activity in the container. Push the ball around the edge with your finger. Allow it to roll freely but keep it in motion. Encourage the baby to watch as the ball moves around. Does the baby watch or try to stop the ball? If so, you know that the baby is paying attention.
Stop the ball and place the baby’s hand on it. Help the baby get the ball in motion. Talk to the baby as both of you watch the ball move. Continue to keep the ball in motion and allow the baby to move the ball independently as much as possible with his hand.
At another time during the week, place the ball in the same container, tilt and move the container so that the ball moves around the edge of it in a circular motion as before. Repeat this activity several times so that the baby can watch the ball move. Help the baby hold the container and repeat the activity. Praise the baby for any positive response he makes.
If this activity is repeated often enough the baby will become aware of the restrictive movement of the ball in the boundary of a circle.
This activity develops
an awareness of size
more of an awareness of the circular shape
sense of touch
more of an awareness of left and right
independence
Obtain a set of unbreakable mixing bowls and a set of measuring cups. Place the mixing bowls in a row in clear view and reach of the baby. They should be arranged in a graduated order with the smallest one on the left. Place the smallest bowl inside the next one. Continue to nest the bowls until they are stacked according to size. Repeat this activity several times and encourage the baby to assist you. Use the words ‘large’and ‘small’as you stack and unstack the bowls. Continue doing this until the baby loses interest. Repeat this activity often and the baby will soon learn to do it independently.
At another time, use the set of unbreakable measuring cups and repeat this activity. In this way the baby will become aware of different sizes and the round shape of the objects. The child will discover this through seeing, feeling and doing.
Blowing Bubbles and Water Splash
This activity develops
skill in watching a moving object (bubble)
an awareness of the round shape of bubbles
awareness of wetness
listening for different sounds
enhancement of the sense of touch
You will need an empty cotton reel or a bubble pipe for this activity. In addition, buy a jar of bubble blowing solution or use soap or a liquid detergent solution. Wet the bottom of the cotton reel to blow bubbles for the baby. This can be done outside, inside or at the baby’s bath time. Whichever you choose, entertain the baby for a while by blowing and trying to catch the bubbles.
The bubbles are round and colourful, and the baby may watch and even try to catch and pop them. He will delight in watching them float and then disappear. When a bubble pops say,‘The bubble popped.’ Keep saying the word ‘popped’. The baby may repeat the word or make sounds in his attempt to say the word.You have probably noticed that the baby has been uttering sounds and can say some words. Repeating the sounds that the baby makes encourages him to practise.
At bath time, make a splashing sound with the water. Exaggerating the sound will tend to capture the baby’s attention and will encourage him to want to make the splashing sound. As you talk to the baby say ‘Splish, splash’or something similar. Babies enjoy interesting sounds and are more attentive when good voice inflection is used.
Wring out a wet face cloth and listen to the sound it makes. Use verbal sounds to imitate the sound that the water produces as it is squeezed from the cloth. Give the baby a small sponge and encourage him to listen for the water sounds. The unbreakable measuring cups used in the week 34 activity can also be used in the bath to make interesting sounds with the water.
This activity develops
an awareness of the concepts ‘inside’ and ‘outside’
eye-hand coordination
beginning steps in following directions
independence
an awareness of ‘open’ and ‘close’
Take a shoe box and draw a doorway on one of the long sides. Cut on three of the lines of the doorway but leave one side uncut so that the door can be opened and closed. Use a cotton reel or a similar object that is just a little smaller than the door opening and place it in clear view of the baby.
Show the baby the shoe box house and call it by name. Tell the baby that you are going to open the door of the house. Open the door of the shoe box house and place the empty cotton reel inside. Close the door and tell the baby that the cotton reel is inside the house.
Open the door and take the cotton reel out of the shoe box house and place it beside the baby. Tell the baby that the cotton reel is outside the house. Allow the baby to hold and examine the cotton reel, and observe the baby’s reaction. Does the baby attempt to put the cotton reel inside the house or does he show little or no interest? If there is no interest try again later.
However, if the baby does appear interested, open the door and repeat each step with the baby watching. Be sure to use the words ‘inside’and ‘outside’as you move the cotton reel accordingly. Encourage the baby to do this independently and praise him for any positive response that he makes.
This activity develops
an awareness of different colours
an awareness of the square shape
an awareness of different textures of cloth
enhancement of the sense of touch
an awareness of like textures
Use a piece of cardboard and cut it into 12 square pieces approximately 12 × 12 centimetres. Collect some scraps of different textured and coloured fabrics. Cut two pieces of each scrap the same size as the squares and glue or staple them to the cardboard pieces. This activity will be more interesting if the chosen fabrics are made of corduroy, silk, fake fur, suede, metallic, quilted material or any other textured cloth that will arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of the baby.
Allow the baby to feel each cloth square one at a time. After all of the squares have been examined, place the squares side by side to resemble a patchwork quilt and allow the baby to explore. Observe which squares attract the baby’s attention. Encourage the baby to feel as you touch and talk about them. This is a good time to talk about colours and textures. For example, corduroy is bumpy and silk is smooth.
As an extension of this activity, the baby may benefit from seeing and feeling two identical squares of matching cloth. When the baby is more familiar with the squares, he may show an interest in matching them.