arantxa dominguez physical development activities for infants
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Source: http://www.southernyankeemix.com/tag/baby
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS
Arantxa Dominguez Acevedo
Assignment 2
CHLD 1 Child Development & Growth: Prenatal to Early Childhood
Professor: Bharti Dave Date: 02/14/2016
1. Introduction. Piaget explained in his theory the cognitive development in 4 stages. The first stage of
development, the sensorimotor stage, has 6 sub stages on it and is one of the most important
stages of the baby’s development. During the 2 first years babies go from reflexes and
involuntary movements to deliberated movements and behavior.
Image 1 -‐ Substages of sensorimotor stage on Piaget’s Theory. Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/326792516689352475/
Between 3% and 20% of young children’s time and energy is typically spent in play,
more so in richly provisioned niches [1]. It means infants spend the major part of their awake
time playing. The playing time helps babies in many ways such a problem solving, social
interaction, creative thinking and physical activity.
Knowing the importance that playing time has in the development of our babies, this
article is an exploration and connection between the stages of the sensorimotor development
on a baby and playing activities.
2. Research.
On a daily basis infants who are walking “. . . take more than 9,000 steps and travel the distance
of more than 29 football fields. They travel over nearly a dozen different indoor and outdoor
surfaces varying in friction, rigidity and texture. They visit nearly every room in their homes and
they engage in balance and locomotion in the context of varied activities” (Adolph and Berger
2006, 181) [2].
It is incredible how active a baby is. The variety of activities and new experiences we
offer to our babies seem to correlate with their further development. First I am going to clarify
what is Development. Development refers to change or growth that occurs in a child during the
life span from birth to adolescence. This change occurs in an orderly sequence, involving
physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Physical development involves changes in
bone thickness, size, weight, gross motor, fine motor, vision, hearing, and perceptual
development [3].
Image 2 – Development ways. Source: http://skipattern.com/proximodistal-‐growth-‐pattern/
As we see in the Figure 3, the development of a baby goes two ways: cephalocaudal –
head to foot-‐ and also proximodist –midline to extremities-‐. Whereby, the playing time
stimulation should allow this hierarchy and flow.
3. Issues.
From a cognitive point of view, researchers that have studied the development of a child
have predicted the stages and milestones, which all babies have to go through. Not all babies
go through these stages at the same age or rate. The development happens during a flexible
and well-‐known period of time. Lots of things are happening inside the infant brain. One of
those things is the experience expectant plasticity, which means that the brain develops with
stimulation and exposition to different experiences [4]. However there is not a direct
correlation between stimulation and development. As suggested in the book “Einstein never
used flash cards”, an excess of brain stimulation could end in neurological crowding [4].
Crowding is when information competes for synapsis connections in the brain and the
connections saturate [4]. The key is: the brain has to be ready for growing up. Nowadays, we
live busy and hurried, so our hurried babies –term bounded by Professor Rosenweig [4]-‐, are
much more stimulated than decades ago. We try to stimulate our babies assuming it is a good
way for development. However researchers have shown that the brain has to be ready to grow.
They also talk about critical periods and windows of development [4], when the brain is ready
to go to the next stage of growth. Even with lots of stimulation, if the brain is not in the
window, it is not going to develop. Furthermore, if we do not stimulate the baby at the right
time, we can skip a critical period of development and the baby could end up not developing a
skill.
Based on that, researchers have done lots of studies being able to foresee the
development of every baby in every month. Furthermore, researchers have summarized the
findings in milestones charts. Knowing that, we should customize the playtime for every stage
and milestone. Next, we can see an example of milestones charts for babies between 0-‐6
months and for babies between 6-‐12 months.
Image 3-‐ Child developmental milestones between 0-‐6 months. Source: Reference [5]
Image 4 -‐ Child developmental milestones between 6-‐12 months. Source: Reference [5]
4. Solutions.
Based on what I have read, the theories about development, the stages of growing and
the milestones on an infant, in the following sections I suggest play activities for infants
between 0 months to 1 year.
4.1 Activities for infants from 0-‐1 months.
Name: my first ball
Image 5 – my first ball. Source: http://www.candokiddo.com/news/2014/8/17/slow-‐rolling-‐on-‐an-‐exercise-‐ball
Material: beach ball or yoga ball, a towel.
Instructions: place the ball over a towel in a flat place. Place your baby over the ball, lying under her belly. Make little circles with your baby and swing her.
Benefits: researchers have shown that the movements are good for the memory development. It is also a good practice of tummy time. The activity will improve neck and arms muscles.
Name: awakening senses
Image 6 – awakening senses. Source: reference [6]
Materials: baby rattle, bell or toy with music.
Instructions: place your baby on your lap, with a 20-‐25cm separation between your heads. Grab the toy or rattle and shake it in front of the baby. Move the toy to each side.
Benefits: Physically the activity will help your baby improve the senses of sight and hear. She will improve also the attention and perception. Because your face is behind the toy, she would see you and pay attention to you. That will help you to bond with your baby.
4.2. Activities for two months old infants.
Name: flying ball I
Image 7-‐ flying ball I. Source: reference [6]
Material: a soft ball and a towel.
Instructions: place your baby lying on her back in a confortable surface. Place the ball about 45cm of distance from your baby. Hold your baby back to ease the movement of the legs. Allow your baby touch the ball with her hands and legs.
Benefits: the activity improves muscle tone of the legs and arms. It also helps sight and touch senses. It is a good practice for coordinate movements between hands and eyes.
Name: Mobile crib
Image 8 – mobile crib. Source: http://www.nicemice.net/amc/photos/auto/2007-‐07-‐17-‐220017-‐corlan-‐crib-‐mobile-‐sleeping
Material: mobile crib (it could be also hand made placing different toys)
Instructions: place your baby on her crib, behind the mobile crib. Move the toys and put some music. It is also good idea to use a flashlight if the room is dark.
Benefits: the activity improves the senses of hear and sight. Her eyes will see a different combination of colors, lights and movements. It helps to coordinate head movements following the source of music and eyes.
4.3. Activities for three months old infants.
Name: Mom’s bracelets
Image 9 – Mom’s bracelets. Source: reference [6]
Material: rigid bracelets
Instructions: place your baby lying on her back in a confortable surface. Touch the surface of her hand and when is open, place the bracelet. Try to take her the bracelet and you will see how she holds it stronger.
Benefits: it transforms the reflexes of grasping in a voluntary grasping. The activity improves also the senses of touch and sight.
Name: 5 fingers
Image 10 – 5 fingers. Source: http://mymommymakesit.blogspot.com/2011/08/sensory-‐and-‐story-‐glove-‐toy.html
Materials: different fabrics (plastic, soft fabric, silk, wool, towel, etc.).
Instructions: cut pieces from different types of fabrics. Place your baby lying on her back in a confortable surface and put the pieces of fabric in between your fingers. Let the baby touch the different fabrics. You also can touch the tummy of your baby or her legs and arms with them. You can talk or sign to your baby during the activity.
Benefits: the activity improves the senses of touch, hearing and sight. It also helps bounding with your baby because she will see you face all the time.
4.4. Activities for four months old infants.
Name: magic mirror
Image 11 – Magic mirror. Source: http://indulgy.com/post/Fdxp1hknI1/mirror-‐prop-‐for-‐baby-‐portraits
Materials: mirror
Instructions: hold your baby in your arms, placing your baby looking in front of a mirror. Show her reflection from 20-‐25 cm. Approach and move away form the mirror. Make gestures with your face and smile. Try to catch her attention with noises too.
Benefits: This activity enhances the sense of sight and the coordination of movement eyes and body. It also helps building the self-‐image and recognize as a human being.
Name: baby massage
Image 12 – Baby massage. Source: http://scienceomaniaa.blogspot.com/2013/11/baby-‐massage-‐oil-‐ayurvedic-‐or-‐synthetic.html
Material: nothing (if you want, use a vegetable based oil or cream)
Instructions: Place your baby lying on her back in a confortable surface in a warm room. Massage the body of your baby changing the pressure and rhythm of the caress.
Benefits: this is a very good activity for bonding. Babies love touch and get involved with their parents. It is also a good activity for developing the senses of touching and sight.
4.5. Activities for five months old infants.
Name: dance with me
Image 13 – Dance with me. Source: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/2000211-‐sports-‐and-‐racing-‐nfl/70894035
Materials: music player
Instructions: play music on your favorite device and let’s move. Hold your baby on your arms and follow the rhythm of the music, freely with soft movements.
Benefits: the activity develops the senses of sight, hear and touch. Being close to your baby will help you bond.
Name: fingers-‐toes
Image 14 – Finger-‐toes. Source: http://www.123rf.com/photo_17283525_joyful-‐mother-‐playing-‐with-‐her-‐baby-‐infant.html
Material: a soft ball and a towel.
Instructions: place your baby lying on her back in a confortable surface. Hold the foot of your baby and make her touch the opposite hand. For example, if you start with the right foot, you will touch the left hand. You can name foot, right, left, hand, fingers, etc. while doing the movements. Repeat with the other side.
Benefits: the activity improves muscle tone of the legs and arms. It also helps sight and touch senses. It is a good practice for coordinate movements between hands and eyes. It helps also the coordination between opposites sides of the body. It helps baby grab his feet and hands.
4.6. Activities for six months old infants.
Name: box of treasures
Image 15 – Box of treasures. Source: http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/06/baby-‐play-‐ideas-‐and-‐activities-‐6-‐18.html
Materials: place different objects such a towel, toys, little boxes, plastic spoons, plastic bottle, etc.
Instructions: place different objects in a basket or box and allow baby to hold, grasp and experiment.
Benefits: This activity allows them explore different materials and objects. It helps to improve sense of touch, sight and even taste. Improves the eye-‐hand coordination, and also eye-‐mouth. It also helps practicing pinch grasping.
Name: reading time
Image 16 – Reading time. Source: http://www.librarycamden.org/event/book-‐time-‐for-‐babies-‐ages-‐birth-‐2/2015-‐09-‐30/
Materials: book or even the newspaper.
Instructions: choose a confortable place to seat and read! J
Benefits: lots of benefits. You help your baby to improve her attention and memory; stimulates her language skills and cognitive thinking. It also helps to build the vocabulary of your baby. Finally, reading is the perfect time to bond with your baby.
4.7. Activities from seven to twelve months old infants.
Name: Shake the bottle
Image 17 – Shake the bottle. Source: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/baby-‐sensory-‐bottles/
Materials: a bottle (plastic or crystal), water, color food and little pieces or toys.
Instructions: mix little pieces in a bottle of water and then sake it.
Benefits: this activity is a good source of sensorimotor stimulation. It helps to improve fine motor skills and grasping. It also helps to the sense of sight and touch.
Name: Finger-‐painting
Image 18 – Finger-‐painting. Source: http://www.craftychild.com/finger-‐painting.html
Materials: paints and paper (and cleaning products)
Instructions: place your baby in front of a paper and paints and let’s play.
Benefits: this activity helps to improve sensory motor development. It also improves fine motor skills, attention and perception. It allows developing senses of sight and touch.
Name: obstacle course
Image 19 – Obstacle course. Source: http://handsonaswegrow.com/crawler-‐obstacle-‐course/
Materials: cushions and big pillows
Instructions: place pillows and cushions in stair-‐like configurations. Use the couch to do different heights. Allow your baby climbing and crawling.
Benefits: this activity allows your baby improve her gross motor skills and coordination.
Name: busy fabric
Image 20 – Busy fabric. Source: http://handsonaswegrow.com/crawler-‐obstacle-‐course/
Materials: pieces of fabric and scraps
Instructions: place the fabric scraps inside of an old wipes container and let your baby pull out all of them.
Benefits: this activity is very good for improving fine motor skills, coordination between eye and hand and memory. It helps to improve the pinch grasp. It is also very good for the senses of touch, sight and even taste.
5. Conclusion.
After checking the milestones and theories about development, it is undoubtedly that
stimulation and new experiences are the underline of the development of an infant brain.
Different researches have shown the benefits of playing on that process. Playing helps
improving social, cognitive and physical skills. It allows learning, exploring, solving and thinking
about the environment. It promotes initiative, self-‐image and problem solving, allows
interacting with other people –children and adults-‐. Also encourages exploring new concepts
and hobbies, even experiencing with the imagination and symbolic play [7].
Playing time has many benefits with little investment. The proposed activities are almost
free in material but plenty of joy and laughs. The ROI of playing with your baby is countless.
Parents are the facilitators of the new world that babies are discovering. Parents should know
how important is the exposition of their babies to new experiences and stimulations. Knowing
about windows of development, parents can create more powerful and enjoyable experiences
for their infants.
6. References and bibliography.
Burdette, H. L., & Whitaker, R. C. (2005). Resurrecting free play in young children: looking beyond fitness and fatness to attention, affiliation, and affect.Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 159(1), 46-‐50. [7] Clements, R. (2004). An investigation of the status of outdoor play. Contemporary issues in early childhood, 5(1), 68-‐80. [5] Child Development Millestone Chart from St. Nicholas Center http://stnickcenter.org/images/uploads/PDF/child_dev_milestone.pdf [2] Department of Education of California. Perceptual and Motor Development Domain. California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations. http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09percmotdev.asp [6] Fodor, E., García-‐Castellón, C., & Morán, M. (1997). Todo un mundo de sensaciones. Madrid. Edic. Pirámide. Guida Veiga, Wendy Leng, Ricardo Cachucho, Lizet Ketelaar, Joost N. Kok, Arno Knobbe, Carlos Neto, Carolien Rieffe, Social Competence at the Playground: Preschoolers During Recess, Infant and Child Development, 2015, 24, 6 Gabbard, C., & Rodrigues, L. (2008). Optimizing early brain and motor development through movement. Early childhood news. Gesell, A. L. (2000). El niño de 1 a 4 años. Guyton, G. (2011). Using toys to support infant-‐toddler learning and development. YC Young Children, 66(5), 50. [4] Hirsh-‐Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M., & Eyer, D. (2004). Einstein never used flash cards: How our children really learn-‐-‐and why they need to play more and memorize less. Rodale. Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (2003). Piaget's theory of cognitive development.Educational psychology interactive, 3(2). Milteer, R. M., Ginsburg, K. R., Mulligan, D. A., Ameenuddin, N., Brown, A., Christakis, D. A., ... & Levine, A. E. (2012). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-‐child bond: Focus on children in poverty. Pediatrics, 129(1), e204-‐e213. Pellegrini, A. D., & Smith, P. K. (1998). Physical activity play: The nature and function of a neglected aspect of play. Child development, 69(3), 577-‐598. [3] Ruffin, N. J. (2009). Understanding Growth and Development Patterns of Infants.
[1] Smith PK, Pellegrini A. Learning through play. In: Tremblay RE, Barr RG, Peters RDeV, Boivin M,eds. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online]. Montreal, Quebec: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development; 2008:1-‐6. Available at: http://www.childencyclopedia.com/documents/Smith-‐PellegriniANGxp.pdf. Vygotsky, L. S. (1967). Play and its role in the mental development of the child.Soviet psychology, 5(3), 6-‐18.