BABIES MAY

• Bang a block (or other object) on the floor repeatedly to hear the sound it makes.
• Explore objects and materials in different ways (mouthing, reaching for, or hitting, banging, and squeezing them).
• After repeated experiences with the same objects and persons, sometimes remembers that unseen objects are still there (remembering that a pacifier is under the blanket).
• Shake different toys to see if they make a noise (stuffed animal, rattle).

YOU CAN

• Provide baby with experiences and materials that demonstrate cause and effect relationships (places object on blanket, demonstrate to child how to pull blanket toward self to get the object).
• Provide opportunities for child to examine his/her environment (point out different colors in the room, shake a variety of containers and toys).

BABIES MAY

• Reach for a toy or object that has rolled away.
• Seek assistance from caregiver to solve a problem by using vocalizations, facial expressions, or gestures.

YOU CAN

• Respond to a child’s signals for assistance.
• Provide different materials to engage child.

BABIES MAY

• Locate an object that has been hidden from view.

YOU CAN

• Play games with children that encourage object permanence (peek-a-boo, hide and seek).

BABIES MAY

• Make animal sounds.

YOU CAN

• Make animal sounds with child while reading a book about animals.

BABIES MAY

• Understand the concept of “more” in
  reference to food or play.
• Hold two objects, one in each hand.
• Gesture for “more” when eating.

YOU CAN

• Provides activities that show “more” versus “less” (pouring water, grouping blocks).

BABIES MAY

• Explore the size and shape of objects through various means (banging, mouthing, dropping, etc.).
• Explore volume as they wrap their fingers around an object or an adult’s finger.
• Explore weight as they pull a toy toward themselves.
• Explore speed by moving hands or legs.

YOU CAN

• Provide child with toys that have incremental sizes (nesting cups, stackable rings).

BABIES MAY

• Classify informally as they recognize items as similar (“Things I can hold”).
• Explore the size and shape of objects (banging, mouthing, dropping, etc.).
• Follow daily routines or patterns, such as being fed and then going to sleep.
• Enjoy and begin to anticipate repetition, such as playing a peek-a-boo game or hearing a familiar song each time they are diapered.

YOU CAN

• Provide child with objects in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes (plastic containers, jar lids).
• Create patterns for the day (diapering after naps, songs before bed, etc.).
• Sing songs and read books that name colors or identify shapes and objects with similarities.

BABIES MAY

• Turn head toward sounds or voices.
• Explore objects by holding, mouthing, dropping, etc.
• Observe objects in the environment
  briefly.

YOU CAN

• Show child self in mirror.
• Offer toys within close range to grab and explore, provide padded surfaces.
• Provide objects that invite exploration with multiple senses (rattle with bright colors and different textures).

BABIES MAY

• Investigate new phenomena (reaches out to touch rain).
• Actively use one or more senses to explore the environment (touch, sight, smell, taste, hearing).

YOU CAN

• Take child outside to play regularly.

BABIES MAY

• Respond to plants, animals, and other people in the environment (reach for caregiver, grab a flower, point and squeal at a dog).
• Observe sun and clouds.

YOU CAN

• Provide opportunities for the child to observe living things.
• Take child on walks, describe what you see.

BABIES MAY

• Begin to show he/she expects familiar routines.
• Recognize the beginning and end of an event (claps at the end of a song).

YOU CAN

• Provide routines, talking about what happens before and after.

BABIES MAY

• Explore the size and shape of objects through various means (banging, mouthing, dropping, etc.).
• Explore the way objects move by tracking objects with their eyes and head.
• Explore their spatial sense through movement, both involuntary and voluntary (being picked up, scooting, and pulling up).

YOU CAN

• Provide a safe, child-proof environment.
• Provide child with opportunities to experience different physical positions (floor time, carrying time).

BABIES MAY

• Show caution around strangers or new events.

YOU CAN

• Introduce baby to new people, places, and events at their own comfort level.

BABIES MAY

• Depend on others to provide for wants and needs.

YOU CAN

• Respond to child’s signals for assistance or socialization.

BABIES MAY

• Respond to familiar people and objects in a way that is different from the way they respond to unfamiliar people or objects.

YOU CAN

• Include baby in regular social activities.

BABIES MAY

• Use their bodies as “tools” (reaching out and grasping to get a rattle).
• Show interest in technology (turns toward a ringing telephone or speakers where music is playing).

YOU CAN

• Avoid use of TV, tablets, phones and other screens when babies are present.
• Provide a child-proof environment.

BABIES MAY

• Attend to bright and/or contrasting colors.
• Imitate by babbling during or after an adult sings or chants.
• Move bodies with some intent and control.
• Show curiosity and explore sensory materials; enjoy feeling various pleasing sensations and textures.
• Use objects as tools to make sounds, (banging blocks together with adult help).

YOU CAN

• Imitate and respond to child’s sounds.
• Provide visual and tactile textures for child to see and touch.

BABIES MAY

• Respond to music by listening and moving their heads, arms, and legs.
• Make eye contact with singers.
• Gaze at pictures, photographs, and mirror images.

YOU CAN

• Expose child to a range of voice sounds (singing, speaking, humming).
• Expose child to music from a variety of cultures and styles (jazz, rock, world beat, Latin, classical).
• Show an enjoyment of music and participate in musical activities around child (sings, dances and moves to the beat).
• Take walks with child and explore shapes in the immediate environment.
• Comment aloud about interesting colors, pictures, or a nice view.