Infant Cognitive (Math and Science)
After completing an activity please fill out the Activity Completion Log.
“Unwrapping a Toy: Being Curious and Exploring”
What you’ll need:
1) Tissue paper, cloth or wrapping paper
2) Small toys
3) Small box with a lid
What you’ll do:
1) While your baby is watching, loosely wrap a toy
2) Give your baby the loosely wrapped toy
3) Encourage your baby to unwrap the toy and model excitement when the baby sees what is in the wrapped paper
4) Continue to loosely wrap toys while your baby is watching
5) Now show your baby a wrapped toy your baby did not see you wrap
6) Notice how your baby unwraps the toy
Peek-a-Boo Mirror
Attach a cloth to the top of a sturdy, unbreakable mirror. Hold your baby on your lap in front of the uncovered mirror.
Point to the image and talk about the baby: “See the baby? That’s you, ——. Look at your smile.”
Cover the mirror as you ask, “Where is —–?” Wait to see what he will do. If he lifts the cloth or pulls at it, respond positively. “Peek-a-boo! You moved the cloth; look at you!” If he needs help, lift the cloth a little so he can see part of his face. Show surprise and pleasure as he sees himself. “I see something under there. It’s you —–!”
Name The Body Part
Play “Name the Body Part” while bathing or dressing. Ask “Show me your nose” or “Where are your hands?”
Oil and Water Sensory Bag
What you’ll need:
1) 1 gallon size freezer bag/ zip block bag.
2) Baby oil
3) Water
4) Liquid food coloring
5) Duct Tape
What you’ll do:
1) Tape up the 3 closed sides of zip block bag to prevent leakage.
2) Use 1/4 of a cup of baby oil and pour into bag.
3) Then drip some of your food coloring.
4) Add about 1/4 a cup of water.
5) Push most of the air out of the bag and seal it shut. Tape up the top of the bag.
6) You can tape the bag to a low spot on the wall or give it to your baby to hold.
7) Talk to your baby about what they see and let them use their fingers to separate the bubbles.
Teaching Strategies
Read and Bounce Counting
Primary Objectives
20a. Counts
Why It’s Important
As young children begin to understand cause and effect, they discover that repeated actions yield similar effects. Bouncing your child gently every time you say a number in a counting book gives him the opportunity to make this type of connection.
Material
Counting board books such as Olivia Counts by Ian Falconer, Quack and Count by Keith Baker, Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert, and Counting Kisses by Karen Katz.
What You Do
1. Sit in a comfortable chair with your child in your lap. Show him a few counting books, and invite him you choose one.
2. As you read the counting book, bounce your child as you count a number. For example, say, One (bounce), two (bounce), three (bounce). Three fish in the sea.
3. Continue this pattern as you read this book and other counting books.
4. Your child may anticipate the bounce when you begin to count and move his body on his own. This demonstrates that he is beginning to anticipate the effect of your counting.
5. You can vary the activity by clapping or using other movements instead of bouncing.
6. Continue reading the counting books for as long as your child is interested. Place the books somewhere easily accessible so that he can look at them whenever he chooses.