Infants and Toddlers Building the Foundation for Moving and Learning: Sensory Actions, Control Skills and Exploratory Actions

Best Practices for Infant-Toddler Movement  Infants need several, short, supervised planned periods of tummy time daily.  Infants need space to explore – free of confining devices that limit their ability to move freely and learn to control their bodies in space.  Toddlers experience minutes or more of daily active play, indoors and outdoors.  Screen time is not used with infants or toddlers more than 3-4 times a year.  Let’s look for ways to support these practices in our planning!

Sensory Motor Stage of Development  Let’s think about infants and toddlers  Infants and toddlers learn through their physical senses and their movement  What does this mean for us? –Crawlers and toddlers can move around, so we need to provide infants an enriched environment without containers! –Infants need caregivers to provide sensory and movement experiences, so plan intentionally for tummy time daily. –Eliminate screen time for infants and toddlers

Sensory Actions for Infants  Role of adult is to maximize sensory actions: –Through responsive interactions –By providing enriched, sensory experiences in many ways –Remember: Development depends…on YOU!!!  Visual (Seeing) –Infants prefer people and faces more than objects! –Faces, photographs and bold patterns interest young infants –Mobiles or mirrors should be within 12 inches of infants’ eyes –Vary visual experiences by repositioning the infant

Sensory Actions for Infants (continued)  Auditory (Hearing) –Infants recognize and respond to sounds and familiar voices –Infants love sounds they make: noises, coos, babbling –Adults should talk about what infants are doing –Adults should talk, read to, sing and hum to provide a rich auditory sensory environment for infants –Try these activities during daily routines: diaper changing, bathing, or tummy time.

Sensory Actions for Infants (continued)  Tactile (Touch): –Essential form of communication, can build security and trust –Body awareness grows through touch  Vestibular (Motion) –Comforting sensation of rocking or swaying –Use gentle, slow motions with young infants –As an infant grows more comfortable with movement, try gentle swaying, rocking or circular motions  Suggested equipment, toys and props in handout

Control Skills for Babies: 6–12 months  Intentional movement supports learning! –Crawling allows exploration of the environment and learning! –Maturation supports control. We encourage learning! –During this time, babies typically:  Gain control of their bodies against gravity: from head down and center out  Inspect and manipulate small objects  How can adults help? –Support development of trust through responsive interaction –Encourage early exploration and learning: free the babies from containers like exersaucers, walkers, jumpers! –Ensure no screen time for infants –Support sensory experiences and provide appropriate challenges

Control Skills for Babies: 6 – 12 months (continued)  Manipulation –Control of muscles in arms, hands and fingers –Reaching, grasping and releasing –Will lead to self-feeding, pouring, and release of objects  Spaces –Babies gain control of bodies, then objects, then body in space –Provide big spaces for infants to crawl through, over or around: hoops, arches, tunnels, mats, boxes, traffic cones, etc.

Control Skills for Babies: 6-12 months (continued)  Obstacles –Challenge and strengthen postural control –Increase development of stability and mobility –Stimulate curiosity –Provide options for going under, over, up, down or through –Maintaining control is easier crawling up a wedge than down.  Equipment for obstacles : –Can you think of some ideas? –See more ideas in the handout in your binder.

Exploratory Actions for Toddlers  Transition from infancy to childhood –No longer dependent –Not yet totally independent –“Adolescence” of early childhood between baby and child  Seeking independence and autonomy  Needing safety and security  Toddlers: Curious explorers! Seekers of knowledge! –Learn by exploring environment and manipulating objects –Need a variety of active play experiences –Equipment suggestions are in your handouts in the binder

Exploratory Actions for Toddlers (continued)  Ball Handling –Exploration is more important than skill at this point. –Opportunities to collect, handle, toss, kick, explore and manipulate a wide variety of sizes and textures  Balance –Impact on posture control, stability and travel abilities –Opportunities to step up, turn corners, change directions –Practice walking on different surfaces, up and down ramps, and on low beams or tape on the floor

Exploratory Actions for Toddlers (continued)  Manipulation and Increasing Fine Motor Skill –Opportunities to stack, string, twist, turn, pound, build with small blocks and fit puzzle pieces in place –Object handling: lift and carry, fill and empty, messy play  Space exploration –Space awareness and exploration builds learning –Awareness of relationship of body to space and objects  Obstacles –Explore body in relation to play spaces, structures and gravity –Support exploration, problem solving, motor skills, language

Exploratory Actions for Toddlers (continued)  Wheeled Toys –Develop strength and stability by pushing and pulling –Develop coordination and opportunities for cooperation  Pretend Play or Dramatic Play –Thoughtful props stimulate “pretend” movements –Impact across multiple domains of development  Rhythm –Opportunities to listen to and respond to music –Singing, changing, dancing, playing instruments

 Let’s Move! Child Care Resource Page –Fabulous resources for infants and toddlers. Share them with your staff, children and families:  Games for Toddlers –KidsHealth site linked via LMCC. Your toddlers (and their families) will love Walking, Walking; Over the Water; and Umbrella. These games are inclusive, fun and easy! accrra/noncomgames.pdf accrra/noncomgames.pdf  Head Start Body Start: –Website full of developmentally appropriate experiences especially for children birth to 3 years, resources like Little Voices for Healthy Choices, family night kits, and healthy activities for families. These activities are fun, helpful, and many are in English and Spanish:

Infants and Toddlers:  You help build the foundation for moving and learning!  Intentional planning makes a big difference!  As we explore the Infant Toddler Toolkit, think about these early skills and how they are supported.  Thank you for your work to support children. And remember, development depends…on YOU!