Finger Plays
Songs that involve finger and hand movements encourage eye-hand coordination. They are not only fun but can enhance the fine motor development needed to learn to write.
Archives
“Releasing” for Fun
By around the fifth month, infants are learning to voluntarily grasp and release objects. Give your baby lots of opportunities to practice improving the fine motor and eye-hand coordination she will need later for drawing and writing.
“Reaching” for Fun
A fine motor skill milestone for a baby at this age includes working on and developing better muscle strength and control. You can help with this developmental milestone by promoting reaching for and releasing objects.
“Grasping” for Fun
Reaching, grasping, shaking and dropping a toy aids your child in learning to grasp with all of her fingers at the same time an important fine motor skill needed for eye-hand coordination and eventually for controlling and holding writing tools.
Sing the Alphabet Song
Sing the alphabet song with your child. This is an early exposure to the alphabet, and at this age you can just have fun singing this popular tune.
Where’s Your Nose?
Your toddler is probably beginning to notice his facial features. Tap into this budding curiosity by creating quick games that encourage a focus on each facial feature and how together they create a whole face.
Same and Different
Being able to distinguish how objects are the same or are different is an important skill that children will need as they grow. One way to introduce same and different to babies is to talk about their toys.
Move to the Beat
Babies love music and instinctively move to the beat. Using hand motions to music promotes dexterity, builds self-esteem and increases confidence.
Hide and Seek
Play simple games where your baby can discover the “rules” of the game by your positive response. Creating these positive experiences with learning will be important as your baby begins to explore print, letters and words.
Sing, Sing, Sing. Talk, Talk, Talk.
Babies love the sound of their mother’s voice. It is soothing and comforting and is their favorite sound. Why not use the voice your baby loves to play games that involve tracking movement from left to right?
