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ACTIVITY => Activity Time & Toddler Activity => Topic started by: Nikki~Nathanamp;Danielle on February 14, 2006, 00:25:02 am
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Please add to this list with any ideas you have. If you have a question about activity time, please create a new post outside of this post.
Looking through photo albums
Reading books
Rattles
Reaching for blocks that are stacked up to pick up or knock down
Daily tummy time
Rolling practice
Action songs
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Some more fun ideas!
Having fun looking in mirrors.
When on tummy, supporting feet and putting toy in front of them, so when they push with their feet, they scooch forward
jolly jumper
time under gymini
playing wheels on the bus, itsy bitsy spider, patty cake, this little piggy.
Reading big picture books.
Dancing with mom
Practicing rolling on mom and dad's bed.
Play hide the toy, there it is!
Feeling different textures.
Playing with toys that makes sounds and light up
Playing upright with the help of a boppy or bumbo seat.
Taking walk in mall or outside.
Going to mom and me group.
Doing infant massage
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:D Tom LOVED "row row row your boat" at that age... it use to send him into fits of giggles!!
:D As he learnt to grab at things the mobiles and baby gyms he'd started to get board with became interesting again!!
:D When he reached about 5 months he use to love "practicing" sitting up on a bed next to mummy. We use to giggle whenever he fell over, and because it didnt hurt he learnt not to be scaired of trying to sit.
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This Idea came from my sister , and it was a great idea ,
when it was time for jonathan to start with tummy time , we got a train , a very simple one , it was actually a santa's train that made a lot of noise , and we put it infront of him , you can be sure that in no time his tummy time went from less than a minute to much longer than that , he could spend realy a long time just following the train as it was moving . today jonathan is 5 and a half months and the moment we put him on the floor , he rolls to his tummy and stays there almost the whole activity time , .
i hope this tip will be helpfull .
rachel
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Hi
Re: tummy time....I have also found that using a breastfeeding pillow (if you have one) works really well. I prop my ds over it and his face is now several inches from the ground. He smiles and smiles....it helped to lengthen his TT.
Cheers
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I started with the breastfeeding pillow as well...you can also used a rolled up blanket or towel if you don't have one.
To help them with speech, when playing with your lo imitate their speech and actions. Wait for them to respond and then react to them by smiling, praising etc. This helps them with speech and language.
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Hi,
Where could I find rhymes or activity songs for babies. Does anyone know any website address?
Thanks for help
Micky
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This is one of my favorites, it has absolutley every song you ever heard and tons you probably havn't. It is really easy to navigate or to search for a particular song.
http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/index.html
Here is another one haven't used it much but is also very useful.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pfa/dreamhouse/nursery/rhymes.html
HTH
Melissa
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My lo likes to be bounced alot which as very tiring as as he got older. So my hubby found a creative way to keep Trevor entertained. Trevor now likes to bounced on my stability ball. While kneeling in front of the ball (placed in a corner) and holding Trevor, I sat him top of the ball and started bouncing him. I'd also sing songs while bouncing him on the ball and he really enjoys it.
Thanks to my hubby my arms and legs aren't as tired anymore from the bouncing.
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Great Ideas! Thanks :) My dd just loves her jolly jumper and can stay on it forever - I keep her on it for 30 min at a time. I have also noticed that she naps better after jumping so much. Do you have any information whether its use is safe especially in term of bone development?
xoxo,
~Hala~
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As a school teacher- I think I was over invested in "age-appropriate" activity and knowing what was right when - so when I found Miriam Stoppards Book "Baby's First Skills" - I knew I hit the jackpot! She does a month by month of activity and development that you can encourage through creative play. She also addresses how play can enhance verbal and social skills. A GREAT BOOK. Can be found at all major sites and stores. Here is one link!!!
http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756609535,00.html
Stacey
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Although changing diapers is a relatively short part of A time, my ds enjoys looking at a collage of baby faces cut from magazines which I tacked to the wall next to the changing table. This makes changing diapers fun and it keeps him entertained without making him squirmy...since he only sees it while I'm changing him, the novelty doesn't wear off (this worked with his older sisters too).
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Julian loves it when I prop up a book for him to look at when he is having tummy time. I think as long as they have something there to look at (I loved the train idea) then they will be entertained. We recently received a blanket that he is enjoying - it has pictures of animals on it and lots of different textures and things for him to play with now that he can use his hands.
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My dd just turned 3 months old on Sunday. Right now we take a half hour walk during her first A time. We use the jogging stroller so she can look out front. She is starting to like looking around at all the houses, etc.
During the next 2-3 A times we change her diaper, get her dressed, feed her, and then have flirting time. Then we have to have her sit up for at least 20-30 minutes (reflux) and we put her in either her bouncy chair or her swing and give her toys to play with while I do dishes, laundry or I sit in front of her and show her toys, sing songs, read a book, etc. After about 15 minutes of that I usually let her have some kicking time in her playpen which has her play mat in it or in her crib with her mobile on. At that time I am able to get a few minutes of work done (I work from home). Then for wind down we either read a book (she doesn't sit for very long), walk around the house or sit out side and just be quiet. Then we start our nap routine (2 minutes tops). Depending on her reflux we try to do tummy time. Yesterday we put a ton of blankets on our kitchen table and put her on her tummy while we ate. She got to watch us eat from a new angle which was pretty neat for her.
Sometimes during her last A time we go out and run arrands since it is her cat nap time (she won't sleep while we are on the go anymore :'( :'( :'() or go and visit Daddy at work before bedtime. If we do that it usually ends up that she cries the entire way home because she didn't gey a good cat nap. It's so sad. I can't wait until she can stay awake longer.
-Melissa :D
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Some more fun ideas!
Having fun looking in mirrors.
I have to say, my son LOVES looking at himself in the mirror. I wonder if he knows that it's him in the mirror and not another baby. He's 4 months now.
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I can't believe it's been two months since I posted. DD is now almost 5 months and activity time has changed just a bit. She now is on a 4 hour EASY and stays up for about 2 hours. She practices trying to roll, loves tummy time now (most of the time), dances in her Johnny Jump Up, sit in bumbo and watches Mommy work, etc. We can go do errands now, not that we go out too much.
-Melissa
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I'm still new on this site and thought this thread was fantastic! It's great to learn what other mums are doing to play with their bubs. As funny as it sounds, I don't know what made me sing this but ... I discovered that singing the theme song to the Adams Family TV series (I'm probably showing my age here LOL) makes my DS laugh and giggle, he just loves it! He also loves a book called 'That's not my car ...' there's a whole series of them.
Blowing bubbles is also fun from a bubble-blower that is ... He is fascinated watching the bubbles floating buy, landing and magically disappearing!
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ryan is 4 1/2 months old now. ever since he was about 2 months old we've been reading books, lots of them. but i noticed that when he sits on my lap he'll look everywhere except at the book. so we read lying side by side and he'll look at the book and bat at it, and will be cool for sometimes 6-7 books. i love lying by his side and we look at each other and grin. :-* :D
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some great ideas! how long is A time for most 3 month olds? I am still pushing an hour...
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My daughters love the following:
:D Bouncer chair
;D Exercise Saucer
::) Tummy time where they are surrounded by toys that they can grab, reach, and chew on
:) Story time which is part of the wind down b4 nap/bedtime
:o Baby Einstein which they watch or is at least playing on TV while they do other stuff
8) Mirror time
:-* And the best is us, and my family where we talk to them, try to make them laugh, describe stuff, prop them up, help them sit/stand, etc...
I think in about a month i'll be pulling out the Little Touch system by leapfrog.
We also have flash cards but we don't use that much. So my girls rotate among the activities above everyday and at least do it all.
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my ds is 5.5mo & loves the following:
- practising crawling/rolling on his tummy
- playing with & banging blocks together
- bouncing on his legs (with support)
- different shaped plastic containers
- toys which make rattling or crinkly noises
- reading books with lots of rhyming
- reading/eating board books like "rob the robot"
- going for walks in his pram or sling
- lying under a tree - he loves the filtered light
- action songs like "if you're happy & you know it"
- watching the "your baby can read" dvds
- bath-time & massage - he loves being naked!
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Wow, thanks for all the good ideas! I have just started playing 'Mommy will steal kisses from you'. I start off close to him, and tease him that I will come and steal kisses, then I cover him with smootches all over the head and cheeks. Then I start a little further, and say the same thing while coming toward him. Then from a little bit further. Sometimes after a few times, I sort of half hide behind the couch and just poke my head out and say 'Uh oh, Mommy will come and steal some kisses', that always makes him smile or giggle. I think he likes the anticipation, and he cracks up when I reach him and kiss him!
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Jaden is 6 months now, and he likes all sorts of things - he needs constant stimulation! He likes:
~ Upturned saucepan, holding a wooden spoon and banging it!
~ Watching Baby Einstein DVDs
~ Tummy time with toys/ rolling time (he wont stop rolling til he reaches the walls lol)
~ Playing in his Graco Entertainer
~ Hurting everyones ankles walking in his Chicco UFO walker
~ Playing with various electronic noisy/light up toys
~ Bouncing on mummys knee
~ Mummy blowing raspberrys all over him ;D
~ Being bounced on the bed while on his back
~ Playing with crinkly books, looking at the pictures while I read (and no doubt mummy blowing a few raspberrys on his cheeks along the way lol)
~ Making the noises he makes back at him, makes him giggle
~ Watching the cat (and following if possible lol)
~ Mummy dancing holding him
~ Mummy singing (though Im not sure why, poor little man lol) ;D ;D
~ Walking in the garden/ in the park with mummy, looking at all the plants, trees etc
(hhmmmm Ive just noticed there is no daddy time, though there is a daddy here... :-[)
Gotta start changing things now though, as he's getting a little older :-\
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I have to say, my son LOVES looking at himself in the mirror. I wonder if he knows that it's him in the mirror and not another baby. He's 4 months now.
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Scientists did studies about this and determined that a baby doesn't know that's it's their reflection until about 15 months. So he probably thinks that his reflection is another baby! My BG becomes shy when she looks at her reflection! ;D
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I'm not too sure about that. I think my lo knows it's herself in the mirror because we always look in the mirror together, and I often will "beep" her nose - she can make eye contact with me through the reflection and laugh. She is 5.5 months and has been doing that for at least a month.
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Some great things are:
Place a large sheet of celophane on the floor and place your LO on top of it (dependin on the age sitting or on his back/tummy) he/she will love the wrinkly sound and it will give him/her hours of joy!! Of course NEVER EVER leave hime alone with the celphane. There has to be adult supervision at all times!!!
Another great toy is to use the roll of paper towels as a "microphone" and make funy sounds with it, then your LO will take the paper towel roll and start making with it sounds of its own!! They love it!!
Another great one is to dance with your baby....
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My LO will be 5 months next week :(
Anyway, for A time we:
*Go for a stoll around the neighborhood
*Now that it is fall, play outside in the leaves- he loves picking them up and shaking them
*Sit near a tree and watch the branches move in the wind- he loves the breeze on his face
*Read.. have been reading to him since he was born
*He can watch our dogs play all day
*Do "Head Shoulders Knees & Toes" and kiss each part as you sing it
*Play with his crinkle books- he loves anything that crinkles
*While mommy is doing dishes, he plays with plastic measuring spoons and cups
*Discovering what paper is.. he loves to grab a piece and throw it on the ground and waits for me to give it back so he can throw it again
*Talking to him about what we did for the day.. he loves to just listen to anyone talk directly to him
*I try not to sit him in front of the tv.. I think it is a bad habit to start so young, but he has caught a glimpse of Max & Ruby here and there while I needed to use the restroom or grab something to eat
*Loves the exersaucer and Johhny Jump Up
*If I need a break and it isn't his nap time turn place it in real close in front of our big window. Now that it is getting colder out, he can still see outside without having to get bundled up
*car drives to the park or zoo.
*Walking around house and telling him about the rooms and what is in them
*Bath time.. he is really into splashing now
*Laying on my back and playing airplane by placing him on my legs and lifting him over my chest
Finally.. we play superman a lot. I pick him up and hold him in the air by the legs and stomach and fly him around the house like superman. He loves flying over the dogs
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My 5 month old boys love to sit in their BebePod seats (or Bumbo's) right up next to their Gymini - it gives them a totally different perspective on the same toy! And they also love lying under the Christmas tree and looking at the lights and sparkly ornaments (with all branches, lights and ornaments out of reach, of course!).
Lindsay
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I got this tip from a friend of my mom. Get two helium balloons and tie them loosly to my son's feet. He loves kicking and seeing how they move.
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the helium balloons idea is fantastic!!!!
my lo is 3 days shy of 3 mo. all i do for A time is put him in his little rocking chair, talk to him, let him see the plants and i can barely push till 1 hour. cannot go beyond an hour without getting ot. any suggestions. (he hates being on his tummy).
tia
sanaya
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sanaya,
my baby was like this - 1 hr was our absolute time cut-off. after exactly 1 hour she had to be in bed, swaddled, ready for her nap. It gets better - she started tolerating 1.5-2 hr stretches at about 3.5 - 4 months, try to extend it gradually. What helped me - I would put her in her bouncy chair by the window/outside (if weather permits) an let her look at the trees and leaves - it's not super stimulating activity, but keeps the baby curious and awake a few minutes longer.
hope it helps.
irina
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Last night we blew bubbles over Lily (4 & 1/2 months)while she took her bath. We just used one of those dip-wands (£3), not a machine. She went absolutely crazy, trying to touch them and watching them pop on her tummy. There was lots of shrieking and leg kicking. : )
I too don't like the idea of her watching TV but we film her all the time and the other day I showed her a video of herself and she was absolutely rivetted : )
The only way Lily likes tummy-time is laying on my tummy-I make faces and sing to her, which encourages her to look up at me and stops her getting cross...
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My DD loves Flash Cards with animals and basic words (house, dog etc.)
I've also started teaching her body parts and her face, I use her hand to point at her nose, eyes, ears in front of the mirror, its great fun for both of us and she's also learning!
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Hi,
A friend of mine bought my LO a 'treasure basket' when he was born. He was too young for it then but is now really enjoying all the different objects and exploring them with his mouth.
A treasure basket is basically a wicker basket filled with a range of interesting household or natural objects that your LO can delve into and find a 'toy' to play with and explore. This does need to be supervised as the objects aren't toys as such but can be as independent as you can allow- even better if your LO is able to sit up unaided (my DS can't quite manage that bit yet).
My treasure basket countains: a loofa, a sink plug and chain, a honey dipper, a wooden curtain ring, a tea strainer, a bell, a wooden spoon, a metal spoon, a woven coaster, a scourer, a toothbrush, a nail brush, a chiffon scarf, a big soft feather and more!
You could easily make up your own version or you can even buy them ready stocked, I googled it and found several websites that do them..
This link explains what they are a bit more: www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/P0000221.pdf
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This is a really good thread! Thanks for whoever thought of it.
I went to a baby gym class today and one thing we enjoyed (my baby son is 4.5 months) was to dance the hokey pokey infront of mirror while in a sling. He laughed his head off.
Another thing he likes is looking at trees and branches (stares at them for ages)
Also I lie on my back, position him up on my legs and 'fly' him towards me which he loves ( good for the tummy muscles too!!)
Also spiralling my hands and fingers infront of his face while he is on his back
Nappy free time - naked skin, fleecy blanket underneath - really chills him out!
:)
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I love this thread!!! :D:D:D:D
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I found a great toy to entertain by mistake...
I bought a pinwheel (one of those foil sparkley ones) from the dollar store and used velcro strips to attach it to his stroller - it totally keeps him entertained.
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My little girl loves laundry! LOL
Ever since she was a few weeks old, I put her on my bed in the boppy (propped then, now sitting) while I fold the laundry. I narrate, talk about colors, sing silly songs, let her feel the fabric, play peek a boo behind the towels, and she just laughs and laughs. I used to let her "help" by putting the end of a towel or t shirt on her lap and folding it towards her, but she now grabs it with both hands and sticks it in her mouth which, while fun and endearing, is not so productive for the clean laundry. :)
Then I always kiss her and thank her for helping. Hopefully in a few years, she'll really help! ;D
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Story3girl, I love ur story :))))
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This is really great thread!
My DD will be 5 months in one week. Last week was really hard for me, she is always in a bad mood and doesn't like any of her toys, play mat, bouncer etc
So my life saver is a fitball (the one I was using during pregnancy). We do lots of exercises on top of it and she looooves it! You can put her on her tummy and bounce for a while, then I grab her legs (not the feet, be careful) and roll her all the way down, so she can almost grab the floor with her hands ( you can put some toys on the floor for more fun) and then all the way up. Then I make her roll from tummy to her back (today she almost did it herself) and do the same rollings while she is in her back.
This helps to stretch their tiny bodies, relax, also develops coordination and your LO can have additional tummy time and practice toy grabbing from the floor.
I saw in the Internet some pages with photos of this kind of gymnastics, it's very good for the newborns as well (helps to pass the wind and relax their legs, arms etc).
If you have such a ball, try it with your LO, you will have lot of fun together!
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Can I liven up this board?? DS is staying up longer, but obviously can't hold his head super steady. Just wondering what to do with a LO for so long without constantly being in his face or him constantly being in front of toys?? Any ideas?
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Owen LOVES finger puppets. I just make up stories with them and he's facinated.
Walking around the garden(house when it's raining) is part of our winddown. Today he was mesmerised by two "dancing" butterflies.
I like him to have some quiet time also where he just sits and talks to his soft toys.
A lot of activities are not good for our little one due to reflux. Tummy time is very messy!
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My 4-month old loves the mirror too. It always makes him giggle, especially when we do the "airplane" at it.
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Oh my gosh, my 3 month old liked a lot of these too. Looking into the mirror and seeing both of us would get the biggest smile. And one day i decided to sing the ABC's and he joined right in, cooing loudly :D It was adorable. So I put on youtube music videos and dance/sing with him in front of tv and sometimes he will start "singing" along again. He's one that doesn't like to be put down.. When I need hands free Ill put him in his stroller and use a foot to rock it while cooking etc., but he really loves to go outside in it on the back porch and watch our doggies run around. He falls asleep every car ride, but stays awake quite awhile on outings like the store. He loves to hold soft things like rags, and shove them in his face lol. Like others, he usually gets to an hour and a half before getting tired and fussy. Sometimes even holding him is overstimulating when his is tired, so I lay him on his tummy in the crib. He fusses a short while and passes out. I move him if needed later, but that is basically the routine daily, over and over until bath time, bottle and bed. ;D I can't wait to try the balloon trick, that's cute!
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:) my daughter love the colorful items or toys...
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We play 'smell the spice cabinet.' It's fun to see her reaction to the different smells.
Love this thread! Some great ideas to liven up our routine!
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'Smell the Spices' sounds like an awesome idea! I'm trying to modify our activities as my LO is just 4months. Mostly he's on the playmat, doing tummy time, reading, singing or dancing with Mommy. We also go to Roots of Empathy once every three weeks, he seems to really like it but it tires him out! Does anyone know at what age it's ok to use the exersaucer?
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Activity time that is fun for both mum and baby (for those fed up cooing and singing itsy bitsy spider :P )
Putting them in a bouncy seat or prop up, get a magazine YOU want to read and read aloud, with interaction. Even toty babies will answer your questions in the crossword puzzle, you just can't understand it yet. ;)
Go on youtube or any streamer and type in the music you enjoyed as a teenager. Sing along and dance with baby.
Put them in a soft structured front carrier and go shopping, do housework, while explaining everything to baby. Make sure it's A-time, as time in a wrap counts as tummy time (thumbs up for those whose baby hate tummy time, no matter what you do). Let them feel textures as you go along.
Put the radio on the classical channel and massage or drum on baby's body to rhythm while trying to guess if this is Mozart or Vivaldi, Beethoven or Paganini. Bit of culture has never hurt anyone. 8)
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i love this thread!
Juniper is 12 weeks now... things she's been into:
Putting her in her high chair, putting a few toys in front of her while I cook. She mostly stares but put one in her mouth for the first time today!
I also put on some music today... she was LOVING Maroon 5's "One More Night" as I was singing along to it today. I think it was the high and low "Ohhh-ohhh-ohh parts" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwK7ggA3-bU