Kathy Charner - The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddlers Activities for Children Birth to 3: Written by Teachers for Teachers

2006 Gryphon House

Published by Gryphon House, Inc.

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Illustrations: Kathi Whelan Dery

Reprinted June 2009

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The encyclopedia of infant and toddler activities / edited by Kathy Charner, Maureen Murphy, and Charlie Clark.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-0-87659-013-3

1. Early childhood education--Activity programs. 2. Creative activities and seat work. 3. Infants--Recreation.4. Toddlers--Recreation. I. Charner, Kathy. II. Murphy, Maureen. III. Clark, Charlie, 1977-

LB1139.35.A37E53 2006

372.21--dc22

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Gryphon House, Inc. and the authors cannot be held responsible for damage, mishap, or injury incurred during the use of or because of activities in this book. Appropriate and reasonable caution and adult supervision of children involved in activities and corresponding to the age and capability of each child involved, is recommended at all times. Do not leave children unattended at any time. Observe safety and caution at all times.

If you are looking for hundreds of ideas to help infants and toddlers grow and learn, this book is for you!

More intellectual growth occurs in the first three years of life than at any other time. Infants and toddlers absorb information every minute of the day. They do this by chewing and tasting, listening, babbling, and eventually producing words. They rattle and drop, touch, feel, explore, and discover. The rapid growth in the first three years of life is nothing short of miraculous!

You are key to what the children learn, whether you are a teacher, caregiver, or parent. The experiences you provide children play an important role in the hard-wiring of their brains. The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddler Activities provides an array of activities that stimulate learning through exploration and discovery. Many of the activities happen during normal daily routines, and all activities are fun and enjoyable.

Teachers, child care directors, caregivers, and other early childhood professionals who work with infants and toddlers contributed these activities. Because every moment a child is awake is a teachable moment, the activities in this book are intended for use throughout the day. Some chapters are based on daily routines, such as arrival, naptime, and departure. Other chapters are helpful in developing childrens skills, such as language and motor skills, while other chapters provide ideas for fingerplays, outdoor play, and easier transitions. Because young children love to explore the world through their senses, there is a chapter of sensory activities.

While there is a fairly predictable sequence of growth and development for all children, within this framework, children grow at their own rates. In addition, each child has his or her own personality, temperament, and learning style. All children have different experiences and family backgrounds, as well. As a result, children who are the same chronological age can be at vastly different developmental levels. To meet the developmental needs of the children in your care, it is important to be familiar with stages of development, so you can choose activities that are appropriate for the children you teach.

In general, the stages of development are as below:

Sucks fingers, hands, and other objects

Responds to his or her name

Grasps and releases objects

Observes hands and clasps them together

Knows the difference between familiar people and strangers

Vocalizes with vowel and consonant sounds

Sits without support

Pulls self to stand

Begins to crawl

Anticipates being lifted or fed

Tries to cause things to happen

Begins to use single words

Puts large pegs in holes

Turns book pages two or three at a time

Points to familiar objects upon request

Starts to drink from a cup

Walks alone

Shows interest in peers

Identifies two or more body parts

Identifies body parts