Anabelle O’Malley and Mary Sonnenberg Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood Using Growing, Moving, Learning: The Infant-Toddler Tool Kit

Growing, Moving, Learning: The Infant Toddler Toolkit Three volume series: Birth through 12 Months Months Months What it is: Developmentally appropriate activities for infants and toddlers Helpful, fun and meaningful experiences to support healthy eating, physical activity and health awareness for our youngest children in early care and education settings. Support for best practices: infant tummy time several times daily, elimination of containing devices like swings and exersaucers, daily opportunities for appropriate indoor and outdoor active play.

Format Each module has four parts which work together to focus on a particular area of development, skill or concept: Classroom Activities (2) Activities to Do at Home Healthy Home Connection

Parts 1 and 2: Classroom Activities These two activities are meant to work together. Did You Know?: Relevant background information to support the activities Early Learning Standards: Highlighted learning opportunities from the physical development and health, social emotional, discoveries, and language and literacy domains

Classroom Activities, cont’d Materials: Commonly found items Procedure: Step by step directions for facilitating each activity Adapt: Suggestions for differentiation based on individual needs and interests Extend: Ideas to extend each activity for deeper learning

Activities to Do at Home An introduction to a related family activity is included at the end of each classroom activity. An information sheet for families explains: Easily accessible resources for extending the learning at home. What the children have been doing in the program Why it is important What families can do together at home

Healthy Home Connection Contains directions for specific activities to do at home as a family, along with a space to write about their child’s response to the activity at home. Healthy Home Connection then travels from home back to the program. Find a special place to display this in your program! This is a great way to build bridges with families.

Trying out the Activities If appropriate, divide yourselves into groups. Read through the activity and discuss. Someone should act as the caregiver and others will be the children. Complete the activities for children months and months as a small group. Activities to try out are listed on the next slide.

Let’s Explore the Activities: Reach and Explore Module (page A71-A78) under the Birth-12 months tab. Choose one of the activities to do as a small group: Reach and Stretch or Go! Baby Go! Pop and Stop Module (page B61 – B68) under the 12 to 24 months tab. Choose one of the activities to do as a small group: Jack in the Box or Red Light Green Light Jump and Move Module (page C41-C48) under the 24 to 36 months tab. Choose one of the activities to do as a small group: Jumping over the River or Moving Maracas As a group, answer the questions on the next slide.

Wrapping Up What do you find most appealing about the activities? What modifications/adaptations would you make? How do you see the activities fitting into your daily programming? How do the activities support the Early Learning Standards in your state or the curriculum guidelines you use for planning? How do the activities support Let’s Move! Child Care goals and best practices for tummy time, active play, teacher-led activity, etc?