Simple Steps; Developmental Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year Olds

by Karen Miller

• ISBN13: 9780876592045
• ISBN10: 0876592043
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Gryphon House

Summary

Karen Miller's book of activities to help children under three develop at their own pace.

Author Biography

Karen Miller writes an infant and toddler care column for Child Care Information Exchange magazine

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. 2
Introduction	p. 10
About the Activities	p. 10
The Importance of Timing	p. 11
Simplicity	p. 12
How the Book Is Organized	p. 12
Age Designations	p. 12
Why an Activity Book?	p. 13
Delightful Learning	p. 14
The Heart of the Matter: Social-Emotional Development	p. 15
Stranger Anxiety	p. 17
Interacting With Other Children	p. 18
Testing Limits	p. 18
Stubbornness	p. 19
Choices	p. 19
Toddler Friends	p. 19
Child-Invented Games	p. 20
Sharing and Taking Turns	p. 20
Laughter and Humor	p. 21
Social-Emotional Activities	p. 21
Who's Here?	p. 21
Watch the Light Show!	p. 22
Gotcha!	p. 22
Personal Clapping Game	p. 23
Social Rituals	p. 23
Class Photo Book	p. 24
Who's Here Magnets	p. 25
Take-Home Photo Album	p. 26
Transitional Photos	p. 26
Poor Becky!	p. 27
Push the Trucks	p. 28
Sharing Bin	p. 29
Tape-Recorded Love Stories	p. 30
Chair Line-Up	p. 30
Share the Paper	p. 31
Share the Music	p. 32
Flannel Board Photo Dolls	p. 33
Share the Box	p. 33
Old Wallets	p. 34
Let's Talk: Language Development and Early Literacy	p. 35
General Sequence of Language Development	p. 36
Parents' and Caregivers' Role	p. 37
When Should You Be Concerned About a Child's Language Development?	p. 38
Early Literacy	p. 39
What About Teaching the ABC's?	p. 39
Using Books With Infants and Toddlers	p. 39
Easy Homemade Books	p. 40
Tips on Reading Books to Toddlers	p. 41
Language Activities
A "Demo" Tape	p. 42
Follow the Leader Sounds	p. 42
Where's Teddy?	p. 43
Talk Through a Tube	p. 44
Where's Your Nose?	p. 44
Talk to Grandma on the Phone	p. 45
Help Me Pack	p. 46
Fun With Picture Cards	p. 47
Animal Sounds	p. 48
My Own Word Book	p. 48
What's in the Box?	p. 49
Photo Experience Box	p. 50
Flap Book	p. 51
Visual Discrimination Poster	p. 52
Busy Little Hands: Fine Motor Development	p. 53
General Sequence of Fine Motor Skill Development	p. 54
Dumping: A Toddler's Joy	p. 57
Fine Motor Activities	p. 58
Napkin Tent	p. 58
Satin Streamers	p. 59
Dangling Toys	p. 60
Texture Quilt	p. 61
Funny Booties	p. 62
Rattle Collection	p. 62
Grab Bag Collection	p. 63
Handle Collection	p. 64
Rag Bag	p. 64
Drop It!	p. 65
A Round of Applause!	p. 66
Hitting Two Objects	p. 67
Toys in a Shoebox	p. 68
Dish Tub Fill and Spill	p. 68
Stick-It-On and Peel-It-Off Picture	p. 69
Screw the Top On	p. 70
One-Piece Puzzles	p. 71
Collections of Holes	p. 71
Poking Things in Holes	p. 72
Paper Cup Nesting Toys	p. 73
Nesting Bowls	p. 74
Build a Tower	p. 74
Through the Tube	p. 75
Fill and Spill Bottles	p. 76
Tearing Newspaper	p. 77
Toothbrush Holders	p. 78
Water Transfer	p. 78
Flaps Galore!	p. 79
Baby Food Jar Lid Clicker	p. 80
Eyedropper Play	p. 81
Wrap It Up	p. 81
Pouring From Pitchers	p. 82
Golf Tees and Margarine Tubs	p. 82
Tongs and Muffin Tins	p. 83
Clamp It On	p. 84
Go, Go, Go!: Gross Motor Development	p. 85
General Sequence of Gross Motor Skill Development	p. 87
Gross Motor Activities	p. 90
Floor Mirror	p. 90
Dangling Beach Toy	p. 91
Fun Things to Kick	p. 92
Under-Inflated Beach Toys	p. 93
Let's Make That Move	p. 93
Nooks and Crannies	p. 94
Dish Tub Seats	p. 95
Box Tunnels	p. 95
Stocking Balls	p. 96
Shoebox Train	p. 97
Collection of Balls	p. 98
How About a Push?	p. 99
You Do and I Do	p. 100
Riding Toy Road	p. 101
Hoop-Ti-Do!	p. 101
Animal Slippers	p. 102
Haul It	p. 103
Stuff for Throwing Collection	p. 104
A Hanging Bar	p. 104
Bowling for Boxes	p. 106
Great Big Blocks	p. 107
Jumping on a Mattress	p. 107
Let Me Think About It: Cognitive Development	p. 109
Sensory Exploration	p. 109
Cause and Effect	p. 110
Using Tools	p. 110
Object Permanence	p. 110
Size, Shape, Space	p. 111
Using Symbols	p. 111
Math Concepts	p. 111
Concept of Time	p. 112
Three Important Cognitive Skills	p. 112
Cognitive Activities	p. 113
See-Through Shake Toys	p. 113
Vision Bottles	p. 114
Noisy Dumping	p. 115
Hide the Teddy	p. 115
What's Under the Flap?	p. 116
Peek-a-Boo	p. 117
Scarf Peek a Boo	p. 117
Compartments	p. 118
Chip Can Scarves	p. 119
Roll Behind the Chair	p. 120
Hinged Boxes That Open and Close	p. 120
A Place for the Animals	p. 121
Napkin Rings	p. 122
It's in the Bag	p. 123
Turntable Merry-Go-Round	p. 123
Reverse Pull	p. 124
Tubes Inside of Tubes	p. 125
What's Under the Sand?	p. 126
Graduated Nesting	p. 126
Jar Lids Nesting Toy	p. 127
Simple Shape Box	p. 128
Easy Shape Boxes	p. 128
Slot Box	p. 129
Jar Lid Puzzles	p. 130
Peek-a-Boo Card	p. 131
Baby Basketball	p. 131
Food Shapes	p. 132
Tubes at an Angle	p. 133
Match the Lids	p. 134
Simple Sorting	p. 135
Classified Objects	p. 135
Category Books	p. 136
Fancy Mitts	p. 137
Picture-to-Thing Game	p. 138
Make a Joyful Noise: Music and Movement Development	p. 139
Focus on Music	p. 139
Music Is a Social Experience	p. 140
Chant, Dance, Clap	p. 140
Parent Involvement Ideas	p. 140
Hints for Doing Music with Toddlers	p. 141
Music and Movement Activities	p. 142
Play a Soft Musical Instrument	p. 142
Humming and Body Contact	p. 142
Trade Funny Sounds	p. 143
Wanna Dance?	p. 143
Things That Make a Noise Collection	p. 144
Put Your Finger in the Air	p. 145
Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na	p. 145
Shake Your Body to Music	p. 146
Musical Fence	p. 146
Baby Band	p. 147
Bounce, Bounce, Bounce	p. 148
Sound Hide and Seek	p. 148
Hoop Ring Around the Rosie	p. 149
Holler Tubes	p. 150
Dancing Rings	p. 150
What Made That Sound?	p. 151
Where Is Johnny?	p. 152
Two by Two	p. 152
Teddy Bear Ring Around the Rosie	p. 153
Song Props	p. 154
New Old MacDonald	p. 154
Class Song File	p. 155
Who's That Singing?	p. 156
Getting in Touch With the World: Sensory Development	p. 157
The Five Wonderful Senses	p. 158
Sensory Table	p. 159
Playdough	p. 160
Things to Do With Playdough	p. 160
Other Types of Clay	p. 161
Children With Tactile Sensitivity	p. 161
What to Do When Children Don't Like to Touch Messy Things	p. 161
Sensory Activities	p. 162
Rainbows	p. 162
Chimes	p. 162
Crunch It!	p. 163
Baby Lotion Hand Massage	p. 164
Air Stream	p. 164
Satin Feels Good	p. 164
Dancing Lights	p. 165
Water Shake Bottles	p. 166
Floating Bubbles	p. 166
Squeak Toys	p. 167
Texture Trail	p. 168
Suction Cup Soap Holder	p. 169
Water Play	p. 169
Cellophane in Embroidery Hoop	p. 170
Report Covers	p. 171
Bell Collection	p. 171
Drum Up Some Fun	p. 172
Texture Nest	p. 173
Sticky Floor	p. 173
Goo Bag	p. 174
Tire Sensory Tub	p. 175
Warm and Cold	p. 176
Teething Toy Collection	p. 176
Stick-It-On Picture	p. 177
Tape	p. 178
Smelly Socks	p. 178
Sticky Wall	p. 179
Sticky Lids With Pictures	p. 180
Floating Islands	p. 180
Bath Time for Dollie	p. 181
Sandbox Play	p. 182
Object Washing	p. 183
Slippery Bumps	p. 184
Mystery Bag	p. 184
Cold Tub	p. 185
Washing Dishes	p. 186
Wash Off the Table	p. 187
Wash the Floor	p. 187
Washing Chairs	p. 188
Washing Napkins	p. 188
Things Buried in the Sand	p. 189
Make Mud	p. 190
Surprises Inside	p. 191
Variations on a Theme	p. 192
Juices, Shakes, and Smoothies	p. 192
Peel Corn	p. 193
Pretzel Paints	p. 194
A Sense of Wonder: Nature Activities	p. 195
Nature Walks	p. 196
Nature Activities	p. 197
Wildflower Window Panels	p. 197
Wind Sock	p. 197
Things to Do With a Tree	p. 198
Tape Nature Bracelets	p. 199
Find One Like This	p. 199
Our Nature Walk Book	p. 200
Nature Walk With a Sensory Focus	p. 201
Ice Collages	p. 202
Gardening	p. 203
Umbrella Walk	p. 204
Making Your Mark on the World: Creative Development	p. 205
Developing Creativity	p. 205
Variety Is the Spice of Creativity	p. 206
Hints for Success With Art and Creative Activities	p. 207
What Do You Tell the Parents?	p. 208
Creative Art Activities	p. 208
Scribble Spot	p. 208
Scribble of the Day	p. 209
Stick Drawing	p. 210
Chalk on the Sidewalk	p. 211
Water Painting	p. 211
Fingerpainting on Paper	p. 212
Fingerpaint Directly on Table Top	p. 213
Lift Off a Print	p. 213
Cup Trails	p. 214
Salt Paint Squeeze Bottles	p. 214
Stamp Printing	p. 215
Lots of Ways to Paint	p. 216
Cold Cream Face Paint	p. 216
Ice Painting	p. 217
Rain Painting	p. 218
Thing Printing	p. 218
Paste	p. 219
Glue	p. 220
Let's Pretend: Dramatic Play Development	p. 221
Value of Dramatic Play	p. 221
The Development of Dramatic Play Skills	p. 222
Playing With Children	p. 224
Guided Dramatic Play	p. 225
Boys and Girls	p. 225
Miniature Play	p. 226
To Encourage Play	p. 227
Reflect Children's Cultures	p. 228
Settings and Situations	p. 228
Bring It Outside	p. 228
Playing and Learning: How to Set Up a Positive Learning Environment	p. 229
The Play Area	p. 230
Expanding the Play Area for Active Toddlers and Two-Year-Olds	p. 233
The Diapering Area	p. 234
The Feeding Area	p. 235
The Sleeping Area	p. 235
The Parent Area	p. 236
Decorating the Environment	p. 237
Indoor Environment Safety Checklist	p. 238
The Outdoor Environment	p. 240
Teaching and Coaching: Behavior of Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds in Groups	p. 241
Crying	p. 242
Tantrums	p. 243
Fear of Strangeness	p. 244
Possessiveness	p. 244
Hurting Behaviors	p. 245
Biting	p. 247
Why Children Bite	p. 247
Strategies to Reduce Biting	p. 248
What to Do When a Child Bites	p. 249
Sometimes Children Bite (handout)	p. 250
Meeting the Needs of Children: Curriculum Development	p. 253
How Do You Plan a Curriculum for Infants?	p. 253
How Do You Plan a Curriculum for Toddlers and Two-Year-Olds?	p. 256
The Challenge of Working With Children at Different Developmental Levels	p. 258
Hints for Successful Activities	p. 258
What About Themes?	p. 259
Creating a Living Baby Book for Each Child	p. 260
Becoming Partners: Working With Parents	p. 261
Develop a Partnership With Parents	p. 261
Five Things Parents Find Most Irritating About Child Care	p. 265
Five Things Teachers Find Most Irritating About Parents	p. 266
The Pre-Enrollment Conference	p. 268
Scheduled Parent Conferences	p. 270
Helping Children and Parents With Separation	p. 270
When the Child Cries at Pick-Up time	p. 273
The First Hour at Home	p. 274
Final Thoughts	p. 274
Appendix	p. 275
Sharing the Knowledge: Creating Workshops
Defining the Topic	p. 275
Tailoring Workshops for Different Skill Levels	p. 276
Advance Preparation	p. 277
Timing the Workshop	p. 277
Setting the Tone	p. 277
Introducing the Subject	p. 278
Techniques and Their Uses	p. 278
Coming to the "Ah-ha!"	p. 282
Concluding the Workshop	p. 282
Now What?	p. 283
Value of Adult Learning	p. 283
A Sample Workshop on Fine Motor Development	p. 284
Index	p. 287
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