Childcare & Home Daycare Activities

Here's an article I just found about activities for infants which I thought you may find useful:

National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter

Donna Wilber
Former Supervising Teacher
Child Development Laboratory
Northern Illinois University

Copyright/Access Information

Learning takes place from the very beginning of an infant's life. Having a plan to help babies learn is an important part of caring for them. Infants, however, learn very differently from older children. Therefore, you should offer activities that are carefully tailored to their methods of learning.

TEACHING THROUGH CAREGIVING
Much of an infant's day involves caregiving activities such as feeding, diapering, and holding. Infants learn a great deal during these routines. You can foster language development by talking to infants as you change or feed them. You help them learn that they can affect others through your reactions to their facial expressions. When you smile and touch them softly, you are helping them learn to trust others and to feel good about themselves.

LEARNING THROUGH EXPLORATION
Playing with objects and people around them is another significant way that infants learn. When the baby is awake and alert, provide equipment, materials, and activities that encourage the baby to explore. Wait a minute, you say! How do you plan activities for babies? What materials and toys do you use?

To answer these questions, you will need to carefully watch the infants in your care. Observe them as you care for them and while they are playing. Watch what they are doing with their mouths, their fingers, their bodies, and the things around them. Then plan activities that will help them practice these skills. Keep in mind that each baby is different from the other. Two infants the same age may be at different stages of development. Therefore, it is important to watch each child carefully.

To decide what materials to provide for each infant, ask yourself these questions:

What objects interest the baby most?

Are there things the infant tried to do but couldn't because they were too difficult?

Will the materials be challenging enough to attract the baby's attention?

Are the materials, equipment, and toys safe?

Suppose you observe these children in the following situations:

Laura loves tapping a spoon at lunch time. She taps the high-chair tray, her bowl, and her cup.

Laura is learning about the world through her sense of hearing. Help extend Laura's learning during playtime by