Learning Together Every Day - Helping Children Learn...Learning Together Every Day 4 Booklet One:...

Activities to do with babies(under 1 year old)

Learning TogetherEvery Day

Booklet Onen n n n n n n n n n

Learning Together Every Day booklets ©2016 Beverly Burke and Joan Acosta

These booklets are adapted by Joan Acosta and Beverly Burke from the Activity Calendar for Canadian Families 2013. Calendar content is copyright ©2013 by Beverly Burke (Rose Hip Press). Specific content such as photos and illustrations are subject to copyright by their specific owners.

You have permission to download and print copies of the booklets for individual and group use.

Credits

Thank you to the BC TEAL Charitable Foundation for providing financial support for this project.

Art—Nola Johnston (NJ) • Guy Parsons (GP)

Photos—Joan Acosta (JA) • Bev Burke (BB) • Allysa Fraser-Hopkins (AF) Corinna Ruhl (CR) • Maureen Sanders (MS) • Dennis Swayze (DS) • Lenore Turner (LT)

Thank you to the families in the photos, and to Corinna Ruhl, Sharon Skage, and Lesley Hemsworth

All babies are different. You know your baby best. Choose activities that are safe for your baby.For other Learning Together Every Day booklets, go to: h e l p i n g c h i l d r e n l e a r n . c a

Booklet One: Activities to do with babies (under 1 year old)

Booklet Two: Activities to do with toddlers (ages 1 and 2)

Booklet Three: Activities to do with preschoolers (ages 3, 4, and 5)

www.bcteal.org

Learning Together Every Day Booklet One: Babies 1

Be playful

Be activeDo puzzles

Go to a playground

Dance

Be a role model Feel close (bond)

Share books oftenShare books early

BB MS BB

JA BB MS

JA BB

Everyday activities with babies

More activities ➜JA


Tell storiesDo rhymes, sing songs

Enjoy nature

Repeat your baby’s sounds

Touch and cuddle Do tummy time

Play with toys Talk while you do things

photo: from Erin

BB BB BB

JA BB DS

BB BB BB

Play with a drum

More everyday activities with babies



talk ◆ listen ◆ read ◆ play ◆ rhyme

You help your baby learn

n when you tell a story

n when you talk while you do things

n when you help them try something new

n when you ask them questions

n when you read a book together

n when you play together

n when you sing and enjoy music together

n when they see you read and write

You can do the activities in this booklet in any language.

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BB

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MS


This booklet is for all kinds of families. We use the word parents in this booklet. But other people can use the booklet, too. For example:• older brothers and sisters• grandparents• aunts and uncles• family friends• babysitters and caregivers

The activities in this booklet are for parents and babies to do together.

All babies are different. Choose activities your baby will enjoy. Choose activities that are safe for your baby’s age.

Your baby may lose interest in an activity. It’s okay to stop and try something else.

The fun activities in this booklet can help your baby become a successful learner.

Learning languageLearning language starts right away. For example:

◆ Newborns start to learn language when they hear your voice.

◆ Babies use sounds and actions to get what they need. For example, they babble, coo, and cry. Later, they use words. They learn that words can make things happen.

Feeling close (bonding)When you play, read, and talk together, you and your baby will feel close. You are bonding. Your baby will feel special, loved, and safe.

BBChoosing activitiesWho can use this booklet?

Being a role modelYour baby learns by watching you. They see you read, write, and talk.

Bonding will help when babies are older. For example, it will be easier for them to talk to you about a problem.

You are your child’s first teacherBB


• books with pictures of babies or real things

• small board books with simple, colourful pictures

• cloth or plastic books• books with nursery rhymes

When you share books with your baby, you can:

◆ look at the pictures together ◆ talk about the pictures ◆ read the book to your baby

Start earlyYou can start sharing books right away.

◆ Young babies can’t see well. Hold books close to their faces –about 30 cm (12 inches).

Share books every dayTry to share books every day. For example, at bedtime.

◆ You can share books in any language.

◆ Babies often have favourite books. It is good to read these books again and again. Your baby will get to know the story. Your baby will learn about language.

You can talk about the pictures in a book. For example, “How many ducks are there? 1, 2, 3, 4 ducks.”

You can also make up your own story to go with the pictures.

Make noises to go with the book. Use different voices.

Your baby might not want to finish a book. That’s okay.

Los Animales

Share books often

Have fun

Use the pictures

Good books for babies

Touch the wheels.

Hey diddle diddle,The cat and the f iddle,

Booksn n n n n n

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GP


Listen to books on CDs

Older babies can help choose a book. They can help hold the book and turn pages.

Let your baby help

Some books come with a CD. You and your baby can listen to the story together.

Stretch a story

Does your baby have a favourite book about animals? After you read the book, stretch the story with other activities.

◆ Act like the animals in the book. ◆ Act out part of the story. ◆ Make an animal puppet. ◆ Read other books about animals. ◆ Look for animals in a park. ◆ Visit a zoo or farm.

Animals

Where to find children’s books ◆ You can borrow children’s books and CDs from a library.

◆ Some libraries have family reading kits in different languages.

Tips

Where to find programsLibraries often have free programs for parents and babies. You and your baby can learn songs and rhymes. You can share books together.

Ask the librarian about free family literacy programs in your area.

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◆ Look for books at garage sales, second-hand stores, and bookstores.

◆ Exchange books with other families.

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Good books to share with babiesBaby Dance by Ann Taylor

Baby Faces: Eat! by Roberta Grobel Intrater

Baby Faces: Splash! by Roberta Grobel Intrater

Baby’s Very First Colours Book illustrated by Stella Baggott

Baby’s Very First Outdoors Book illustrated by Stella Baggott

Bath Time! by Sandra Boynton (bath book)

Black on White by Tana Hoban

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

In My Pond by Sara Gillingham

Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song for Babies by Richard Van Camp

That’s Not My Snowman by Fiona Watt

That’s Not My Tractor by Fiona Watt

Good Night

Animaux

GP

Ask other family members and friends to share books with your baby.


Do rhymes and sing songs often. Your child will learn new words. You will both have fun! Sing lullabies at bedtime. You will both relax.

You can do rhymes and songs in any language. Here are 3 to try.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are!Up above the world so high,Like a diamond in the sky.Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Do rhymes, sing songs

The itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the water spout. ➊

Down came the rain ➋ And washed the spider out. ➌

Out came the sun ➍ And dried up all the rain.

And the itsy-bitsy spider Climbed up the spout again. ➎

Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Hey diddle diddle,The cat and the fiddle,The cow jumped over the moon.The little dog laughedTo see such sport,And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Do actions with your hands as you say this rhyme.

➋

➌

➍

➎

➊

GP

NJ

Musicn n n n n n


Listen to musicPlay with a drum

An older baby will enjoy hitting a drum. You can make a drum out of a plastic container with a lid.

◆ Put on the lid. Turn over the container.

◆ Help your baby hit the container with spoons.

◆ Sing a song or listen to music. Drum to the beat.

Babies love music. They love to move their bodies to music.

◆ Get music CDs for babies from the library. Ask a librarian for help.

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◆ Many communities have free festivals and concerts. You might hear:• musicians who sing songs

for children• First Nations drummers

or Métis dancers• marching bands• bagpipers• orchestras

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It’s okay if you don’t sing well or don’t know the tune. You can do rhymes and songs in a singsong voice. Your child will love your voice and love to be with you.

Tip


Help your baby be active

Dance to music

It is important for babies to move their bodies. Do active play with your baby a few times every day. Help them reach, push, pull, kick, wave, and clap.

Do tummy time*Tummy time is important. It helps your baby’s head, neck, and shoulder muscles get strong.

◆ Put your baby on their tummy to play. Your baby is awake. You are beside them.

◆ Start with 1 or 2 minutes of tummy time. Later, babies can do 10 to 15 minutes about 3 times a day.

◆ You can get more information about tummy time from your doctor or from a nurse at a health centre.

Babies love to dance! Dance together to music.

◆ Hold your baby tight. Sway from side to side. Help your baby move to the music.

◆ Make up a funny dance. For example, dance like an elephant.

*Source: Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), www.caringforkids.cps.ca. The CPS is a national association of paediatricians. Paediatricians are doctors. They care for babies, children, and youth.

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Be activen n n n n n

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Go to a playground

Visit a playground. ◆ Help your child go down slides. Push them in swings.

◆ Play pretend. Pretend the sand is water and you are in a boat.

◆ Bring something to play with at the park. For example, a ball. Be active together.

◆ Talk about things you see. ◆ Point to simple signs.

Limit screen timeThe Canadian Paediatric Society discourages screen time for children under 2. This means very little or no time watching TV, using computers and smartphones, or playing video games.*

Tip

*Source: Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), www.caringforkids.cps.ca. The CPS is a national association of paediatricians. Paediatricians are doctors. They care for babies, children, and youth.

Stay right beside your baby at the playground.

MS

BB


Tell family stories

Tell family stories to your baby. ◆ You can talk about family photos or other special things.

◆ Ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, older children, and friends to tell stories to your baby, too.

Talk about everyday things

Talk with your baby often. Your baby is starting to learn about language.

◆ Talk while you do things. For example, when you feed or dress your baby.

◆ Talk about everyday things.

We put on your socks.Now, let’s put on your shoes.

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Tell storiesn n n n n n


Play with toys

Babies like to touch and play. Play together with toys or simple things around the house. Babies like different colours and textures.

◆ Pass a toy back and forth. Roll a ball back and forth.

◆ Fly a toy like an airplane. Let your baby follow the toy with their eyes.

◆ Hide and find toys together. ◆ Make noises when you play.

Babies love to look at faces. Hold your baby close. Be silly! Make funny faces and noises.

◆ Play peekaboo. Cover your face with your hands. Then pull your hands away. Say “Peekaboo!”

◆ Sing the tune to Frère Jacques. But use the words and actions below. If you don’t know the tune, use a singsong voice.

Where is baby? Where is baby?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today? Very well I thank you!

Wave your scarf! Wave your scarf!

Be playful together

Play togethern n n n n n

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Play with water

Babies love to play with water. You can put water in a sink, bathtub, plastic tub, or kiddie pool.

Here are some things to play with:• plastic containers• plastic dolls and ducks• plastic bath books• toy boats

Let your baby choose what to do.Always stay right beside your baby when they are in or near water.

Play with puppets

It is fun to use puppets with your baby. ◆ Give the puppet a special voice. ◆ The puppet can talk and play with your child.

◆ You can use 2 puppets. The puppets can talk together.

◆ You can make up a story with puppets. Or you can act out the story from a favourite book.

Look! We match. We both have yellow shirts.

Puppets are simple to make. You can use a piece of cloth or a sock.

BB

GP


Do simple puzzles with older babies. Talk and ask questions.

Look for age labels on packages. For example:

wooden puzzles with 3 or 4 large pieces

Good puzzles for babies

Warning: choking hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Ages 1+

Ages 3+

Do puzzles

Ages 6 to 36 months

shape-sorter toys

BB

Learning Together Every Day Booklet One: Babies

At meals and snacktimeTalk about food at meals and snacktime.

◆ Is your baby starting to eat solid food? Ask and answer simple questions about the food. For example, “Do you like peas? Yes. You love peas.”

Foodn n n n n n

Talk about food

At farmers’ marketsWith older babies, talk about the food at a farmers’ market.

◆ Talk about what you are buying. ◆ Point to and name fruits and vegetables.

In a gardenDo you have a garden or pots with fruits and vegetables? Talk about the food with older babies.• What colour is it?• How does it taste?

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GP

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Touch and cuddle

Repeat the sounds your baby makes

Babies love touch. They love to cuddle. Touch helps babies feel safe and calm.

When you touch and cuddle, you and your baby will feel close. You are bonding.

Touch and cuddle your baby often. ◆ Give them kisses. ◆ Cuddle them and carry them. ◆ Count their fingers and toes. ◆ Touch and name parts of their body.

Babies make many sounds. Repeat the sounds your baby makes. If your baby says “bah-bah,” say “bah-bah” back.

Tip

Praise your baby often. For example: ◆ “You put the ball in the toy box. Yah!” ◆ “Wow, you ate all your peas!” ◆ “You helped turn the page!”

Feel close (bond)n n n n n n

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Go outside with your baby

Fresh air for you and your babyTake your baby for walks and to the park. Have a family picnic. Enjoy the fresh air.

◆ Name things that you see. For example: trees, berries, and leaves. Watch for birds and squirrels.

◆ Play on a blanket in the grass.

Go outside in the winter. Dress warmly.

◆ Push your baby in a stroller. ◆ Pull your baby in a sled or on a tobaggon.

◆ Look for family festivals during the winter. For example:• Family Day in February• Chinese New Year parade• winter festivals

Enjoy nature in the winter

Make sure you and your baby are warm and dry.

Enjoy naturen n n n n n

Zoos and nature centres ◆ Go to a nature centre. Your baby can touch, feel, and look at things.

◆ Go to a zoo or petting zoo. Name the animals that you see. Have fun making animal sounds.

AF

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LT

For other Learning Together Every Day booklets, go to: h e l p i n g c h i l d r e n l e a r n . c a


Booklet Two: Activities to do with toddlers (ages 1 and 2)

Booklet Three: Activities to do with preschoolers (ages 3, 4, and 5)

Learning Together Every Day - Helping Children Learn...Learning Together Every Day 4 Booklet One:...

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