Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
30m
Social Studies
Neighborhood Walk and Talk
Take your child on a walk around your neighborhood or a local shopping center. Stop at one or more locations (post office, grocery store, barber shop, pharmacy, etc.).
Talk to your child about the reasons why you go to each place and what you can do there.
If possible, ask one of the employees if they can show your child how to do a part of their job.
Encourage your child to ask the employee questions about their job.
10m
Social-Emotional Learning
Follow Me!
Place your baby on the floor sitting or lying down. Tell them you're going to play "Follow Me!"
Tell your baby you're going to show them a movement, and then you'll teach them how to copy you. Example movements:
Clapping hands
Stomping feet
Before you do each action, tell your baby what you're going to do.
Copy the action with your baby (example: move their hands so they clap). Older babies may begin to mimic your movements on their own.
Activities for Toddlers
15m
Creativity
Fast and Slow Music
Place your baby on a blanket on the floor. Play some music or sing to your baby.
Hand your baby a scarf, tissue, or handkerchief, and hold one yourself too. Move your scarf to the beat of the music.
Use your scarf to interact with your child (move it in the air in front of their face, slide it around their body). Talk about your movements and describe if they are fast or slow.
Ask and answer your own questions about what you and your baby are doing.
10m
Approaches to Learning
Snacks in a Bottle
Let me watch you put a piece of cereal or other small snack into a small clear container with a narrow opening (like a spice bottle).
Hand me the bottle to let me try to get the snack out.
If I try lots of experiments but can’t get the snack, show me how to turn the container over. Then let me try again.
Let me practice turning over containers in other play- like using water in a trial-size shampoo bottle to wash a doll’s hair, or putting sand in a spice shaker during sand play.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
10m
Physical
Holding Toys in Both Hands
Help me learn that I can hold objects in both hands at the same time! This skill prepares me to use both hands cooperatively when I'm older.
During our daily activities, try offering me a second item to hold. Examples:
Snack time: If I'm holding a small snack in one hand, offer a second snack towards my empty hand
Bath time: If I'm holding a bath toy in one hand, offer a washcloth towards my empty hand
Show me what I can do with two objects. Model banging or shaking toys with one in each hand.
Celebrate when I successfully hold items in both hands!
5m
Language & Literacy
Babababa!
During daily activities, play a consonant sound game. Make these sounds in a very exaggerated way, and see if I'll copy you:
"ba"
"da"
Whenever I babble, talk back to me as if I was using real words. This helps me learn that my sounds are important!
When we play together, try repeating words that have these consonant sounds. For example, if I'm hitting blocks together, you could say "bang bang bang."
Provide a variety of teething toys for me to put in my mouth. This helps me learn how to use my mouth and tongue in different ways.
Activities for Toddlers
10m
Approaches to Learning
Where Did It Go?
Gather supplies for this game:
a ball, toy car, or pull toy with a string
a barrier for the toy to roll behind, like a cereal box or a roll of paper towels
While I'm watching you, very slowly roll the toy behind the barrier to the other side.
Try this two or three times, and see if I'll switch my glance to the correct side before the toy reappears.
If I'm able to anticipate where a slow-moving object will reappear, try rolling the toy faster behind the barrier. See if I am still able to switch my glance to the other side before the object appears.
10m
Approaches to Learning
Learning Simple Rules
Keep it simple by only having necessary rules. For example, I should not be allowed to:
Hurt others or myself
Go near the street, hot stoves, or other dangerous places or things.
Try to make rules that are easy for you to enforce, or I'll learn that rules don't need to be followed.
I learn rules by breaking them and being shown what I'm allowed to do instead. When I break a rule, here are three steps that help me learn:
Tell me in simple words what I did wrong
Physically help me stop the behavior by moving me away
Remember that I am still learning how to follow rules. I don't have the self-control or memory to follow rules at this age, and I need your help following them.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
10m
Physical
Grasping a Toy
During playtime, give me small things that are easy to grasp and are safe for me to put in my mouth. Examples:
Rattles
Teethers
Encourage me to practice grasping things with both my right and left hands.
Let me practice grasping when I'm in different positions. I can grasp while I'm lying on my side, tummy, and back, and in a supported sitting position.
Celebrate when I successfully grasp a toy!
10m
Creativity
Tummy Time Art
Fill a ziploc bag with shaving cream and a few drops of food coloring; the bag should be zipped tight and leak-proof.
If your child is developmentally ready, place them on their tummy with the bag in front of them.
Model touching the bag in different ways so the color spreads into the shaving cream.
Move the bag close to your child’s hands so that they lift their neck, head, and arms to touch the bag.
Activities for Toddlers
10m
Creativity
Making Sounds with Objects
Play a sound imitation game with me! Gather a few toys that we can safely bang on a hard surface (like: a rattle, a spoon, a plastic cup, etc.).
Show me how you can bang a toy on the ground or table to make a noise. See if I'll copy your sound with a toy I'm holding.
Keep taking turns for as long as I show interest.
Repeat with different toys, or on different surfaces (a rug vs. a hard floor).
10m
Math
Position Play
Find a toy and a box big enough to fit the toy inside
Ask your child to place the toy in and out of the box. If your child is unsure, use the toy to demonstrate the opposite positions and ask again.
If your child understands in/out, repeat with more difficult positional words like: up/down, above/below, in front/behind, next to, inside/outside, over/under.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
5m
Language & Literacy
It’s Book Time
Choose a book that will gain the interest of your infant (soft books, books with textures, board books, picture books, lift-the-flap books).
Sit close while you read the book or let your child hold the book; read the title, name the images on its cover, and then read the book if there are words.
As you read the book, point to images and words while describing what you see.
Allow your child to touch the book (and stick it in their mouth, if they want to!). Pause when something captures their attention or if they have a verbal response.
10m
Physical
Exploring My Feet
Help me learn to make different movements with my feet!
During bath time:
Splash water on my feet, rub them together, and let me look at them underwater.
When I’m drying off, massage my feet with baby lotion. Help me feel and rub my own feet.
After a diaper change:
Use my feet to play “peek-a-boo,” “this little piggy,” or another game you know.
When we’re playing on the floor, play “How Does the Animal Walk” game. Make up playful rhythmic movements for different animals using my feet. For example:
Elephant: move my feet up and down in big strides
Horse: move my feet in a gallop pattern
Activities for Toddlers
5m
Social Studies
Who's That in the Mirror?
Look into a mirror with me. Smile and say hello to help me learn that the baby in the mirror is me.
Make a funny face while we're looking in the mirror. I may react in different ways- reaching out, seeming confused, looking at you, or smiling.
Help me touch my image in the mirror and then touch my own body.
Help me touch your face in the mirror, and then encourage me to look at the real you.
10m
Health & Wellness
Testing at Bedtime
Know that I may begin 'testing' you at bedtime by crying, throwing toys, jumping in my crib, or other ways to get your attention so you'll get me out of bed. This is a normal way for me to test boundaries as I'm trying to gain independence, but it can be very frustrating for you!
One way to help the bedtime separation is to keep our nighttime routine consistent.
You may want to try ignoring my attention-getting at bedtime. If you want to try this "ignoring" method, here are some tips:
Leave my room promptly and cheerfully and reassure me you'll see me in the morning.
If you need to check on me, use a baby monitor or call out to me. Don't come back into my room.
Remember that every child is different, and there is no one method that will work for every family. You may need to experiment to see what works best for us.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
15m
Science
Exploring Through My Senses
Help me be a baby scientist and explore objects through my senses. Provide safe toys that I can use my senses to explore:
Touch: things with interesting textures like bumps or fuzz, or different temperatures like cloth dampened with cool or warm water
Sound: things that make noise like crinkly paper, rattles, squeak toys, or toy keys
Remember that when I put things in my mouth, I'm not just "tasting." I use my mouth to investigate textures, temperature, and other things too!
Describe my 'investigations' out loud as I play.
15m
Social Studies
Draw Yourself as a Classroom Helper!
Discuss the different kinds of classroom helpers with your child, like line leaders, librarians, and table cleaners. Then pick a job and have your child draw a picture of themselves doing it.
Let your child pick their favorite.
Encourage them to draw a picture of themselves doing the job. Have them think about what they would wear or what they might be holding.
Talk about their pictures as they are drawing, helping them to add details that are specific to the classroom helper role they’ve chosen.
Activities for Toddlers
20m
Physical
Who Said That?
Play a game of "Who Said That?." Start off several feet away on my right or left side (out of my view).
Approach me slowly while you talk or sing to me. When I turn my head to face your voice, congratulate me and say, "You found me!"
Repeat while you vary the direction you're coming from and the sounds you're making.
(Optional) Play this game with multiple family members. If there are any other children in our family, I might find their voice especially interesting.
15m
Math
Shape Puzzles
Gather or make a shape puzzle toy. Examples:
A shape sorter toy that has differently shaped holes in its lid
A simple shape puzzle (with geometric shapes like triangle, circle, square)
Encourage me to put a shape into the puzzle. Demonstrate how to put a piece in, and see if I will imitate you.
Use your fingers to trace the shapes, and talk to me about their features. Show me how the holes in the puzzle have the same features.
Give me plenty of time for trial and error. I may need several months of practice before I can match different shapes.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
10m
Language & Literacy
Watching You Scribble
While I watch you, use a dark colored crayon to write, draw, or scribble on white paper. Make big, simple marks that are easy for me to see.
Dip my finger in a bowl of water and let me 'finger paint' on a dark colored piece of construction paper.
Show me when older children are drawing or coloring. Describe the colors and shapes they make.
Throughout the day, show me how you write things down. Talk about what you're doing.
5m
Social-Emotional Learning
Silly Squealing
Try some silly games to see if you can get me to squeal with delight. I'll make a sudden burst of high pitched vowel sounds like "eeee!" to let you know that I'm happy.
Games to try:
"I'm Gonna Get You!"
Making funny faces at me.
Activities for Toddlers
10m
Physical
Can I Reach It?
Play "Can I reach it?"
Lay me on my back and hold a favorite toy so that it is just out of my reach.
Let me get it and play with it.
Repeat the game while I'm sitting, in a tummy time position, or lying on my side.
If I can easily reach the toy with two hands, try holding it off to one side so I'll grab it with only one hand.
Now that I'm learning how to reach things, I might get into things I'm not supposed to. Make sure our home is childproofed by moving small, dangerous, or breakable items away from spots I can reach.
15m
Math
Learning the Concept of One
Throughout the day, point out when there's one of something.
Play a quick body part game, talking about which body parts I have two of and which I only have one (i.e. nose vs. feet).
Play "find one." Place one object in a bowl, and then place many of the same object in a second bowl. Ask me to pick the bowl that has just one.
Play "pass me one." Ask me to pass you one item. If I give you more than one, explain that you only need one and give me back the rest.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
Varies
Health & Wellness
I'm So Tired!
When I'm acting cranky, whiny, clingy, or mad, consider if I'm fatigued. Things like peer play, group activities, school, or special events can tire me out easily at this age.
Try to notice patterns. About how long I can handle an exciting activity? What things tire me out the most?
Help me take breaks before I get irritable. Can we fit in a quiet activity like reading books, snuggling in a quiet area, or taking a short nap?
Remember that it's very normal for me to appear happy all day at school and then melt down when I come home. Try not to take it personally. It means I feel safe enough with you to let out my emotions.
10m
Language & Literacy
Texture Tales
Find a board book with different textures your child can touch. (Or, tell a story out loud and have your child touch the textures of different household objects that match the story. For example, tell the Itsy Bitsy Spider story and rub a cotton ball on your child's arm for "spider" and sprinkle water on their face for "rain").
Read the book or tell the story, and help your child feel the textures.
Describe the texture and the object/animal/person the textures belong to.
Repeat the same book or story a few times and continue to describe the textures.
Activities for Toddlers
10m
Approaches to Learning
Where Is It?
Move your face or a favorite toy behind a cover (like: your hands, a blanket, a box).
Uncover your face or the toy after a few seconds so I can see, touch or play with it again. Watch to see if I keep looking at the place where your face or the toy disappeared.
Repeat with different objects.
30m
Social Studies
Public Transport Adventure
Plan a trip for your child to experience riding public transportation, like a bus, train, tram, light rail, or ferry.
Describe all parts of the trip as you experience them. Tell your child where you're going and how you're getting there.
If possible, sit near a window. Hold your child so they can look outside. Describe what you see out the window.
Celebrate with your child when you arrive at your destination!
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Activities for Infants
5m
Language & Literacy
Interpreting Cries
Notice the different types of cries I make:
Can you hear any differences between my pain, hungry, wet, and need attention cries?
Sometimes it may be impossible to figure them out.
If my cry is difficult to figure out, you can try to help me through trial and error (change my diaper, offer a feeding, cuddle me, etc.).
There will probably be times when nothing seems to soothe me. Sometimes babies cry for no known reason!
It can be very hard to hear me cry for a long time or with great intensity. If nothing seems to help, remember:
It's okay to put me in my crib, make sure I am safe, and leave the room. I will be okay and I need you to be okay too.
You can check on me and cuddle me again every few minutes to reassure both of us. And you may be surprised, and I’ll just fall asleep or stop crying on my own!
15m
Health & Wellness
Learning To Sleep Through the Night (6-12 months)
If I'm over six months old and wake up frequently for feedings, it might help to wean me off my middle-of-the night feeding.
Check with my pediatrician first to see if this is appropriate for me.
Gradually decrease the amount or length of time of my feedings (i.e. if I usually drink 6 ounces, decrease it to 5 and then 4 ounces.)
If I awaken during the night and do not need to eat, you can try to prevent my middle-of-the-night awakenings from becoming a pattern.
If I'm just fussing a bit, wait to see if I'll fall back asleep without your help.
If it sounds like my crying is getting worse, respond, but try to be "boring." Change me and sing me a soothing song, but don't play with me.
Try to keep my nap and bedtimes as consistent as possible.
Activities for Toddlers
10m
Physical
Learning to Sit
Once I have great control of my head and neck, help me learn how to sit independently by supporting me through the following stages of sitting.
First, help me sit with support:
Sit me on your lap and hold my hips steady. See if I can sit without leaning back on your chest.
Place me inside a C-shaped nursing support pillow, or inflatable swimming tube, or propped with pillows in the corner of the couch. Stay next to me since I can topple over quickly.
Next, help me sit while I lean on my hands:
Let me practice sitting on the floor, and help position my hands on the floor in front of me. Put pillows around me in case I fall over.
Sit on the floor with me between your legs while we're looking at a book. Let me lean my back into you at first, then decrease your support as my balance gets better.
Finally, help me practice sitting independently:
Encourage me to reach for toys with both hands while I sit.
Gradually increase the length of time I practice sitting by myself.
10m
Health & Wellness
Body Part Name Game
Sit down with me and a favorite stuffed animal, doll, or action figure.
Play a "Body Part Name Game" with me to help me learn words for parts of the body. Ask me to complete an action on a part of the doll. Examples:
clap the doll's hands
tickle the doll's feet
See if I can complete the same action on my body (like: clapping my own hands).
If I'm able to play this game easily, increase the challenge by talking about body parts like shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles.
