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Explore activities you can do with your child in your home. 

 

AGES 0-2 

floorplan 2.png
Kitchen
Bathroom
Family Room
Dining Room
Child's Room
Adult's Room
Hallway
Outdoors

Quick Facts 

COGNITIVE

  • During this sensorimotor stage of development, children explore their environment through trial-and-error experiences using all of the senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

  • Our youngest children have limited reasoning skills and need guidance on assessing risk and making safe choices.

  • From birth to age 5, a child's brain develops more than any other time in their life. 

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL

  • Babies zero to 18 months old look to their adults for stability and security in order to develop trust.  

  • This foundation of trust allows your child to feel comfortable and confident as they seek independence around age 2.

  •  Children begin to show interest in playing by watching others play. At age two, parallel play takes over and children will play next to each other, often mimicking one another.

PHYSICAL

  • In the first 2 years, babies grow to almost half their adult height and can quadruple their birth weight as muscles strengthen. 

  • 90% of brain growth happens before kindergarten

  • During this stage, hands and mouths are very important as babies and toddlers refine their ability to manipulate objects in their environment and grow their fine motor skills. ​

CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS AGE

  • Temperament is Identified: every baby has a behavioral style which determines how they react to situations 

  • Object Permanence: the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, touched, smelled or sensed in any way​ 

  • Prosocial Behavior Norms: young children take notice of cultural norms that benefit others such as sharing and helping ​

  • Tantrums: Tantrums are a way children express themselves when flooded with emotion. It is important to provide comfort and clarity to your children during this time as they are not quite ready to rationalize their feelings.

  • Potty Training: Between the ages of 2 and 3 is a normal time to begin 

Important milestones for this age group  

2 months

4 months

6 months

9 months

1 year

18 months

2 years

  • PROVIDE SENSORY EXPERIENCES DAILY​

    • provide ample sensory play experiences: smells, textures, sounds etc.

      • digging, scooping, pouring, dumping materials like dry beans, water or sand ​ 

 

  • CHOOSE CAUSE AND EFFECT TOYS

    • ​choose cause and effect toys for your child to explore​; they are learning "how to make things happen"

      • maracas​

      • balls that bounce

      • squeeze toys

      • (here is a guide to choosing safe toys for young children)

​

  • BE CONSISTENT

    • ​provide consistent and predictable care so the child can develop a nature of trust and confidence 

      • maintain routines and environmental stability

​

  • ALLOW FREEDOM
    • ​allow opportunities to "do it themselves" even if it may be challenging 

      • pouring drinks​

      • dressing

      • choosing how to play

​

  • BE YOUR CHILD'S MODEL

    • ​Model behavior you would like your child to exhibit

      • sharing kindness and love to others, for example

​

  • USING DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE​​

    • use descriptive language to talk to young children about what they notice  while they use their senses 

      • ex: "That rock feels smooth." ​ "Do you hear the rain?" "Those pancakes smell sweet."

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