One, Two and I'm a Walking Activities

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

FOR INFANTSThe newest brain research says that babies need touching experiences to “grow” the brain and grow the body. It is as critical as nutrients and vitamins. 

One, Two
Sit with your baby on the floor.
Make up rhymes as you hold your baby’s hand and let him or her touch different parts of your body.
Here are some ideas:

One, two, touch my shoe.
Yellow, red, touch my head.
Dippity dips, touch my lips.
Apples, pear, touch my hair.
Each time you say the body part, put your child’s hand on that part. When you say, “One, two, touch my shoe,” put your baby’s hand on your shoe.

Continue on with each rhyme.
Reverse the game and help your baby touch his shoe, head, etc.
Make up new rhymes for different parts of the body.
Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence: Say the rhyme with your little one and praise him as he touches the different parts of his body.
For developing the idea: Ask your little one “Where is your head? Where is your shoe?” Encourage him to touch his head and his shoe.
For moving forward: Using a doll or stuffed animal, find the head, shoes, lips and hair on the toy.

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I’m a Walking 

Movement unites all brain levels and integrates the right and left hemispheres. The locomotion centers of the brain are paired, facing one another along the top of the right and left hemispheres, so that the center controlling the left leg parallels the center controlling the right leg, and so forth. For this reason, movement ties in both hemispheres, allowing young children an opportunity to use both sides of the brain.

This song is on the CD: "Hello Rhythm" by Jackie Silberg and in the I Love Children Songbook by Jackie Silberg.

Sing or say the following words.
I’m a walking, walking, walking
I’m a walking, walking, walking
I’m a walking, walking, walking
Then I stop!
Walk around the room and on the word “stop” freeze in place.
Hold your child’s hand to walk or carry him if he isn’t walking.
You can also skip, hop, jump, skate, swim, run, tiptoe, swim and march.
Children adore playing this game…..especially the stop part.

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence: Walk several times and practice the stop part. Make positive comments like "Isn’t this fun!” or “I like to walk with you.”
For developing the idea:  Repeat the activity using different motor skills.
For moving forward: Let’s sit down and crawl and scoot to the words.