Executive function
A young infant is encouraged to persist in exploring toys in a bucket.
Be Prepared: This activity is for an infant who can grasp a small item. Gather 3–5 different small toys, such as soft rattles or people figures. Select toys that are of interest to the infant and are clearly different from one another, such as in color, shape, and/or texture. Also, select toys that the infant involved in this activity can easily grasp with one hand. Keep in mind the infant is likely to explore items with his/her mouth. Place the toys in the bucket.
[Place the infant on his/her back in a secure, comfortable, reclining position. Smile and make eye contact with the infant.]
I have some fun toys!
[Display the bucket.]
This is a bucket. There are toys inside our bucket. Let’s look inside and see what we find!
[Tilt the bucket so the infant can see inside. Pause for the infant to look at toys in the bucket.
Encourage the infant to reach for and grasp a toy that is inside the bucket. If the infant does not grasp a toy, hold and briefly describe a toy and offer it to the infant to touch or hold. Example: “This is a rattle, Emma. The rattle is soft. I am touching the rattle. Would you like to touch or hold the rattle?”
If the infant does not touch or hold the toy, set it aside and encourage the infant to look again at toys in the bucket. If the infant does not grasp a toy while looking in the bucket or does not look in the bucket, again hold and briefly describe a toy and offer it to the infant to touch or hold.
Support the infant’s approach to toys in the bucket. He/she may want to look at, touch, or grasp one item only, or all items. He/she may want to look at, but not touch, toys.
If the infant drops a toy he/she is holding, pick it up and offer it to the infant. If the infant does not want the toy, or drops it again, display a different toy in the bucket.
Describe the infant’s actions throughout the activity. Examples: “You are looking into the bucket, Alejandro. You are smiling! You want to see what is in our bucket.” “You are reaching into the bucket, Emma. Which toy are you going to pick?”
Point and gesture frequently because the infant will not understand most of your words. Remember the importance of your facial expressions.
Respond to the infant’s vocalizations.
Gently end the activity when the infant shows signs of losing interest, such as looking elsewhere (for more than a few seconds) or fussing.]
[Smile, make eye contact, and briefly describe what happened. Example: “You had fun looking at toys in our bucket! You held some toys. You really liked moving the rattle!]
Executive function
An older infant is encouraged to persist in exploring toys in a bucket.
Be Prepared: This activity is for an infant who can sit independently or with support. Gather 5–7 different small toys, such as soft animal toys or toy vehicles. Select toys that are of interest to the infant and are clearly different from one another, such as in color, shape, and/or texture. Place the toys in the bucket.
Invite an infant to sit with you on the floor. Sit so the infant can see your face. Explain there are some toys in a bucket. We want to find out what toys are in the bucket. Place the bucket in front of the infant and encourage the infant to look inside. Provide time for the infant to look inside the bucket. Encourage the infant to reach for and take out a toy so we can find out what’s in the bucket. Say the name of a toy the infant removes from the bucket and provide time for the infant to explore the toy if he/she wishes. Then explain that we want to find out what other toys are in the bucket. Encourage the infant to take out another toy. Repeat this process, including saying the name of the toy and providing time for the infant to explore the toy, until all toys have been removed.
If an infant dumps all toys out of the container (which is an efficient way to find out what is inside!), invite him/her to point to or hold each toy, one at a time. Say the name the toy and then invite the infant to point to or hold another toy. Encourage the infant to point to or hold each of the toys, one at a time, as you say (or the infant says) its name. It is fine for you to point to each toy as you say its name, but only if the infant remains attentive visually. Do not impose the process of pointing to or holding and naming each toy if the infant has no interest in doing so.
Bring the activity to a close after each toy has been identified or the infant loses interest.
Periodically during the activity, enthusiastically acknowledge the infant’s persistence. Example: “You are working hard to find out what is in our bucket, James.” Also, provide periodic progress reports. Example: “We are almost done figuring out what is in our bucket!” Throughout the activity, describe the infant’s actions and respond to vocalizations.
Infants will differ in how long they persist in attending to the toys. Attention spans can be very short at this young age. There may be competing interests or toys in the room that an infant may prefer to explore. A longer period of focus on the toys is more beneficial than no or minimal attention, of course, but this activity is not a test. It certainly is not necessary to look at or point to or hold each toy. Positively recognize the approach an infant brings to the activity.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: several containers (such as baskets or small tubs), assortment of familiar small toys
Place the toys into the containers. You may wish to group toys in meaningful combinations. Example: Animal figures in one tub or basket and toy cars in another. Invite several infants to explore the contents of the containers. Infants may dump the toys or reach to pull out a toy of their choice. Invite infants to place the toys back into the containers.
Materials Needed: several shape-sorting toys of varying challenge levels
Options 1 and 2 for infants described activities that may be accomplished with shape-sorting toys for toddlers and preschool-age children. Ensure the sorter you select for toddlers is appropriately matched to their skill. Older children may enjoy a sorting toy with multiple shapes and sides.
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