Activities

Provide several different plastic containers of the same general shape that will fit inside each other (such as small, medium and large-sized yogurt containers). Show the children how to nest them inside each other or stack them like a tower.

Have the children turn to a peer and, as they look at each other, describe how they are different and how they are the same. If time allows, let them switch partners and repeat. This could be done in large group.

Tune: "You Are My Sunshine"
You are my helper, my special helper

Please pass the crackers 

To all our friends.

We are so hungry 

For something yummy.

While holding the infant, quietly sing the song “You Are My Sunshine.” Smile and emphasize the word “happy” as you sing.

Change your dramatic play into a doctor's office.  The children can role play what the doctors say and how the patients feel.

During meals and snack times, provide each child with a child-sized spoon and encourage the children to feed themselves with it. If a child has trouble, hold the spoon and help guide it for the child.

Place the infant on the floor with toys just out of reach. Encourage the infant to reach for and grab the toys. Look for toys that make sound or light up when touched.

Read If I Were a Moose by Patrick Kleinen.  Talk about the questions Coopie asked his mom and how his mom responded.  Have the children work in pairs to come up with a different ending to the story.

Sit or lie on the floor with the infant and imitate his/her movements. For example, if the infant is learning to roll over, you roll over. If the infant is up on all fours rocking back and forth, then you do the same.

Give a child an activity to do, but leave a portion of the activity out of his/her reach so the child has to ask for it. For example, give the child the lacing cards, but leave the laces on top of the cubbies.

Have the children think about something they wish they could do and then discuss how an adult could help them. For example, Jazmine wantsto learn to jump rope. Then brainstorm with the children about how an adult can help Jazmine learn to jump rope.

Provide nature guidebooks such as Audubon's Guide to North American Birds for the children to use during outdoor time. Encourage them to look at the plants and animals they see on the playground and find them in guidebooks.

Show the children two books and ask them which one they want to read today. Encourage the children to point or use simple words.

Read the book Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli. Talk to the children about what you are reading such as, “We eat blueberries but not blue crayons.

Gather fresh fruit items. Cut hard fruit such as apples into bite-sized pieces. Encourage the children to cut soft fruits, such as bananas, into small pieces using a child-safe plastic knife or spoon.

During feeding time, have the infant snuggle near you while eating. Make faces and sounds as you talk about the food being yummy, warm, delicious and good for a growing baby.

Read Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham. Have one teacher read the narration and another adult read Moose's words using exaggerated expression.

Staple small pieces of paper together for the children to create their own magazine, also known as a “zine” (pronounced “zeen”). Talk about what they would like their zine to be about and assist with words and pictures.

Place a variety of stuffed animals in a row. Encourage the children to point to the different animals and identify each one by the sounds the animal makes.

This is a partner game.  Have children stand facing a partner with arms crossed.  Take the partner's right hand in your left hand (and vice versa).  Sing the song while bending your knees to the beat.