Infant Activity Calendar - Alberta Health Services

[Pages:28]Infant Activity

Calendar

Ideas for children from birth to 18 months old

References

Moving and Growing: Exercises for the First Two years; Fitness Canada and the Canadian Institute of Child Health Play Calendars: Weekly Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; Rachel B. Diamant M.S, OTR/L Therapy Skill Builders 1996 Growing Together: Communication Activities for Infants and Toddlers (Birth-12 months); Monica Devine, M.A CCC-SLP, Communication Skill Builders 1990 Amazing Good Ideas (for nothing); Alberta Health Decreased language with TV; ; copyright 2009 Merion Publications Screen time and Young children: promoting health and development in a digital world. Canadian Pediatric Society 2017 cps.ca Eye See-Eye Learn; The Alberta Association of Optometrists handout First Impressions; The Canadian Association of Optometrists pamphlet Fight the Bite; News release Government of Alberta 2003 Children safety seats;: or albertaseatbelts.ca Sleep Problems and your Preschooler; Children's Health and Developmental Services, Alberta Health Services, Medicine Hat Will I Grow out of it (Milestones and warning signs for Speech and Language development); Alberta Health and Wellness SP00005 (2004/08) Babies, children and sun safety; Health Canada release Feeding Baby Solid Foods (6-12 months) Alberta Health When Your Baby can't stop crying; cryingbaby.ca Alberta Health Services pamphlet Dec.2008 Feeding Baby Infant Formula; Alberta Health Breastfeeding Your baby; Alberta Health Healthy Parents Healthy Children The Early Years; Alberta Health Services (2013) healthyparentshealthy children.ca Special thanks to the following people for their recommendations and edits: from Alberta Health Services, Nutrition Services: Vanessa Restivo, Danielle Wohglemuth, Emily Burt, Marissa Salon and Martina Sung; from Alberta Health Services Provincial Injury Prevention Program: Valerie Cook and from Alberta Health Services Public Health: Lorissa Jones, Kathleen Barker, Jennifer Splaine and Melissa Thomson.

Copyright ? (2011, revised 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020) Alberta Health Services. This material is protected by Canadian and other international copyright laws. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied, published, distributed or reproduced in any way in whole or in part without the express written permission of Alberta Health Services (please contact Kim Nowicki at the Early Childhood Intervention program at 780-623-6227 or kim.nowicki@ahs.ca. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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Dear parents and caregivers,

You are your child's best teacher. They will learn the most about the world from you. This calendar has been created to provide you with an activity to try with your child every day.

These activities do not require a lot of time, materials or preparation so you can fit them into your daily routine.

Activities are designed to encourage development in the areas of: communication-the language they understand and the language that they express gross motor skills? how they move their bodies in physical activities fine motor skills? how they use their hands self-help skills social skills problem solving skills with focus on their auditory attention, visual attention and memory

building skills

Recipes, rhymes and parenting tips are included also to inspire and encourage. Please use caution and supervise all the activities.

Take time to play and enjoy creating special moments with your little one. Your impact on their overall development will be significant and will last a lifetime!

J A N U A R Y

Ideas for infants from birth to 18 months old

Parenting tip: Sleep and your infant

Infants in their first year need on average 14-17 hours of sleep. Usually they sleep for up to ten hours of sleep at night and the remainder of sleep takes place during many naps throughout the day. From 12-18 months a child needs up to 13 hours of sleep with possibly 1-2 naps a day and around 10 hours of sleep each night.

At first it is difficult to have a set routine for sleeping and waking, but as the child grows, try to establish a bit of a routine to have similar waking and sleeping times, with regular feeding times and play times throughout the day.

Regular sleep will help with irritability and fussiness. Put your child to sleep in a similar way each time, in a darkened room, with secure and loving ways to encourage settling and self-regulation.

Rhymes:

Eyes, Nose, Cheeky, Cheeky Chin (Point to each body part while you sing:) Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky chin Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky, chin Eyes, nose, cheeky, cheeky chin Cheeky, cheeky, chin, nose eyes

Head and Shoulders (Point to each body part while you sing:) Head and shoulders, knees and toes Knees and toes, knees and toes Head and shoulders, knees and toes Eyes, ears, mouth and nose

Recipes:

Carrot puree (6 months+) Cut carrots in 1 inch pieces and steam in a stovetop steamer for 12 minutes. Cool in ice water. Boil some water and let cool. Blend carrots in a food processor or blender, add some cooled water to mixture if not smooth. Fill 1/4 cup plastic containers or ice cube trays with the puree and freeze. Thaw and warm as you need.

Apple/pear cereal (6 months+) Mix applesauce or pureed pears with your child's iron fortified rice cereal for a different taste.

Note: As your child grows older, make your purees thicker and less smooth.

If you have concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

Sunday Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday Saturday

Carry your child around your home and talk about what you see.

Rub lotion on their arms and legs, and massage. Talk or sing to them while rubbing in the lotion. Label their body parts as you massage.

Encourage your child to grasp a rattle or another toy. Once mastered hold it a bit out of their reach and see if they will move to grasp.

Imitate your child's sounds. Pause and see if they will try to imitate you. Use expressions and gestures and see if they will imitate also.

Look at a book facing your child. Point at pictures and say single words and make sounds where possible. In this way your child can look at the pictures and at your face to see the words.

Cover your face with a cloth or blanket and hide. Say "Where did I go?" Uncover and say either "Boo!" or Here I am!"

Help your child touch something that is cold like an ice cube or snow. Then say "brrr...cold"

Crumple some aluminum foil into a ball. Hold your child on your lap in front of a table. Roll the ball in front of them to watch and encourage him to "catch it."

Hold your child so

With your child laying Place child on tummy

they are facing you. on their back, pull off on a beach ball or

Make funny faces and their socks one at a exercise ball,

encourage your child time and say "Bye-bye encourage tummy

to touch your face and sock" or "sock off". time play with the ball

label. "Nose", "eyes",

straddled between

"mouth " etc.

your legs on floor.

Good eye contact!

Massage feet and

Hold your child

hands and count

and look into a

each toe/finger. Clap mirror together.

feet or hands together Talk, make faces,

and sing rhymes!

name body parts,

make sounds,

enjoy!

Hold a toy or

Position your child on Make a repetitive

medium sized ball their back or in sitting sound, word or noise

above their arms or position and help

and wait for your

legs.

them touch soft things child's reaction then

Help or encourage (i.e.: soft animals,

repeat. Examples:

them to lift legs to washcloth, blanket make an animal "hop,

kick the toy or lift etc.) with various body hop, hop" or a car

arms to grab the parts.

goes "Brrrm!"

toy.

Give your child

Make sounds like

Roll a ball or a toy

something large to "ba,ba" or "da-da" and car to your child in

hold so that they need see if they will copy. lying or sitting

two hands to hold it. A Sing these sounds to position and see if

large stuffed animal, a the tune of "Row, row, they will reach out

large ball or a large row your boat".

to grab or

bowl would work.

eventually roll

back to you.

Help your child to grab for different objects and allow them to explore each. Say "Look at the ___. Get it!" And when they do exclaim "yeah!"

Make a funny "wa-wa" Show your child items

sound by patting your in your house that are

lips with your hand. hard like furniture,

Wait for a reaction toys, plastic items.

then pat you child's Help them to pat the

lips and see if they will object. Talk about

make the sound.

each item.

Repeat.

Tie a soft rattle or bells around your child's wrist or ankle and encourage them to shake. Say and sing: "Shake, shake, shake". Repeat.

Help your child to squeeze their hands when holding squeezable objects. Squeeze toys and sponges in the tub, squeak toys, foam balls etc.

When it is time to eat, Look at a picture

say just that "it is time book together,

to eat" as you position when your child is

them for feeding. Try cuddled on your

to say it consistently lap. Talk softly

each time.

and label each

picture and point

to it.

albertahealthservices.ca

F E B R U A R Y

Ideas for infants from birth to 18 months old

Rhymes: Tony Chestnut

Tony Chestnut (point to toes, knees, chest and head) Knows I love you (point to nose, eye, cross arms over chest and point to "you") Tony knows, Tony knows (point to toes, knees, nose...repeat) Tony Chestnut knows I love you (continue with gestures) That's what Tony knows (point to toes, knees, nose)

Rock-a-bye baby (same tune different words, can interchange "name" with the word "baby".) Mommy loves baby, yes she does Daddy loves baby, yes, he does Grandma loves baby, grandpa does too Yes, little baby-we all love you.

Recipe: Baby teething cookies (for 9 month olds or older)

1 cup iron fortified infant cereal (plain or flavored) 1 cup whole grain flour 3 tbsp. vegetable oil 1/4 cup cold water Preheat oven 425 F. Combine flour and cereal in a mixing bowl. Gradually stir in oil. Add water 1 tbsp. at a time until dough forms. Roll out dough onto a floured surface . Cut into rectangles or fun shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Cool completely and transfer to an airtight container and use within one week.

Parenting tip:

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby. Breast milk is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months of life to support healthy growth and development. Solid foods can be given at 6 months of age with continued breastfeeding until to 2 years of age and beyond.

Other feeding notes

For non-breastfed babies, iron-fortified formula should be given.

Cow's milk (3.25%) can be offered between 9-12 months of age if baby is

eating many iron rich foods. Weaning from the bottle can start at 6

months of age by giving water or formula in a regular cup. By 12-14 months old, babies should not be fed from a bottle.

Vitamin D

All babies should receive 400 IU of Vitamin D every day. For more information about feeding your baby, contact your local Community Health Services

office or call Health Link at 811.

If you have concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Put a cloth or blanket over your child's face and say "Where are you?" Take it off and then say "there you are!" or "Peek-a-boo!"

Give your child a

Sit your child on your Call your child's

Experiment with new

rattle or noisy toy to lap. Hold your child's name when you

sounds and see if

hold, and you hold shoulders and gently enter a room or when your baby will copy

one also. Show your bounce and sing a trying to get their

you (try clicking with

child how to bang song. As they get attention, smile and your tongue,

the toy on the floor or stronger hold them respond when they smacking your lips,

on a table top.

by the sides and then look at you.

blowing bubbles with

later by the hips, in

saliva, gurgling etc.)

this activity.

Give your child a

With an empty paper

picture card such as towel roll or plastic

a greeting card or cut cup make "do-do-do"

a picture from a

sounds. Give to your

cereal box. Show child to see if they will

them how to turn the make the same

card over using their sound: "do-do-do".

wrist and forearm.

See if they will copy.

Blow bubbles so they can watch them, when they pop say "pop". Be careful of eyes, try to blow near their hands.

While carrying your child, move fast, dance to music or move in a circle. Say words like "whee" or "dance" or "spin", while moving.

Sing this month's rhymes with your child. Do the actions with your child. When you say the word "love" in the "Rock-a-bye baby" rhyme song, give them a kiss!

Tie a short string no longer than 6 inches to one of your child's toys. Show how the toy moves when you pull the string. Encourage them to pull and say "Come here ___"

Say "Who's my valentine?...my sweetie?...my love?" Then say "You are" then tickle or kiss them. Pause and repeat.

Show your child a stuffed animal, when you touch the nose say "beep", when they touch the nose also say "beep". A great cause and effect game!

Sit on a chair with your child facing away from you, support their hips, bounce them gently and sing a rocking song.

Turn the water on Play "So Big" with and off in your babies your child. Using presence. Say "Here different tones, it comes, the water is whisper, use deep on"...then say "the tones, or a high water is off, all gone!" pitched voice,

combine these and say "so big" as you lift your child's arms to the sky.

Show your child a toy with moveable wheels or a doll with moveable limbs and show them how they move and see if they will try to grab to imitate the movement.

Lie on your back with knees bent and place your child on your stomach sitting with their back against your thighs. Bounce them and play "horsie", helping them to balance.

Encourage your child While you are holding

to touch your mouth your child next to a

or your throat when table, drum your

you are talking. They hands on the table.

will enjoy, feeling the Try loud beats and

vibrations and are soft beats and help

learning about

your child to copy.

communicating in

this way.

Partially cover a toy with a cloth. Make sure they can still see part of it. Say "Where's the ___?" and pull off the cover and say "there it is!"

Listen to music together. Sing along and encourage your child to sing also!

When entering a darkened room, when you turn on the light say "lights on" and same when you leave "lights off".

Help your child to hold two toys. Help your child to move them up and down or bang them together. Say "up...down" or "bang, bang, bang" during the actions.

Shake a rattle or

Sit your child on your

squeak a toy next to lap or in their high

your child, but slightly chair. Put some

out of their sight.

floatable toys in a pan

When they turn to of water and show

see it, say "you found how to bob them up

it".

and down.

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M A R C H

Ideas for infants from birth to 18 months old

Parenting tip: Soother safety

Avoid giving a soother or artificial nipple to breastfed babies until breastfeeding is going well (at least 6 weeks old).

If you choose to give your child a soother or pacifier, purchase one that has a soft nipple that is all one piece, so that it flattens out against the roof of your child's mouth when they are sucking. A hard nipple may cause jaw problems later in the child's life.

Check your child's soother often to make sure the nipple is firmly attached to its base.

Replace pacifiers every 2 months, even if they look perfectly fine. Throw out soothers that change color, are sticky, cracked or torn.

Do not tie the soother around your child's neck with a cord or string. Do not coat the soother with honey, or other sweet substances. This can

cause cavities, and honey should not be given to children under 12 months. Wash your child's soother often with soap and water, and rinse well. But do not clean in your own mouth as you can transmit germs that cause sickness or cavities. Weaning from the soother should happen early at around 1 year of age.

Rhymes:

There's a cobbler on my street There's a cobbler on my street Mending shoes for little feet With a bang and a bang, with a bang, bang, bang (lightly tap the bottom of your child's feet) Mending shoes the whole day long Mending shoes to make them strong With a bang, and a bang, with a bang, bang, bang (again tap your child's feet)

The Moon is Round The moon is round as a round as can be. (Trace your child's face with your finger) Two eyes, a nose, and a mouth (point to features while you sing) Like me! (point to yourself)

Recipes:

Sweet potato with cinnamon (6 months+) Peel and chop sweet potato into bite sized cubes, place in a stovetop steamer and steam for 10 minutes until soft. Sprinkle with cinnamon and mash with a fork. With the leftovers store in ice cube trays or 1/4 cup containers, and freeze for later meals. Fruit blend (6 months+) Cut up finely, mash or blend in a food processor: banana, pear, peaches, mango, cantaloupe or kiwi, a combination of these or one or two. Serve!

Note: before mixing foods try each food first with your child and leave 2 days between the trial of each food

If you have concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

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