Tummy Time Art
Here's What To Do
1
Fill a ziploc bag with shaving cream and a few drops of food coloring; the bag should be zipped tight and leak-proof.
2
If your child is developmentally ready, place them on their tummy with the bag in front of them.
3
Model touching the bag in different ways so the color spreads into the shaving cream.
4
Move the bag close to your child’s hands so that they lift their neck, head, and arms to touch the bag.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Lay down on the floor facing your child and smile.
E
Engage:
- Invite your child to interact, like: "Can you touch the bag and move the yellow color around?"
- Poke the bag with your fingers, pat the bag with the palm of your hand, and rub it gently to model different ways for touching the bag.
E
Encourage:
- Describe what your child is doing, like: "You're squishing the bag with your hand. That's mixing the blue and white colors together."
- Smile at your baby and praise them for their exploration (and for making their muscles strong in tummy time!)
R
Reflect:
- Was your child interested in exploring the bag?
Not quite ready?
Start the activity with your child in your lap, holding the bag of colored shaving cream in front of them; then put your child on their tummy.
Ready for more?
Put 2-3 colors in the same bag and encourage your child to explore mixing them.
As your child masters this skill...
They will explore the arts with their senses.