a pair of kitchen scissors or a sharp pointed instrument. The hole should be circular and a little larger than a large empty cotton reel. One or more reels may be used for this activity. Coloured reels are more appealing to the baby. Felt markers can be used to colour neutral coloured reels.
Place the plastic lid on one end of the can and put it on a flat surface. Take a cotton reel and drop it in the hole of the plastic lid. Lift the can and find the reel. Repeat this activity several times. Give the baby a cotton reel and encourage him to drop it in the hole in the plastic lid. He may need a little help coordinating at first, but with several attempts he should meet success. If you use several reels, they may all be dropped individually into the can through the hole in the plastic lid. The baby will enjoy lifting the lid and finding the reels.
This activity can be used later for the baby to do independently. Encouragement and praise are necessary for motivation; therefore, remember to encourage and praise even though you may be busy with something else.
This activity develops
eye-hand coordination
independence
motivation to increase attention span
confidence
Use a large rubber band or a piece of elastic and fasten it securely to any small safe object such as a cotton reel, a rattle, a plastic lid, etc. Tie this securely to a chair, table, play pen rail or a door knob so that the attached object will hang freely.
Show the baby how you can pull the object and let it go. The baby will see that the object returns to its original position. Pull the attached object several more times while the baby watches you. Does the baby attempt to help you or does he just watch? Encourage the baby to help you pull, or allow the baby to pull the object independently. Continue doing this until he loses interest. Be sure to praise the baby for any positive response that he makes.
At another time, different objects can be used for this same activity. Babies of this age enjoy pulling, poking and pushing objects around, and will work independently if a few safe objects are made available.
Hint: If the cotton reel makes too much noise, you may deaden the sound in the following manner. Cut the toe from an old sock. Place the cotton reel in the toe and stuff a rag, polystyrene or an old stocking around the spool. Attach the toe of the sock, containing the cotton reel and stuffing, to the elastic with a rubber band.
This activity develops
following directions
listening
language development (names of objects)
visual perception in finding the correct objects
confidence
independence
Give the baby a book to hold and allow him to examine it. Tell the baby that he is holding a book. Ask the baby to give the book back to you. Tell the baby to watch as you hide the book under a pillow or magazine. Tell the baby to go and find the book. Retrieve the book if the baby does not seem to understand. Show the book to the baby and hide it in the same place. Keep doing this until the baby gets the idea and can find the book independently. Praise the baby for any positive response. Repeat the word‘book’as often as possible and eventually the baby will say the word ‘book’.
Choose different familiar toys to hide from the baby. However, hide only one object at a given time. Call the object by name as you hide it. The baby will be more confident if you hide it in the same place. However, if the baby can readily find the hidden object, try another hiding place, such as under the sofa or a table. Try to hide it under something each time so that the baby will understand the spatial concept ‘under’. Reinforcing the name of each item will stimulate the baby to listen, and eventually, he may begin to say the names of some of the objects. Much praise and encouragement are needed for motivation in this type of activity.
This activity develops
memory recall
association of object and the correct hand
interest in playing a game
Choose an object that can be concealed in one hand. Show the small object to the baby as you identify the name of it. Retain the object in one hand and put both of your hands behind you. Clasp both of your hands as if both of them are holding the object and bring your hands back in clear view of the baby. Call the baby by name and ask him to point to the hand that has the object in it. Continue to do this several times. Use the same hand and object each time until the baby understands and can point correctly to the hand that is concealing the object. Praise the child for any positive response.
After the baby is comfortable with this activity, feel free to alternate hands. However, never change hands to conceal the object when your hands are behind you. The object of this activity is for the child to remember in which hand he saw you hold the object before you clasped each hand behind you. Changing hands behind you may tend to confuse and frustrate the baby. It may also cause the baby to lose confidence and trust in you. Other objects may be used in the same manner once the baby is comfortable with this activity.
This activity develops
more awareness of left and right progression
eye-hand coordination
further development of sensory perception
vocabulary development
skill in listening to and following directions
Place three objects in a row in front of the baby. Some suggested objects are a rattle, a sock ball, a small stuffed animal, a spoon, or any similar item. Three items are suggested because too many objects may over-stimulate and confuse the baby. Start on the left and name each object that has been placed in the row. Allow the baby to hold and touch the first one on the left. Replace that one and allow the baby to hold and feel the middle one. Replace that object and allow the baby to hold and feel the third one in the row. Replace that object in the row. Encourage the baby to name the three objects as you point to each one. If the baby just watches, repeat the name of each object several times as you move from left to right.
Ask the baby to hand you the first object. Call it by its name, but do not touch or point to it. If the child does not understand, pick up the object, name it and replace it. Repeat the procedure and ask for the same object by name. Keep doing this until the baby understands and hands you the correct object. Be sure to praise the baby for any positive response that he makes.
Call the second object by its name and instruct the child to hand the object to you. Once again, if the baby does not understand, pick up the object, name it and replace it. Continue doing this for the third object until the baby can respond correctly. If the baby appears to become frustrated stop this activity, and try again at another time.
If you repeat this activity often enough, the baby will gain more confidence and will welcome a change in the position of the three objects. Later the three objects may be exchanged for other items, used with the same procedure.