Movement Fun and Watching!

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.

Activities for Infants
The newest brain research says that early movement experiences are essential to the neural stimulation of an infant.. For healthy brain development, infants need to have many movement experiences.

Movement Fun
Sit on the floor with your baby sitting opposite you.
Play this game as you sing to the tune of “London Bridges Falling Down.”
Hold your baby’s hands as you follow the directions in the song.

Put your hands up in the air
In the air, in the air
Put your hands up in the air
Clap, clap, clap – clap your baby’s hands together.
Put your hands down to the ground
To the ground, to the ground
Put your hands down to the ground
Clap, clap, clap

Continue using different motor activities. Always end the song with “clap, clap, clap.”

When you feel that your little one understands the activity, add movement with another part of the body.

For example you can:

• Kick your leg into the air
• Move your arm from side to side
• Take your legs and shake, shake, shake

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Play the game and encourage and praise your little one.

For developing the idea - Ask questions using the words of the song. “Can you put your hands in the air?” “Can you clap your hands?”
For moving forward – Give your child a toy that has arms and legs. Show her how to move the toy’s arms and legs as you sing the song.

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Watching
Loving care provides a baby’s brain with positive emotional stimulation.

Think of all the different places that are good for watching.

When babies can watch things move, they are happy.

A front-loading washing machine or dryer is fun for babies to watch.

Windows that are near trees are wonderful watching places.

Sit outside with your infant for an amazing amount of stimulation. You can:

• Watch birds fly from one place to another.
• Watch cars moving down the street.
• Watch the branches of a tree blow in the wind.

Take time to sit with your infant and watch together. Having you next to him will give him the comfort and security that he needs to enjoy the wonders of the world.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – As you watch things together, speak words of praise in a gentle voice. “The wind feels so nice.” “What a lovely flower this is.”

 

For developing the idea - Encourage your baby to move his head back and forth. Hold a small toy in your hand and when he is looking at it, move it back and forth.

 

For moving forward – Hold your infant and walk around the room or outside and talk about all the different things you are looking at.