Infant Activities

Contents
Bonus Smart Steps Activities

The Senses
25. Sensie the Senses Monster

26. Shape Snooper
Balance
27. Going in Circles

28. Conveyor Belt Roll
Intuition
29. Massage Ball

30. The Body March
Power
31. Precrawling
32. The Wheelbarrow Garden
Coordination
33. Lets Go for a Knee Ride!

34. Thread the Needle
Control
35. Hook, Line, and Sinker

36. Wormly Worms
From A Moving Child Is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Think (Birth to Age 7) by Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy, copyright 2014.
Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 800-735-7323; www.freespirit.com. This page may be reproduced for individual, classroom, and small-group work only.
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Smart Steps
at Play #25: Sensie the Senses Monster

STAGES
Knowing
Sensie the Senses Monster swims the Sensory Seas in search of his senses.
But theres so much to sense, sometimes he gets himself all turned around!
Can you help Sensie find his senses?
Repeat the lyrics with the other senses:
Can you hear what Sensie hears? (Then
on to smell, taste, and feel.) For balance
and intuition, try these lyrics:
Moving
Round and round like Sensie goes.

Sensie goes. Sensie goes.
Round and round like Sensie goes.
Now spin the other way!
Sensory experiences are all around us.

Use The Sensie Song to initiate the play,
then follow the childs curiosity.
Be Like Sensie
Sensie is always on the lookout for new
sensations. Like Sensie, wherever you go,
be on the lookout for what you can see,
hear, smell, taste, and touch. Talk about
everything you encounter, using words to
describe it all in detail, such as rough,
smooth, shiny, fluffy, and so on. Avoid
using nondescriptive words such as nice.
These wont help a child understand the
sensations.
Prompt the fun with The Sensie Song.
The lyrics encourage children to see what
they can see, not what youre trying to
point out to them, and that puts the discovery in their hands (or eyes, or ears . . . ).
THE SENSIE SONG

(sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little
Lamb)
Can you see what Sensie sees?
Sensie sees? Sensie sees?
Can you see what Sensie sees?
Tell me what you see!
Push and pull like Sensie does.

Sensie does. Sensie does.
Push and pull like Sensie does.
And make your muscles strong!
YVONNE BOGDANSKI | DREAMSTIME.COM
GET READY!
Sensie Stomp
Growing
Sensie Safari
Making experiences multisensory helps
the brain develop processes for understanding sensory information.
Now look for multisensory experiences to play with. Start with the
verse Can you see what Sensie
sees? and have the child pick
something she sees. Then explore
it more fully. What does it sound
like? Smell like? Feel like? (And if
possible, what does it taste like?)
Take as much time as the child
wants to explore what shes discovered. Use different perspectives. Touch
it all over with fingers, elbows, and
toes. Explore what the child can do with
her discovery. Can she make sound with
it, for example?
Usually, sensory experiences happen with

our fingers. But for whole-body learning,
Sensie often explores things with his toes.
Have the child go barefoot and
explore a wide range of textures with her
feet. Start by stepping on different textures
such as crumpled paper, bubble wrap,
and plush fabrics. Then have the child sit
down and use her toes to pick up differenttextured objects such as Koosh balls, play
dough, and plush toys.
And of course, finish the game with
a stomp-stomp-stompin round of The
Sensie Song.
Squigglers
Scampers
Stompers
Scooters
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BENEFITS
Sensory development
Music and movement
Exploration and curiosity
LANGUAGE FOCUS
See
Hear
Smell
Taste
Touch
SAFEGUARDS
Be sure children dont put things in their mouths

that may be dangerous, such as small objects
that could pose a choking hazard or organic
material (leaves, acorns, and so on) that may
make them sick.
EQUIPMENT
Whatever sparks the childs curiosity!
Smart Steps
at Play #26: Shape Snooper
Visual figure ground refers to the ability to focus the eyes on a specific
subject without distraction. It supports a childs overall ability to focus
and concentrate. It also underpins reading, writing, and many other
academic tasks.
GET READY!
On the sidewalk, draw one of the overlapping designs shown here with chalk, or
make up your own designs. Be sure whatever you draw is familiar to the children and
that the outlines are simple and clear. Draw
the shapes big enough for the child to be
able to walk on them.
Moving
Can You Find the Shape?

Shapes are all around us. But sometimes
theyre shy, so they hide from us. Tell
children you need their help finding the
shapes.
Call out a shape and have a child
walk along the outline of the shape you
have named. Have older children hop
along the line or walk heel-to-toe. Then
have the children call out shapes they see
for others to walk along.
Be sure to have the children look at the
shapes from different angles. This adds
challenge by changing their perspective.
STAGES
Growing
Target the Shapes

Turn the drawing into a target game by
giving the children beanbags. Call out a
shape to aim for. Add challenge by having
the children move around the drawing to
see it from different perspectives.
Stompers
Scooters
Skedaddlers
KINETIC SCALE
Knowing
Color the Shapes

Draw the shapes on a large piece of
paper and pin it up on the wall. Have the
children trace with their fingers the shapes
you call out. Once they have the idea,
hand out the finger paint and have them
color in the shapes.
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BENEFITS
Visual figure ground

Sensory development
Observation skills
Precision and accuracy
Eye-hand coordination
LANGUAGE FOCUS
In
Out
Around
SAFEGUARDS
Be sure theres enough room for this activity

on the floor, ground, or pavement. Support the
child as necessary.
EQUIPMENT
Chalk
Beanbags
Paper
Markers
Finger paints
Smart Steps
at Play #27: Going in Circles

STAGES
one or two times in one direction, then
spin the other way, always guided by the
childs reactions. Spin only a few times per
session, but you can repeat the activity several times throughout the day. (If youd like,
this is an ideal skin-to-skin activity. See the
Skin-to-Skin handout in this digital file.)
From the very beginning, nature is at work laying the foundations baby will
need for independent movement. And one of those essential building blocks
is balance.
GET READY!
Spinning slowly is an effective way to

develop a young childs balance (vestibular system). And like rocking, its perfectly
appropriate to start at the earliest ages, but
of course, you must do it with great care.
Be sure to support the child and make your
rotation very slow and gentle. And provide
different positions and orientations as you
go round. This gives the infants brain what
it needs to begin understanding the sensations of balance.
Moving
Lets Go for a Spin

Sit in a spinning chair, such as an office
chair. Hold the infant vertically, close to
your chest. Spin slowly and gently (about
one revolution per eight seconds). Spin
Snugglers
Squigglers
KINETIC SCALE
Growing
Lets Take a Ride

Repeat the spinning activity with the child
lying across your knees on his tummy.
Changing the childs orientation provides
new and different sensations of dynamic
equilibrium. Again, let the child guide you.
If hes enjoying the ride, continue. He may
wish to see you during the experience, so
try the activity with the child lying face-up
on your knees as you support his head.
For infants, its critical to watch for

the childs reactions. If hes not
enjoying it, slow down or stop.
Revisit it another time or in a
different way.
Knowing
Lets Go Whee!
Before you start, tell the

child whats going to happen. Were going to go
for a spin this way. Now
were going the other
way. Even though he
doesnt understand your
words, the sound of your
voice before the activity
will draw his attention and
reassure him hes not
alone as these new sensations begin.
When youre out for a walk with the

stroller, once in a while do a 360-degree
turn. Whee! How wonderfully carefree
youll feel while surprising and delighting
the child (and onlookers). When the child
is a little older, try this in the grocery store
cart. (Be careful not to knock over the
baked beans!) And of course, anytime is
great for holding the child in your arms
and dancing gently together.
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BENEFITS
Vestibular system
Soothing
Attachment and bonding
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Around and around
Back the other way
Whee!
SAFEGUARDS
Do this activity gently and slowly. Be sure to

support the childs head and upper body at
all times. Let the child guide you. If the child
is not enjoying the activity, stop.
RADEKDREWEK |
DREAMSTIME.COM
EQUIPMENT
Spinning chair
Stroller
Smart Steps
at Play #28: Conveyor Belt Roll*
STAGES
Have the children take turns going in
different directions so that they all have a
chance to lead the rolling. If youre rolling
with one child, be sure to let her lead the
activity.
Group games with young children can be so much fun, especially when they
have to work together. Conveyor belt rolling creates an atmosphere for:
Shared responsibility: Children must work together, yet throughout
the activity, each has her turn being responsible for passing the teddy
bear along.
Knowing
Teamwork and community spirit: Large group games make children

feel a sense of belonging and commitment to the group.
Conveyor Belt Rolling

This activity is best with three or more children, but can be done with as few as two
players.
Have all the kids lie down next to each
other, shoulder to shoulder. Place a soft toy
such as a teddy bear on the belly of the
first child in the line. Tell the kids they must
get the teddy bear from the first child to the
last child by rollingand they cannot use
their hands. Have the children roll in unison, creating a conveyor belt to move the
toy from child to child.
Encourage them to keep their shoulders together. There should be no gaps
between the players, so the children
need to watch their neighbors as they
roll. Empower the children at the end of
the conveyor belt line to be
the team captains,
helping manage
the group and
change directions when
necessary.
Achievement: Working together, the children feel a sense of

accomplishment: We did it!
All you need for this game is some wideopen floor space, a teddy bear or other soft
toy, and some kids. The game works best
with three or more but can be played with
two. And its a blast with a roomful!
Moving
Get Rolling
Start by asking the children if they can
show you how to roll around on the floor.
This little warm-up gives children a chance
to practice, reminding their muscles and
their brains of the sensations of the movements theyll need for the more advanced
activities to follow. At first, kids tend to roll
the top halves of their bodies, then flip
their legs over. Watch to see if they can
keep their bodies straight like pencils with
some degree of control as they roll. And
see if they can roll in both directions. This
creates a balanced experience for both
body and brain development.
Note: An easy way to keep rolling kids
on track is to tape a line on the floor near
their heads. Have them put their hands

over their heads and try to keep their fingers on the line.
Growing
Side-by-Side Rolls
Have the children lie down next to one
another, shoulder to shoulder. Have them
choose a direction to roll, then roll in unison. If you have only one child with you,
lie down on the floor and play the game
with her.
Two things happen when children try
coordinated rolling:
The rolling slows down. The slower
the roll, the more easily the brain can

absorb and retain the physical sensations of the movement, which in this
case helps build balance.
Teamwork develops. Asking two or
more rambunctious preschoolers to do

this together creates a playful dynamic
for foundational social skills such as
cooperation, decision making, and
supporting others.
*Thanks to Adele Orangi for contributing this activity.
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BENEFITS
Teamwork and cooperation

Achievement
Decision making
Balance
Strength and energy
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Over
Close
Along
Left
Together
Right
SAFEGUARDS
Use a towel or large mat on a hard surface. Be sure all the children roll in the
same direction at the same time.
EQUIPMENT
SARAH ALICE LEE
GET READY!
Skedaddlers
Soft toy
Smart Steps
at Play #29: Massage Ball
GET READY!
For this activity, provide baby with a variety

of sensations by using different sensory
balls, including soft foam, soft plastic or
rubber, Koosh balls, and so on.
Moving
Foot and Hand Massage
Knowing
Arm and Leg Massage

Once baby has rolled from back to tummy
and is pushing up on his hands, roll the
ball up his arms, over his shoulders, down
his back, and down his legs to his feet.
This sensory message helps him learn
where his body begins and ends.
Lay baby on his back on a warm blanket.

Open up babys toes and roll the ball
on the soles of his feet. You may see his
toes curling. This is the grasp reflex at
work. Use a gentle but firm touch to help
him release this reflex. Likewise, open his
fingers gently and roll the ball around his
palm and over his fingertips.
Growing
Back Massage
Lay baby gently on his tummy over your
knee and roll the ball down his body from
head to toe. Notice the squirming reflex
when you do this. Roll gently but firmly, so
the touch isnt tickly.
NATALIA RUMYANTSEVA | DREAMSTIME.COM
Very young children dont have a complete sense of their body. They
actually dont recognize that they have arms and legs. All-over body
massage stimulates proprioceptors in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons
and awakens understanding of the body.
R. EKO BINTORO | DREAMSTIME.COM
STAGES
Snugglers
Squigglers
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BENEFITS
Sensory development
Body awareness
Massage
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Up
Down
Over
Body parts
SAFEGUARDS
Make sure the room is warm if the baby is

undressed. Use a soft blanket or towel on
any hard surface. Support babys head and
upper body when holding baby. Use gentle
but firm massageno tickling.
EQUIPMENT
Balls with a variety of textures
Smart Steps
at Play #30: The Body March

STAGES
Moving
Body marching is a whole-body activity that works on many important

physicalities, including intuition (body awareness and spatial awareness),
rhythm and timing, and overall coordination.
Pick and choose from these 12 marching

cadences to tailor the fun.
FEET
Marchings fun so step right in.
Use your feet and wear a grin!
Sound off. 1-2. Sound off. 3-4.
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
KNEES
On your knees but do not freeze.
Start to march when I say please!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. Do more!
TOES
Stand right up and dont be slow.
Now lets march on tippy-toe!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
ELBOWS
On your belly, ready-set-go!
March on out on both elbows!
EYES
Eyes front now. Youre right in sync!
Wink one. Wink two. Give me a blink!
SEAT
Now sit on down and feel the floor.
Use your seat and march some more.
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
Start by showing the children how to do

the different marches youve selected.
Demonstrate marching on your feet, on
your toes, on your knees, and so on, then
let the children have a turn mimicking your
movements.
HIPS
Stand up straight and march your hips.
Round and round. Enjoy the trip!
HANDS
Now your hands and dont you linger!
March around on all 10 fingers!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
SHOULDERS
BACK
Roll to the floor and on your back.
March on out and give me a quack!
Sound off. Quack-quack! Sound off.
Quack-quack!
Sound off. Quack-quack-quack-quack.
Quack-quack. Quack-quack!
KINETIC SCALE
Step Right Out
Keep it up. Look under your grin.

Yes! Now march your chinny-chin-chin!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
Shoulders back. Stand straight and tall.

March your shoulders, one and all!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. 3-4!
Skedaddlers
Growing
CHIN
SLIDEZERO | DREAMSTIME.COM
GET READY!
Step Right Up
FEET
On your feet now step right in.
And dont forget to wear that grin!
Sound off. 1-2-3-4. 1-2. Hoo-Ha!
Start the march. Recite the chant as the

children march. March along with them at
first to demonstrate the different marching
styles, and be sure to emphasize the part
of the body they need to use in the chant.
As the march begins, check to see
how the children react to the different
instructions. If they are having a hard time
following along, repeat the chant a few
more times to see if they can master it. As
they get the feel for the march, encourage
them to join in the counting aloud. Not
all of them will be able to do this at first.
Children need to automate the movements
before they can chime in with the chant.
Knowing
Step Right In
Now its time to put the
learners in charge. Have
the children pick which
marches they want to
do. And encourage
them make up their own!
Nominate a squad leader
to lead the group, then line
up and march wherever they
want to go.
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BENEFITS
Body awareness
Spatial awareness
Rhythm and timing
Cooperation
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Body parts
Body language
Forward
Back
Front
SAFEGUARDS
Make sure children have adequate space

for these activities.
EQUIPMENT
None
Smart Steps
at Play #31: Precrawling
Rolling over onto her tummy, baby is now in position to get moving, so
making tummy time a happy place will help launch her into pushing
forward, up onto all fours, and crawling.
GET READY!
Long before they crawl, babies have the

ability to propel themselves forward with
a little help from an immoveable object
or surface. Try these activities to give little
ones their first sense of moving on their own
while building up strength in those little legs.
Moving
Tummy Vision
Place a mirror approximately 810 inches
from the childs face so she can see herself
in it. Giving her something to look at
encourages her to push up with her
hands and arms, strengthening her
upper body in preparation for moving
forward. Talk about who she can see in
the mirror.
Knowing
Baby Push-Along
With baby lying on her tummy, place the
mirror in front of her, but out of her reach.
Sit behind baby and place your hands
behind her bare feet so she can feel you.
When she feels your presence, she will
use the push-away reflex to push against
your hands. When that happens, shell
likely begin pushing herself forward
toward the mirror.
Growing
Foot Awareness
As baby lies on her tummy, move
around to the back of her and play with
her bare feet. With a gentle but firm (not
tickly) touch, run your thumb up and down
the sole of her foot. Some of her primitive
reflexes may still be present. Youll see it if
her foot moves involuntarily from a curledup position (grasp reflex) to an extended
position (Babinski response). And watch
her big toe extend. Foot massage is an
early primer in body awareness, and it
prepares baby for the next step: her very
first experience with self-propulsion.
MICHAEL PETTIGREW | DREAMSTIME.COM
STAGES
For best results, use a smooth surface
like a kitchen floor. During this activity,
encourage baby to move her hands forward each time she pushes. She may do
this naturally, or you may need to gently
move her arms forward to give her the
idea.
Squigglers
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BENEFITS
Sensory development
Massage
Reflex inhibition
Upper body development
Muscle strength
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Body parts
Forward
Push
SAFEGUARDS
Use a child-safe mirror for this activity.
EQUIPMENT
Mirror
Smart Steps
at Play #32: The Wheelbarrow Garden

STAGES
sure to keep pace with him so youre not
pushing him or slowing him down. Give
him a goal. For example: Can you wheelbarrow to the toy box?
Upper body strength is essential for childrens overall fitness and wellbalanced development. Any activity that requires children to take their
own weight, such as monkey bars or wheelbarrowing, helps children build
strength and stamina. And big muscles are the gateway to developing
smaller muscles like those in the hands and fingers.
Walking on your hands is a great way to

build upper body strength. So heres a fun
way to get kids into wheelbarrowing.
The carrots are ready for picking,
but its getting late. The suns
going down, and if we dont
collect all the carrots, the
bunnies will come out at
night and snatch them!
What we need is a
wheelbarrow to collect
all the carrots. Can you
help?
Moving
Lets Get
Rolling
Tell the child hes

going to be a wheelbarrow. Have him lie
on his tummy, then ask
him to push up on his
hands and straighten his
arms. Lift him up and hold
him under his hips (and
chest if necessary) to avoid
bowing his back. Have him
walk on his hands a little way
and see how far he can get. Be
SARAH ALICE LEE
GET READY!
Growing
Scooters
Collecting Carrots
Scatter some beanbags and buckets
around the floor. Be sure the buckets are
within reach of each beanbag. Explain
that the carrots (beanbags) are ready for
picking, so we have to get them. Now get
wheelbarrowing, being sure to let the child
set the direction. Wheelbarrow up to each
carrot and have the child pick it up and
put it in the nearest bucket.
Knowing
Delivering Carrots
Now that weve collected all the

carrots, weve got to store them
safely so the bunnies wont get
them. Set up a bucket on the
other side of the room (or as far
away as you believe the child can
wheelbarrow). Have the child lie
down and get ready to wheelbarrow. Place one or two beanbags
on his back. This will challenge him
to keep his back straight and his
movements smooth so that the carrots
dont fall out of the wheelbarrow. Steer
over to the bucket and unload the carrots
by having the child bend his head down
as you lift his legs in the air to slide the
carrots into the bucket. Great teamwork!
Skedaddlers
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BENEFITS
Muscle strength
Energy
Stamina
Flexibility and agility
Precision
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Push
Straight
Up
In
Along
SAFEGUARDS
Support the child under the hips and chest

as necessary to avoid bowing the back.
Avoid straining the child. Stop when the
child tires.
EQUIPMENT
Beanbags
Buckets
Smart Steps
at Play #33: Lets Go for a Knee Ride!

STAGES
GET READY!
To go for a knee ride, be sure to support the

child fully, smile broadly, talk, sing, laugh,
and maintain eye contact.
Moving
The Mare and the Colt

Use this rhyme to change the pace
from slow to fast and to change babys
orientation.
The old grey mare gives a gentle, slow
ride. (Speak very slowly and bounce baby
gently to the slow beat.)
Along comes the colt with a very fast
stride. (Pick up the pace a bit and bounce
baby gently to the faster beat.)
The mare plods on, going round and
round. (Holding baby securely under the
arms, speak slowly, and gently tilt her
back and circle around.)
While the silly little colt jumps up and
down. (Hold baby securely under the arms
and lift her up, then bring her gently back

down to your knee.)
Growing
Hoppin High
your right ankle. Be sure babys feet can

touch the floor when straddling your ankle.
The objective here is to have baby do
some of the bouncing all on her own by
pushing off with her legs from the floor.
TERESA YEH | DREAMSTIME.COM
Bouncing baby on your knee never gets oldfor babies or for adults. The
gentle up-and-down motion of a knee ride simulates babies experience
with movement before birth, which is no doubt why they enjoy it so much.
And knee rides have great developmental benefits as well. Bouncing in
time with the beat of a song or rhyme unifies the experience for baby while
teaching her a sense of rhythm. Knee rides offer great stimulation for all
sensory tools including balance and intuition. They stimulate the push-away
reflex, which strengthens leg muscles and prepares baby for independent
movement. And this time spent together fosters bonding.
Support the child under her armpits in a

supported standing position. As you lift
her up and down, let her feet touch back
down so she has a sense of what her feet
feel like as they leave the ground. Try
this rhyme to add beat and rhythm to
the ride.
Hop, hop, hopthats what
bunnies do.
Hop, hop, hopthats what
froggies do, too.
Hop, hop, hop! Way up to the
sky.
Hop, hop, hop! Now youre
flying high!
Knowing
Waiting for the Popcorn

Sit in a chair and cross your right leg over
your left. Support baby as you sit her on
Popcorn, popcorn sizzling in the pan.

Popcorn, popcorn waiting to expand.
Think I hear it popping.
It will be ready soon.
Here it comes, I hear it!
Its popping to the moon! (Lift baby high in
the air)
Squigglers
Scampers
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BENEFITS
Crawling
Prejumping
Muscle strength
Bonding
Orientation
Sensory development
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Slow
Fast
Up
Down
High
Low
Body parts
SAFEGUARDS
Do this activity very gently and slowly. Support

the childs head and upper body throughout the
activity. Let the childs reactions guide you. If
shes not enjoying the game, stop.
EQUIPMENT
None
Smart Steps
at Play #34: Thread the Needle

STAGES
Coordinated movement is highly complex, challenging the body and brain

to manage many tasks at once. Giving children activities that challenge their
whole bodies to move in unusual ways is great experience for the midlines
and left-right brain development. Like threading a needle, this takes some
patience and practice, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
Crawling is important for children to do even after they begin walking.
The lateral movements of crawling help develop important wiring in the
cortex, which facilitates communication between the left and right sides of
the brain. The more lateral and cross-lateral movements a child does, the
more pathways he develops in the brain. So for each of these sequential
levels, have the child try both crawling and walking.
When a needle and thread get together,

they can fix just about anything. So can you
show me how to thread a needle?
In this activity, children use hoops as
needles that they thread their bodies
through. Doing this presents unique challenges to the childs sense of balance and
overall body control. In addition, it slows
down the childs movements, which makes it
a more concentrated activity for the brain.
Moving
Needle and Thread

Hold two hoops vertically on the ground
and have the children crawl through the
hoops. For a little more challenge, have
them step through the hoops being careful
not to touch the sides.
Next, lay the hoops on the floor and
have the children crawl to them, lift them
up, and crawl through them.
Knowing
Pins and Needles
Growing
Thread the Needle

Start by having the children crawl and
walk across an elevated plank or balance beam. Be sure they feel comfortable
with this activity before taking the next
step. Then, thread the plank through three
hoops. As the children crawl
across the plank, ask them
to lift each hoop and
crawl through it
while balancing
on the plank.
Theres a lot
of coordination going on
here, so stand
by to support
each child
around the
waist at first.
Each time the
child goes through
SARAH ALICE LEE
GET READY!
a hoop, be sure to reinforce the movement

with the word through.
This time, have the children walk across

the plank. When they reach the first hoop,
they have to stoop down and crawl
through it, then stand back up and keep
going. Again, theres a lot of coordination going on here, so stand by to support
each child using words like through, over,
and under as the children move down the
plank.
As the children advance, mix things up.
For instance, have them crawl through one
hoop, then step over the next. Or have
them lie down and wiggle through the
hoops on their belly. Each different movement challenges their coordination and balance in different ways while they attempt
the tricky business of threading the needle.
Stompers
Scooters
Skedaddlers
KINETIC SCALE
ses
Sen
ce
lan
Ba
itio
Intu
we
Po
Co
tio
na
i
ord
ol
ntr
Co
BENEFITS
Body control
Coordination
Muscle strength
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Through
Across
Up
Down
Under
Over
SAFEGUARDS
Use a mat under the plank for this activity.

Be sure the plank is close to the ground.
Provide balancing support as needed.
EQUIPMENT
Hoops
Raised plank
Smart Steps
at Play #35: Hook, Line, and Sinker

STAGES
Developing control means adapting and modifying your actions to achieve

your desired goal. Often this is associated with slow, careful, and
deliberate movements, but in fact, children need control of all their
muscles in any situationslow, fast, or even upside down!
Cleanup time is no childs favorite time

unless you make it as much fun as mess-up
time! Even something as simple as picking
up toys and putting them away can be
turned to a childs developmental advantage. Try these to make cleanup more fun
while challenging children to develop overall
body control.
Moving
Airplane Swoops
Hold the child so shes flyingfacedown
and supported under her chest and hips.
Slowly lower her toward the toys scattered
on the floor and have her pick any toy
within reach and drop it in the basket or
toy box. Encourage her to alternate using
her right hand and her left hand. To make
the game more challenging, hold the child
face-up, supporting her back and hips.
Lower her again toward the toys on the
floor and have her reach over her head to
pick up a toy.
Stompers
Growing
Bulldozer Scoops
Next, give the child a scoop or bucket.
Again, hold her in the flying position
facedown and lower her toward the
toys. Make the movements more vigorous
this time, swooping and scooping up
the toys.
Scooters
Skedaddlers
KINETIC SCALE
Knowing
The Fishing Pole

Anytime kids can do something upside
down, they love it. So turn the child into
a fishing pole. Have the child lie down
and explain youre going fishing upside
down! Lift her around the thighs or
above the knee (not by the ankles or
torso). Support her with your body.
Now the two of you are ready to
go fishing.
Start by having her pick up the
toys and put them in the basket or
toy box. Once she gets the hang
of it, have her form her fingers into
hooks and try to hook the toys.
The room will end up tidier, and
everyone will have a good time!
ses
Sen
ce
lan
Ba
itio
Intu
we
Po
tio
na
rdi
o
Co
ol
ntr
Co
BENEFITS
Body control
Balance
Rough-and-tumble
Fine motor development
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Up
Down
Hook
SAFEGUARDS
IGOR STEPOVIK | DREAMSTIME.COM,
PHOTKA | DREAMSTIME.COM
GET READY!
Scampers
Hold the child securely by the legs and

support the upper body when necessary.
Dont hold the upside down position too long.
Let the child guide you.
EQUIPMENT
Toys that need tidying
Smart Steps
at Play #36: Wormly Worms

STAGES
them worm (commando crawl) all the way
back. And when theyre ready, have them
alternate, wiggling over one rope and
under the next.
Squirming and wriggling might seem like an odd choice for a control
activity, but in fact, worming your way across an obstacle course requires
a great deal of deliberate and precise motor planning. When you combine
the fun of wriggling and squirming with patterns and sequences, children
build physical associations to complex, abstract concepts they will one day
apply to higher learning.
Wormly worms wriggle wherever they go!

Can you wriggle like a worm?
Youll need about 10 ropes or stretch bands
tied around chair legs or other secure
objects. Secure them so the chairs wont fall
as the children wriggle in and out. String
the ropes about six inches from the ground
and about one foot apart, parallel to each
other. And note: if you have a large group
of children, the waiting kids can hold the
rope while the others do the activity.
Moving
Wormly Warm-Up
Start by asking the children to wriggle like
worms. Put on some music and let them
wriggle and squirm all they like. Have
them wriggle standing up. Wriggle sitting
down. Wriggle on their backs. Wriggle
on their tummies.
Growing
Worm Your Way

Talk with the children about how worms
worm their way along the ground.
Sometimes they have to wriggle over
things. And sometimes they tunnel under
things. Have them all step over each rope
across the entire playing area. Then have
Stompers
Scooters
Skedaddlers
Wormly Worming
GLENDA POWERS | DREAMSTIME.COM KOGYTUK | DREAMSTIME.COM
GET READY!
Knowing
Introduce different patterns for the children

to try, such as under-under-over-under.
Have the children wriggle over and under
on their bellies. Then repeat the pattern,
wriggling on their backs. For more complex patterns, have the children repeat the
pattern back to you verbally. This should
help them retain it in short-term memory.
Be sure to do this activity slowlyjust
like a worm. This is not a race. And, of
course, narrate the activity, reinforcing
directional concepts such as over, under,
top, bottom, and so on.
KINETIC SCALE
ses
Sen
ce
lan
Ba
itio
Intu
we
Po
tio
na
rdi
o
Co
ol
ntr
Co
BENEFITS
Motor planning
Directionality
Body control
Flexibility and agility
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Under
Over
SAFEGUARDS
Do this activity slowly like a worm.

Supervise to be sure children dont get
tangled in the ropes or elastics.
EQUIPMENT
Ropes or elastics
Chairs

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Bonus Smart Steps Activities

25. Sensie the Senses Monster

27. Going in Circles

29. Massage Ball

33. Lets Go for a Knee Ride!

35. Hook, Line, and Sinker

at Play #25: Sensie the Senses Monster

Round and round like Sensie goes.

Sensory experiences are all around us.

THE SENSIE SONG

Push and pull like Sensie does.

YVONNE BOGDANSKI | DREAMSTIME.COM

Usually, sensory experiences happen with

Be sure children dont put things in their mouths

Whatever sparks the childs curiosity!

at Play #26: Shape Snooper

Can You Find the Shape?

Target the Shapes

Color the Shapes

Visual figure ground

Be sure theres enough room for this activity

at Play #27: Going in Circles

Spinning slowly is an effective way to

Lets Go for a Spin

Lets Take a Ride

For infants, its critical to watch for

Before you start, tell the

When youre out for a walk with the

Do this activity gently and slowly. Be sure to

at Play #28: Conveyor Belt Roll*

Teamwork and community spirit: Large group games make children

Conveyor Belt Rolling

Achievement: Working together, the children feel a sense of

their heads. Have them put their hands

The rolling slows down. The slower

the roll, the more easily the brain can

Teamwork develops. Asking two or

more rambunctious preschoolers to do

*Thanks to Adele Orangi for contributing this activity.

Teamwork and cooperation

at Play #29: Massage Ball

For this activity, provide baby with a variety

Foot and Hand Massage

Arm and Leg Massage

Lay baby on his back on a warm blanket.

NATALIA RUMYANTSEVA | DREAMSTIME.COM

R. EKO BINTORO | DREAMSTIME.COM

Make sure the room is warm if the baby is

Balls with a variety of textures

at Play #30: The Body March

Body marching is a whole-body activity that works on many important

Pick and choose from these 12 marching

Start by showing the children how to do

Step Right Out

Keep it up. Look under your grin.

Shoulders back. Stand straight and tall.

Start the march. Recite the chant as the

Make sure children have adequate space

at Play #31: Precrawling

Long before they crawl, babies have the

MICHAEL PETTIGREW | DREAMSTIME.COM

Use a child-safe mirror for this activity.