Physical Development

Exploring how to both coordinate and control large and small muscle movements; growing their understanding of health and safety concepts.

Language Development

Strengthened communication abilities through sounds, expressions, body language, and ultimately, oral and written language; responding to and understanding others.

Cognitive Development

Increased understanding of their surroundings, as they begin to think critically and creatively.

Sample Activity: Shake It Like I Shake It
Milestone: Imitates familiar sounds and movements.

Desired Outcome: Infants develop the ability to pay attention and engage and interact with others.

1. Teacher holds infant in lap, gives the child a rattle and holds onto one. The teacher says, “Look what I can do.”
2. The teacher shakes the toy fast, slow, up high in the air, or down low, observing the infant and encouraging them to shake their own rattle.
3. If the infant starts shaking their rattle, the teacher copies their actions and talks to them about what they’re doing, saying things such as, “You are shaking it up high. I am shaking it up high, too!”

Social-Emotional Development

Building an understanding of their own emotions and their relationships with others, like family, friends, and community members; discovering how to interact with others while increasing their self-awareness.

Sample Activity: Up Close and Far Away
Milestone: (Gross motor skill) Turns head from side to side, kicks feet, moves hands.

Desired Outcome: Infants develop the ability to intentionally move parts of their body.

1. Teacher places infant on their back on the floor and sits beside them. The teacher calls the child’s name and waits for the child to look at them.
2. Once the child looks, the teacher holds out a stuffed animal and says something like, “Teddy wants to say hello to you.” Then the teacher pretends the animal gives the child a kiss, brings the animal back to the front, and says something like, “Teddy kissed your cheek.”
3. The teacher continues moving the animal up close and back away while “kissing” different body parts. They observe if the child enjoys watching the animal move and if the child kicks their feet or moves their hands.
4. The teacher continues talking to the child about everything the stuffed animal is doing and observing the child’s movement.