Concentration
A young infant practices focusing on a caregiver’s hand-clapping actions.
None
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the words and tune of “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.”
[Place the infant on his/her back. Ensure the infant can clearly see you. Smile and make eye contact with the infant.]
These are my hands.
[Wave hands gently in front of the infant. Then gently touch the infant’s hands.]
These are your hands!
I am going to move my hands and sing a song!
[Begin clapping softly and singing the first verse of “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.” Exaggerate the clapping motion of your hands while maintaining a soft clapping sound.
Describe the infant’s reactions, especially visual attention to your actions. Example: “You are looking at my hands! You watched me clap my hands together. Would you like me to sing more?”
If the infant remains engaged, sing a second verse of the song using the following words and actions: “Pat, pat, pat your knees. Pat your knees, together.”
Exaggerate the patting motion while maintaining a soft patting sound. Describe the infant’s responses.]
[Smile and make eye contact with the infant as you describe what happened. Example: “You watched me clap my hands. You smiled and kicked your feet. We had fun together.”]
Concentration
An older infant practices focusing on a caregiver’s hand-clapping actions with the opportunity to also clap hands.
None
Be Prepared: Be familiar with the words and tune of “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.”
Invite an infant who can sit independently or with support to join you in doing fun things with our hands. Sit facing the infant with a smile. Point to and name your hands and then demonstrate several gentle claps. Example: “These are my hands. I am going to clap my hands during a song, like this.” Ensure the infant is ready for the activity by watching for eye contact or the infant’s gaze at your clapping hands. Acknowledge the infant’s attention.
Sing the first verse of the song, “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands,” while softly clapping your hands. Invite the infant to also clap his/her hands. After one verse of the song and clapping, describe the infant’s responses. Example: “You watched me clap my hands. You clapped your hands too! You kicked your legs. Would you like me to sing more?”
If the infant remains interested, sing a second verse of the song using the following words and actions: “Pat, pat, pat your knees. Pat your knees together.”
Conclude the activity by recognizing the infant’s focus during the activity. Example: “You watched me clap my hands. You smiled and clapped your hands, too! It was fun to clap together!”
The suggestion that you clap softly is intended to avoid startling or overstimulating the infant. But watch the infant’s reactions carefully to determine whether a slightly louder clapping action might be enjoyed by the infant or help sustain the infant’s attention. The length and type of participation will vary across infants. Some infants will lose interest much sooner than others. It is not necessary or appropriate to coax an infant to pay attention. Focusing on hands (the activity goal) does not mean the infant should clap in a particular way in Option 2. Most young infants are discovering their own hands and older infants typically want to explore clapping their hands together.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: none
Invite one or several infants to participate in clapping activities. Clap your hands to different rhymes or simple songs. Encourage older infants to clap their hands with you. Young infants may enjoy watching or having you gently clap their hands during the activities.
Materials Needed: none
Offer songs and finger plays to older toddlers and preschool-age children. Possibilities include “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Older children may enjoy leading others. Ensure infants are in a position to observe their peers.
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