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Infant ideas for in the classroom

  • 1.  Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-02-2021 12:41 PM

    Hello I am going to move in our infant classroom starting on 8/16/21. I was wondering if anyone had ideas I can use for activities to do with infants for lesson planning. I have been in the baby room as a para but not as a teacher. I know things like tummy time. I Want to expand on that and come up with ideas that they can do. I know like painting in a bag. I like the treasure basket. What are somethings you have done with the treasure basket.



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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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  • 2.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-03-2021 10:20 AM
      |   view attached
    Good morning, 
    I love that you are asking!!  Our society has taught us that we must "do" to children, to entertain, to keep them busy.  What I believe is something I learned when I heard the great Magda Gerber and Ron Lally talk about the "child" is your curriculum.  When I listened to Magda and Ron, I learned so much.  At first this blew my mind, as I too thought I must always provide activities to busy the child.  What I learned was totally the opposite.  I learned that we must first see the child, truly see the child.  We must truly believe the child is a competent human being who knows what he or she needs and wants.  We need to follow the child's cues so we know what experience to provide.  An experience, rather than an activity where there is one goal.  An experience where the child leads and you follow.  You add language and be in it with the child to help scaffold the experience.  But always first, you must watch.  A scarf can provide long enjoyment as the infant begins to move it with her feet, her hands, her mouth.  I would recommend looking up Program for Infants and Toddlers and some Magda or Ron you tube videos.  I would also recommend purchasing a great book called-Treasure Basket Explorations Heuristic Learning for Infants and Toddlers b y Dr. Laura Wilhelm.  It provides some great insight into a time when child are beginning to sit.  For the young non-mobile infant, remember simple, soft, easy to hold objects placed near the child and with you to hold conversation as you describe what you see the child doing enhances the child's experience.  I hope this helps.  I added an article from Ron, enjoy!  If you would like to talk more, you are more than welcome to reach out at privately.  I am a certified PITC trainer and I have worked with this age group and teaching staff for 20+ years.  Keep searching and learning!  Sincerely, Joyce

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    Joyce Hepler
    Community Action Project of Tulsa County
    Tulsa, OK
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    Attachment(s)

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    5012146.pdf   191 KB 1 version


  • 3.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-04-2021 11:36 AM
    Thank you for the input and materials.

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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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  • 4.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-03-2021 10:25 AM
    How exciting to start the year in the infant classroom! As you get to observe the infants in your classroom, I'm sure more wonders and ideas will begin flowing for what you can present to them to explore.

    I'm sharing a couple of resources I've used in the past; each of the resources lead my co-teacher and I to either ideas that would work within our own classroom, or sparked conversations between us. 

    I'd also recommend the below books, referring back to information as the infants get older will help navigate how you change the environment, routines, transitions, and what new materials to make present. 
    This Is Play: Environments and Interactions that Engage Infants and Toddlers 
    Day to Day the Relationship Way: Creating Responsive Programs for Infants and Toddlers




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    Mary Samour
    Online Community Manager
    National Association for the Education of Young Children
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  • 5.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-04-2021 11:37 AM
    I look at the articles and added some of the ideas to a list I have going on of ideas for lesson plans.

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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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  • 6.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-03-2021 12:45 PM
    How exciting!
    I guess the real question is, "What can't you do!?!" Working with Infants/Toddlers is an amazing experience. Each day is filled with new discovers and great achievement. Nearly any activity you have done in the preschool room can be modified for younger children. Do you want to paint? Pop them in the high chair and squirt ketchup on paper. Want to collage? Use contact paper and stick away. Want to sort? Get on the floor with a variety of larger objects and start moving them around. Want to promote science skills? Take a nature walk; talk about what you see and let the child feel different objects. The key to all these activities is the conversation you have during. Discuss what you are doing, ask questions (even if they don't respond), narrate their actions. And finally, READ, DANCE and SING with those littles!

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    Christina Roseli M.Ed
    Quality Care Coach
    Ventura, CA
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  • 7.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-04-2021 11:39 AM
    I didn't think about the contact paper I do this every so often with the older children and we have a window we stick them on and they can look at them daily.

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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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  • 8.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-03-2021 12:51 PM
    If you are using teaching strategies to plan your lessons it will be very easy for you. It gives the option of planning lessons according to the infants need or developmental stage. Tummy time will go with very young infants lets say 0 to 6months when they can roll over. Same age too you can do tracking the ball, reach for it, peek a boo, shaking rattles, and baby foot  message. With tracking the ball, you roll the ball and you observe the infants reaction. Very young infant do eye tracking while crawling infants will crawl and get the ball. Reach for it, you show a very young infant a toy sitting on your lab or your fingers, then you observe. Infant as from 4months on tummy time will definitely try to stretch hands. This encourages crawling. 
    When infants are crawling you can do crawling race whereby teachers too get on the floor and crawl with infants. This age too you use the game "crawling with my infants" Pulling up activities, walking with my infants using sit to stand strollers. From 9months to a year picking up snacks themselves, pulling up scotch tapes on the floor, paper crunch, tearing of papers, crawling through the tunnel. Music and movement, literacy; read aloud in large groups and individually to your infants. Give them washable books to explore. Have a very infant child size book shelve that they can crawl there by themselves and make their choices. Too many ideas but I will end here.

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    ELIZABETH JACKSON
    Teacher
    WBCDC LAUREL
    Silver Spring MD
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  • 9.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-04-2021 11:40 AM
    yes I do use ts gold. I have been doing the twos lessons with the two year olds.

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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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  • 10.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-03-2021 06:06 PM
    Hello,

    For Infants, we are the best toys - just play, sing, mimic, talk, do action songs (they learn to track the movements and voice). We have to be  emotionally/socially involved as infants can understand whether we are doing our "job" or genuinely care and respect them. We are creating a secure environment with consistent responses & consistent provider - being in tune with them and nurturing relationships of care and trust.
    Just enjoy those moments and let things happen....infants will lead us with cues.........

    Thanks,

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    Jagruti Patel
    Owner/Provider
    Patel Family Child Care
    Redlands CA
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  • 11.  RE: Infant ideas for in the classroom

    Posted 08-04-2021 11:35 AM
    Thank you for your input.

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    Joy McVicker
    Battle Creek MI
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