Infants were once thought of as passive and unknowing. It was commonly believed that until they mastered language, young children were incapable of thinking or forming complex ideas. Today, we know otherwise. From the very start, young children are aware of their surroundings and interested in exploring them. Scientists from several fields have shown that […]
 • An assortment of plastic containers • Plastic figurines • Freezer • Bathtub  1. Place plastic figures into a plastic container. 2. Fill container with water and freeze. 3. Fill a bathtub with warm water. 4. Place your baby in the bathtub. 5. Remove the ice from the container and drop into the […]
 Try this game with your baby’s next play date.  balls of different sizes medium-size cardboard box (about 12 inches long) Seat the babies on the floor. Give them all of the balls. Help them to pick up the different balls and roll them to each other.  Prop up the cardboard box to make […]
Multiply the fun when your baby paints with a friend.  • newspaper or plastic garbage bags • large sheet of butcher paper or posterboard • washable paints in containers large enough to dip hands and feet in Cover the floor with newspaper or tape down a cut-open garbage bag (this also works well as an outside activity). […]
What is oral motor development? Â Oral motor development refers to the use and function of the lips, tongue, jaw, teeth, and the hard and soft palates. The movement and coordination of these structures is very important in speech production, safe swallowing, and consuming various food textures. Normal oral motor development begins prior to birth […]
 What is sensory integration?  The senses work together. Each sense works with the others to form a composite picture of who we are physically, where we are, and what is going on around us. Sensory integration is the critical function of the brain that is responsible for producing this composite picture. It is […]
From the start, babies want to explore their world. They are eager to move their eyes, their mouths, and their bodies toward the people and objects that comfort and interest them. They practice skills that let them not only move closer to desired objects, but also move desired objects closer to themselves. As they grow, […]
 Social and emotional milestones are often harder to pinpoint than signs of physical development. This area emphasizes many skills that increase self-awareness and self-regulation. Research shows that social skills and emotional development (reflected in the ability to pay attention, make transitions from one activity to another, and cooperate with others) are a very important […]
