Social interaction skills
A young infant participates in responsive interactions with a caregiver during a story of a mama bear and baby bear.
[Sit with the young infant securely and comfortably reclined in your lap. Support the infant’s head in the bend of your arm. This will allow for your hands to hold the book and turn the pages while also securely holding the infant.
Smile and talk with the infant about his/her most recent activity. Example: “Hello, Asha! You woke up and had your bottle. Now we can look at a book together.”]
[Hold the book about 12 inches from the infant and point to the picture on the cover.]
I have a book for us to read together! Here is a picture of a mama bear and a baby bear.
[Pause for and acknowledge the infant’s responses.
Approach the book sharing as a conversation between you and the infant about pictures in the book. The infant’s contributions to the conversation may be mostly nonverbal, especially facial expressions. Describe the infant’s reactions. Use your own words to describe pictures. Point to what you describe because the infant is unlikely to understand most words you use. Point to the mother and baby on each page. Emphasize how much the mama bear loves her baby as they do special things together.
Pause frequently so the infant can begin to understand some of the rhythm of a conversation. Vary your voice to add interest.
Near the end of the book, you may wish to gently snuggle the infant as your read the corresponding words.]
[Offer a brief description of what happened during the activity. Example: “We talked about pictures of a mama bear and her baby bear. The mama bear loved her baby very much! The mama snuggled her baby close. Then I snuggled you close, Asha! You smiled when I snuggled you close. We like to spend time together. Thank you for sharing time with me.”]
Social interaction skills
An infant participates in nurturing interactions with a caregiver during a song.
None
Be Prepared: Become familiar with the words and tune of “Skidamarink.” Of the many hand motions included in the song, the activity described below uses only the actions for the phrase “I love you!”
Invite an infant who can sit independently or with support to join you for a special song. Sit across from the infant. Smile and make eye contact with the infant as you softly sing the words of the song. When you do motions for the phrase “I love you,” gently tap the infant’s nose when you sing the word “you.”
Acknowledge and describe the infant’s reactions to the song. Example: “You are smiling and leaning your body close to mine. I think you like hearing this special song. Would you like me to sing it again?” If the infant seems to be enjoying the one-to-one time with you, you may sing the song a second time. Offer a gentle hug at the conclusion of the activity.
Social interaction skills
An older infant participates in nurturing interactions with a caregiver while playing with a baby doll.
Invite an infant to join you to play with a baby doll. Hug the doll and then give it to the infant. Suggest the infant hug the doll, too. Example: “Here is a baby doll for you to play with. Our baby doll likes hugs! Would you like to hug the doll baby?”
Describe the infant’s actions with the doll, especially actions related to nurturance. Examples: “You are smiling at the baby, Sophie. People like smiles!” “You are holding the baby doll gently. People like gentle touches.”
Offer to participate in nurturing actions shown by the infant. Examples: “You are hugging the baby, Noah. Would you like me to give you a hug?” “The doll baby is sitting on your lap. Would you like to sit on my lap?”
Acknowledge any signs of wanting to connect with you. Example: “Thank you for the hug, Sophia! I like your hugs.”
Be attentive to an infant’s interest in holding your hand, climbing on your lap, getting a big smile from you, or moving closer to you. Also be sensitive to differences across infants in the amount of preferred physical contact with you. One infant may enjoy being hugged and held often, whereas another infant may prefer a light touch on the shoulder, a pat on the back, or your words only.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: several baby dolls, doll accessories (such as bottles and blankets), assortment of stuffed animals
Provide opportunities for infants to play with baby dolls and soft toy animals. Encourage caring behaviors as the infants interact with the dolls and animals. Sit near the infants so you can carefully watch for and respond to their requests for attention or closeness. Work hard to avoid other distractions so you can respond warmly and positively when an infant approaches you for interaction. Example: brings a toy to show you.
Materials Needed: none
Children of all ages will enjoy the song and actions offered in Option 2. Encourage older children to sing and do the motions with you. Toddlers may enjoy singing some of the repeated phrases as well as the motions for the words “I love you.” Infants will enjoy listening to and watching their peers.
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