Explorations

Newborns
and young infants differ in their biological rhythms and the manner in which
they use their senses to explore the world.  In the infant classroom activities are
to be dictated by the needs and temperament of the child.  Activities need to fit the needs of
individual children – not groups.
Babies learn through their five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and
taste.

Babies
use sounds, facial expressions, tears and movements to communicate their
feelings and needs.  Babies look, listen
and respond to the people around them.
Babies will converse with adults and other babies.  The prime source for exploration will be
the teachers.  Teachers need to chat
and coo with babies.

Teachers
need to stimulate babies and provide a balance of active and quiet play
opportunities.  Teachers are to
provide different materials, texture, sounds and items for children to
explore.  The environment must be
organized with objects placed on low shelves with a variety of visual, tactile,
auditory and physically challenging choices that can capture the baby’s
curiosity and encourage the baby to explore.

Faces:  Peoples
faces are very interesting for young infants to explore.

Books:  This is
the time when an interest in books is flourishing.  Board of soft books must be provided for
babies.  Make books with photographs
of the babies, pictures of animals, etc.
Books must be available for children to get by themselves.

Toys:
Appropriate rattles, squeeze toys, infant instruments, nesting toys,
bright colored scarves, large plastic beads, dolls,
wooden or plastic vehicles.

·
Young infants
need a variety of soft, washable, colorful toys and stuffed animals that can be
looked at or mouthed.

·
Older infants
need blocks, telephones, dolls, large manipulative toys, stacking toys, large duplos, stringing toys, puzzles, hammering toys, building
toys, popping machines, push and pull toys and tracking toys.

·
Experience
bottles: Sealed plastic bottles partially filled with solid or liquid
materials.  Small objects such as
rocks, paper clips, animals, glitter, sequins or beads may be put in them.  The bottles with liquid can have water,
colored water, oil or soap.  Be
sure all bottles are securely closed.

·
All toys must
be put in the “dirty bin” immediately after they have been in
contact with a child’s mouth, and all toys must
be washed and disinfected daily.

Real
Objects:  Cardboard boxes, wooden cigar boxes, candy tins, cups,
spoons, telephones, nesting bowls, flash lights (especially fun under a table
covered with a blanket), anything safe for infants.

Large
Cartons:  Crawl through the tunnel.  Create a car, a train, a cave, etc.

Dump
and Fill:  Provide different objects and put them in
buckets.  Babies love to dump
everything out, and then fill them again.

Super
Sock Activities:  Stuff socks, throw them in buckets, match
different color socks.

Surprise
Box:  Put interesting objects into a box.  Babies take objects out of the box.

Sensory:  Water,
ice cubes, sponges, animals, cups, etc in a bin.  Play dough at a toddler table.  Finger painting.  Foot painting.  Crawling on textured
fabrics.

Clear
Contact (sticky side out):  Round the corners of photographs so
babies can have an interactive photo gallery.

Peek
A Boo:  Take a blanket, cover your face and say, “peek a boo”.

Hide
An Object:  Show the baby an object, and then cover
it with a blanket and say, “all gone”.

Balls:  Varied
sizes, colors, and textures.  Crumpled paper balls.

Baby
Basket Ball:  Throw balls into a basket.

Scarves:  Wave
scarves around and give babies scarves to play with.

Busy
Bee:  Touch a baby with your finger and in an engaging voice
say, “busy bee is going to touch your tummy…bzzzzz.”  Do it with different body parts.

Magic
Mirror:  Play with the baby in front of a mirror.  Sing, make faces, put hats on, etc.

Make
Faces:  Look at the baby, smile and wink, open
and shut your mouth.

Footsie Fun:  Play feet clapping.

Shoe
Fun:  Provide many pairs of shoes.  Talk about “same and
different”.

Obstacle
Course:  Over the bridge and through the tunnels,
crawl around pillows, stuffed animals, soft blocks, chairs, etc.

Musical
Instruments or Rain Sticks:
Play with safe instruments or wooden rain
sticks.

Baby
Food Jar Lids Strung Together:
Drill holes in the tops of baby food
jars.  String them together.  Make sure there are no sharp edges from
the holes.

Play
Music From Different Cultures and Dance:  Ask
families to send in music that they enjoy at home.

Special
Songs to Sing With Babies:

If Your Happy And You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap the baby’s hands)

Repeat

If you’re happy and you know it and you really
want to show it

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.

Put Your Finger
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)

I’ll put my finger
on your nose, on your nose

Repeat

That’s where the
north wind blows

I’ll put my finger
on your nose, on your nose.

Verses:

On your chin, that’s
where the soup slips in

On your hair, you’ll
grow and learn to share

On your ear, that’s
where you hear

On your tummy,
that’s where the food is yummy

Joy Song (tune of
Rubber Ducky)

Little Susie joy of joys

When I tickle you, you
make noise

Little Susie, I’m
awfully fond of you

Voo, voo, voo,
voo, voo, voo, voo, voo

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to
market, (touch the big toe)

This little piggy stayed
home, (touch the second toe)

This little piggy had
roast beef, (touch the next toe)

This little piggy had
none, (touch the baby toe)

And this little piggy
cried, “Weeeeeee!” all the way home
(tickle the baby’s stomach).

Head, Shoulders,
Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and
toes, (repeat)

Eyes and ears and mouth
and nose

Head, shoulders, knees and
toes

Knees
and toes.

Verses:

Head, shoulders, eyes,
elbows

Head, shoulders, ears and
feet

(touch
and say any body part).