Nurturing Tiny Movers: Simple Activities to Support Physical Development
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Hey Reader! Think about how much a baby develops in their first year of life outside the womb – specifically, their physical development. When they’re born, most of their movement is reflexes, but very quickly you can tell the movement becomes purposeful and intentional. Even all that stretching to get out of a swaddle builds strength and stamina for crawling and walking! As caregivers and teachers, you play an essential role in nurturing and supporting these early physical skills through intentional activities and a purposeful environment. Here are a few tips: 1. Encourage Tummy TimeDon’t underestimate the importance of tummy time for infants (and toddlers, too). Tummy time is vital for strengthening the neck, shoulder, and core muscles, which are crucial for later skills like sitting up, crawling, and walking. Keep it short but practice tummy time multiple times throughout the day, especially after naps or diaper changes. Make it more engaging for the child by getting down on the floor in front of them and talking, smiling or using a soft toy to catch their attention. 2. Introduce Simple Grasping ToysThe toys you choose actually make a difference as well. Toys like soft rattles, textured balls, and teething rings encourage infants to reach, grasp, and explore with their hands. These activities strengthen hand-eye coordination and develop fine motor skills. Remember to offer a variety of textures and sizes to stimulate their senses and grasping abilities. HERE are some fun ones from Amazon to try! 3. Incorporate Gentle Stretching and MassagesI love a good massage! Babies do too! And they actually help stimulate muscles and nerves, boost circulation and they promote physical awareness and flexibility! Simple movements like cycling their legs or clapping their hands or feet together can also be a fun part of your daily routine with infants, especially during diaper changes. Take those extra minutes to connect with babies this way – it’s good for their brains and hearts too! 4. Sing and Move TogetherSing nursery rhymes with hand motions or gentle bouncing to engage infants and encourage them to follow your movements. Once babies have some neck control, scoot them to the front of your legs and bounce them gently to build stronger core muscles and balance as you sing a fun song. Singing and moving together is fun (which lights up the brain!) and it also helps build the baby’s awareness of rhythm and introduces them to coordinated motion – being able to move multiple body parts at the same time with purpose (like clapping and eventually crawling, walking and even writing and using utensils to eat!) By incorporating these simple, engaging activities into daily routines, you can support infants’ physical development in BIG ways. Every little stretch, reach, and wiggle contributes to their growing strength, coordination, and readiness to tackle the next stage of movement milestones. Those baby giggles will make it even more fun in your classroom as you engage intentionally with each tiny one God has entrusted to your care. You are literally building the body of future Christ-followers so, technically, you’re building the body of Christ when you support physical development in infants! Keep it up!
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
