and
Music
Goal:
To experience the natural flow of language patterns / Sing, Sing a Song
Sometimes you want to remind a baby that you are still around even though you can’t get to him immediately. Your musical voice will reassure baby that you haven't forgotten about him. Learn the words to your favorite songs & belt them out with confidence as you work with other babies. / Family Picture Wall
Take pictures of all the babies with their mommies & daddies or ask parents to provide them. Laminate for durability and place these at the baby’s eye level. Spend time looking at & talking with the babies about them. / Wiggle, Wiggle
Wiggle your index finger in the air as you recite:
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle little finger,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle in the air.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle little finger,
Wiggle all around & put it there!”
On ‘put it there” touch baby on the nose. / Respond to Each Baby
It is very important to respond to a baby. If you notice a baby is looking at her belly, tell her that ‘that’s your belly’. She will develop some sensory information & will begin to process ideas of what a belly is. / Where is Baby?
While sitting with a small group of 2 – 4 babies, choose one baby’s name and sing to the tune: “Where is Thumbkin?” “Where is Jamal?” Point to child and say, “There he is. There is Jamal.” Play using all the names of adults & babies in the classroom
Fine Motor
Goal:
Refine
eye-hand coordination / Feely Bag
Fill a gift bag w/5-6 objects (balls, cars, etc.) Invite baby to reach inside & feel them. “Use your fingers. What do feel in the bag? Allow baby to pull the object out & verbally state what it is: “Oh look, that’s a fuzzy duck.” / Dropping Game
Collect several infant blocks or similar & a plastic container or tub. Set baby on the floor in front of container & show him how to drop the blocks into the container. When the toy hits the bottom, say “Boom!” Continue for as long as baby is interested, / Wallpaper Shapes
Cut several shapes from wallpaper books & place on a tray or tabletop in front of baby. Encourage baby to pick up the shapes one at a time & hand them to you. This is a good activity for developing the pincher grasp. Show excitement each time baby picks one up. / Drop Out!
Cut 2-3 holds large enough for a tennis ball to go through in the bottom of a shoe box. Place a tennis ball inside. Help the baby tilt the box so the ball drops through. Be sure to praise the baby as he works to master this activity. / Tape On a Wall