Activities

Activities


The activities in this section are simple and are designed
to prepare children for school. Most of them grow out of the
routine things parents do everyday.

Each section is organized by ages. An age grouping begins
with "What to expect"--a list of qualities and behaviors
typical of these children. This is followed by "What they
need"--a list of things that help these children grow and
learn. In a box near the end of each activity are explanations
for those who want them. As you go through this section, it is
good to remember these points:

Children learn at their own pace. Most move through
similar developmental stages, but they have their own
timetables. Therefore, the "What to expect" and the "What they
need" sections, as well as the ages suggested for the
activities, will vary from child to child. An activity listed
for a youngster between the ages of 2 and 3 may be fine for one
who is younger. Or it may not interest another until he has
passed his third birthday.

Some of these activities, while listed under a particular
age, are important for all young children. Reading and
listening to music, for example, can benefit children from the
time they are born. By modifying an activity, you can enable
your child to continue to enjoy it as he grows and develops.

The symbols next to the activities can guide you.



for an infant (birth to 1)



for a toddler (ages 2 to 3)



for a preschooler (ages 4 to 5).



Find activities that interest your child. If the one you
picked out is too hard, your child may get discouraged. If it's
too easy, he may get bored. Or if your child seems
uninterested, try another time. Often children's interests
change as they grow and develop. Try to give toddlers and older
children a choice of activities so they learn to think for
themselves.

The activities are meant to be fun. Be enthusiastic and
avoid lecturing to preschoolers on what they are learning. If
your child enjoys the activity, his excitement for learning
will increase.

Finally, be sure to make safety a top priority. With that
caution in mind, flip through the following pages and find some
activities that you and your child can enjoy together.



Birth to 1 Year


What to expect


Babies grow and change dramatically during their first
year. They begin to

* Develop some control over their bodies. They learn to hold
up their heads; roll over; sit up; crawl; stand up; and,
in some cases, walk.

* Become aware of themselves as separate from others. They
learn to look at their hands and toes and play with them.
They learn to cry when parents leave, and they recognize
their name.

* Communicate and develop language skills. First babies cry
and make throaty noises. Later they babble and say mama
and dada. Then they make lots of sounds and begin to name
a few close people and objects.

* Play games. First they play with their hands. Later they
show an interest in toys, enjoy "putting in and taking
out" games, and eventually carry around or hug dolls or
stuffed toys.

* Relate to others. First they respond to adults more than
to other babies. Later they notice other babies but tend
to treat them like objects instead of people. Then they
pay attention when other babies cry.


What they need


Babies require

* A loving caregiver who can respond to their cries and
gurgles;

* Someone who gets to know their special qualities;

* Someone to keep them safe and comfortable;

* Opportunities to move about and practice new physical
skills;

* Safe objects to look at, bat, grab, bang, pat, roll, and
examine;

* Safe play areas; and

* Opportunities to hear language and to make sounds.



Developing Trust



Newborn babies need to become attached to at least one
person who provides security and love. This first and most
basic emotional attachment is the start for all human
relationships.


What you'll need


Loving arms
Music


What to do


1. Include happy rituals in your baby's schedule. For
example, at bedtime, sing the same song every night, rock
her, or rub her tummy.

2. Pick up your crying baby promptly. Try to find out what's
wrong. Is she hungry?. Wet? Bored? Too hot? Crying is your
baby's way of communicating. By comforting her you send
the message that language has a purpose and that someone
wants to understand.

3. Gently move your newborn's arms and legs. Or tickle her
lightly under the chin or on the tummy. When she starts to
control her head, lie on the floor and put her on your
chest. Let her reach for your nose or grab your hair. Talk
to her and name each thing she touches.

4. Sing and cuddle with your baby. Hold her snuggled in your
arms or lying face up on your lap with her head on your
knees. Make sure the head of a newborn is well-supported.
Sing a favorite lullaby.

To entertain your baby, sing an active song. For example:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it, and you want the world to
know it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

If you don't know lullabies or rhymes for babies, make up
your own!

5. Dance with your baby. To soothe her when she's upset, put
her head on your shoulder and hum softly or listen to
recorded music as you glide around the room. To amuse her
when she's cheerful, try a bouncy tune.





Feeling your touch, hearing your voice, and enjoying the
comfort of physical closeness all help a baby to develop trust.


Touch and See!







Babies are hard at work whenever they are awake, trying to
learn all about the world. To help them learn, they need many
different safe things to play with and inspect. Objects you
have around your home offer many possibilities.


What you'll need


A splinter-free wooden spoon with a face drawn on the bowl
Different textured fabrics, such as velvet, cotton, corduroy,
terry cloth, satin, burlap, and fake fur
An empty toilet paper or paper towel roll
Pots, pans, and lids
An old purse or basket with things to put in and take out
Measuring cups and spoons
Boxes and plastic containers
Large spools
Noisemakers (rattles, keys, a can filled with beans)


What to do


1. Put one or two of the items to the left in a safe play
area where your baby can reach them (more than two may
confuse him).

2. Let your baby look at, touch, and listen to a variety of
objects. Ones that are brightly colored, have interesting
textures, and make noises are particularly good. Be sure
that any item you give your baby will be safe in his
mouth, since that's where it probably will end up.

3. Use these items for all age groups. Many of them will
continue to interest toddlers and older preschoolers. For
example, babies love to inspect a paper towel roll. But
with a 4-year-old, it can become a megaphone for talking
or singing, a telescope, or a tunnel for a toy car.





Babies begin to understand how the world works when they
see, touch, hold, and shake things. Inspecting things also
helps them coordinate and strengthen their hand muscles.


1 to 2 Years



What to expect


Children this age are

* Energetic (walk more steadily, run, push, pull, take
apart, carry, and climb on and grab things);

* Self-centered; and

* Busy (like to flip light switches, pour things in and out
of containers, unwrap packages, and empty drawers).

Between their first and second birthdays, they

* Like to imitate the sounds and actions of others (by
pretending to do housework or yardwork, for example);

* Want to be independent and do it themselves (and express
this by saying "No!");

* Can be clingy;

* Can have relatively short attention spans if not involved
in an activity;

* Add variations to theft physical skills (by walking
backwards or sideways, for example);

* Begin to see how they are like and unlike other children;

* Become more sensitive to the moods of others;

* Play alone or alongside other toddlers; and

* Increase their vocabularies from about 2 or 3 words to
about 250 words and understand more of what people say to
them.


What they need


Children this age require

* A safe environment for exploring;

* Opportunities to make their own choices ("Do you want the
red cup or the blue one?");

* Clear and reasonable limits;

* Opportunities to use big muscles (in the arms and legs,
for example);

* Opportunities to manipulate small objects, such as puzzles
and stackable toys;

* Activities that allow them to touch, taste, smell, hear,
and see new things;

* Chances to learn about "cause and effect"--that things
they do produce certain results (when a stack of blocks
gets too high it will fall over);

* Opportunities to develop and practice their language
skills; and

* Chances to learn about kindness and caring.



Shop till You Drop







Shopping is just one of many routines that can help your
child learn. lt's especially good for teaching new words and
introducing preschoolers to new people and places.


What you'll need