Fine motor development
A young infant adjusts to gentle movement in a caregiver’s arms while listening to calm music.
Be Prepared: This activity is for a nonmobile infant. Select one calm song from the recommended CD. Place the CD into the player so it is ready when an infant is alert and ready for some movement with you.
[Pick up a nonmobile infant and greet him/her by name. Hold the infant securely in a comfortable position. Turn on the music at a medium-low volume.]
We will move together to some calm music. I will hold you and we will move to the music.
[Stand in one place with the infant securely in your arms and begin to shift your weight from one foot to the other in time with the music. Continue moving if the infant is content with your movements. Add extra steps and slow turns in rhythm with the music.
Maintain good support for the infant’s back, neck, and head as you move gently to the music. Continue to monitor the infant’s reactions, especially muscle tension. Stop and adjust the way you are holding the infant if the infant begins to fuss or resist the movement by holding his/her body in a tense manner. End the activity if adjusting the infant’s position is not satisfactory to the infant or you notice signs of distress. Describe the infant’s reaction and your response. Example: “Joshua, I don’t think you want to move to music. Let’s figure out what will make you feel happier.”]
We heard some nice music. You could feel how I was moving you with our music.
Generally young infants enjoy smooth movements, such as walking and rhythmic side-to-side steps. Pay careful attention to the infant’s adjustment to moving while being held in your arms, as described in the activity plan. Your secure positions for holding an infant will differ across infants and will change with a specific infant as the infant develops greater strength.
The experience of being carried in the arms of an adult (versus an infant carrier) is important in the infant’s development of balance and upper body strength. Although you are providing physical support, the infant must engage the muscles of his/her torso and neck to keep the head erect. Adjusting to the gentle side-to-side movement is a developmental challenge for an infant similar to that of being carried upright. Also, the environment will look different for an infant from the vantage point of being held.
Extra support
Enrichment
Fine motor development
Infants participate in songs with hand motions led by a caregiver.
None
Be Prepared: This activity is for infants who can sit independently or with support. Be familiar with the words, tune, and hand motions of two popular children’s songs, such as “Wheels on the Bus” and “Itsy, Bitsy Spider.” Sources are available online.
Sit on the floor with several infants for singing and hand movements. Explain that you are going to sing and move your hands. Sing a familiar song with corresponding hand motions. At the conclusion of the song, describe each infant’s reaction. Example: “James, you watched me move my hands! You moved your hands, too!” Then repeat the song with hand actions or sing a second song with hand motions unless infants have lost interest. Encourage infants to move their hands, too. If the gathering includes an infant(s) who can stand without support, consider encouraging the infant(s) to stand for the second song and actions. An infant(s) who stands may bounce or move around a bit.
The activity promotes an infant’s motor skills related to balance and strength while in a sitting position. Some infants will imitate the hand or finger movements of a finger play, and others will enjoy watching you. Some infants may move their hands in random ways, and others may raise both arms. It is not necessary or appropriate to teach specific actions or to coax infants to move their hands or fingers. An infant who is just beginning to sit may lift one or both of his/her hands from the floor in order to move them during the song. Mobile infants may have the strength and balance to lift their arms while sitting and remain balanced. Moving hands or raising arms both represent adapting to a movement while remaining upright.
Extra support
Enrichment
Fine motor development
Older infants listen to music with the opportunity to move an object to a song.
Be Prepared: This activity is for infants who can sit or stand independently. Objects to move might include a shaker, bell, or scarf. Select two songs from the CD, one lively and one slower.
Invite mobile infants to join you to move our arms to music. Explain that each of us can hold something to move. Give each infant an object to hold before you start the recorded music. Play the livelier selection of music first. Kneel close to the infants and move your arm to the music by making side-to-side motions with one of the objects. Encourage infants to move their arms to the music. At the conclusion of the song, describe infants’ actions. Then play the slower song and encourage infants to move their arm/object to the music. Demonstrate moving your arm gently back and forth with an object. If an infant(s) in your gathering can stand and remain balanced, consider inviting the infant(s) to stand and move an object with the slower song.
Watch infants’ movements so you can pace your arm movements to match their efforts. Repeated experiences are important to learning and infants may be more active with arm movements in the second music selection. Some infants may prefer to watch only, perhaps sitting close to you with or without an object to move. An infant who stands may remain in one spot to move an item or may move around on his/her feet. Enthusiastically acknowledge all types of participation.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Annie Kubler, Clap Hands by Helen Oxenbury, Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, Ten Tiny Toes by Caroline Jayne Church, and sound makers
Display the suggested books. Sit with 1–2 infants to look at and talk about the pictures. Describe how each infant is moving. Provide easy access to sound makers so infants can extend Option 3 by making their own music with movements.
Use care routines as opportunities to sing and move with young nonmobile infants. Infants will enjoy being part of an informal gathering with older children that includes singing and recorded music for movement. Invite toddlers to sit on the floor to sing “Row, Row Your Boat.” Encourage toddlers to lean forward and back as you sing. Encourage preschool-age and older children to raise their arms one at a time while moving to music. Lead older children in a Simon Says type of game with movements that involve crossing one hand to the opposite knee and shoulder.
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