Activities

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Activity library

193 activities with English and Chinese instructions. Browse by catalog age or development area, and log the activity you tried.

These are catalog age groups, not personalized recommendations or milestone deadlines. Choose for your baby's current abilities, stay close, and stop if your baby is uncomfortable. Added reminders are separate from the source instructions.

27 of 193 activities

4–6 months · 27

Bending the Baby's Legs#005 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen abdominal muscles
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 7-10 times
How to do it: With the baby lying on his back, bend his legs completely until you feel a small resistance. Then fully extend them and repeat the exercise.

Crawling Foundations#014 · Moving

Goal: Prepare for crawling
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 3 - 5 minutes
How to do it: Make sure the baby is on a soft surface like a carpet, bed, or blanket. While facing down, but with his bottom raised, put one of his favorite toys 6 to 12 inches in front of him. Gently push him from the buttocks until he can reach it. Celebrate when he reaches the toy.
Related milestone in the source: Attempts to get up on hands and knees to get into a crawling position.

Crawling Foundations - II#015 · Moving

Goal: Prepare for crawling
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 3 - 5 minutes
How to do it: With the baby facing down on hands and knees, grab her feet and help her slide each leg forward slowly, just as if she were crawling.
Related milestone in the source: Attempts to get up on hands and knees to get into a crawling position.

Crawling Foundations - III#016 · Moving

Goal: Prepare for crawling
Materials: Big cylinder or a bolster (needs to roll)
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 4 - 6 minutes
How to do it: Put the baby face down on a big cylinder, like a bolster, a short pool noodle, or a wide mailing tube, in a way in which both her arms and legs are touching the floor. Put your hand on the baby's back, helping her roll the cylinder back and forth. Encourage her to do the movements by herself.
Related milestone in the source: Attempts to get up on hands and knees to get into a crawling position.

Kicking Toys#040 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen leg muscles
Materials: Toys, mobiles, rattles
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 4 - 6 minutes
How to do it: Hang a few toys or mobiles within reach of the baby's legs and encourage him to kick them with his legs until they move.
Related milestone in the source: Makes vigorous swimming-like movements.

Lifting by the Hands - II#042 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen arms and hands
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 4 - 6 times
How to do it: With the baby lying on his back, grab his hands and slowly pull him up to a 45-degree angle and, if he is ready, bring him to a complete seated position.

Maintaining Sitting Position#043 · Moving

Goal: Improve balance and ability to remain in a sitting position
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 1 - 3 minutes
How to do it: Place the baby in a seated position in front of you on the floor, holding his arms or hips to keep him steady. When he is steady, gradually move away from him so that he is sitting on his own for short periods of time.
Related milestone in the source: Able to stay in a sitting position for a few seconds without assistance.

Maintaining Sitting Position - II#044 · Moving

Goal: Improve balance and ability to remain in a sitting position
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 3+ minutes
How to do it: Look for activities that the baby likes to observe, like you playing with one of her toys. Place the baby in an unsupported seated position, where she can easily watch the chosen activity. Increase the amount of time she is sitting unassisted.
Related milestone in the source: Sitting: can remain in a seated position for limited periods of time, using own arms as support.

Movement on a Bolster - II#047 · Moving

Goal: Improve the baby's balance
Materials: Big cylinder (i.e., rolled towel or pillow)
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3 - 5 times
How to do it: Put the baby facing down on top of a big cylinder, like a bolster, short pool noodle, or a wide mailing tube. Hold her by her legs and push her forward until her hands touch the floor in front. Keep holding her feet and roll her back and forth a couple of times.

Optical Righting#057 · Moving

Goal: Improve the baby's balance
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 4+ times on each side
How to do it: While you are sitting in a chair, place the baby so that she straddles one of your legs. You can have her face you or face outward if there is a mirror or another person in front of you. Hold her by the hips and tip her to one side. Wait a few seconds to see if she brings her head back toward the middle; if she doesn't, encourage her to do so. Do the exercise multiple times, alternating sides.
Related milestone in the source: Sitting: can remain in a seated position for limited periods of time, using own arms as support.

Parachute Reaction#058 · Moving

Goal: Improve the baby's balance
Materials: Soft surface
Time or repetitions: Repeat 4 - 6 times
How to do it: While you are in a vertical position, hold the baby horizontally so she is facing down. Lower her to the floor at a 45-degree angle, making sure to support her well. She should put her hands out before reaching the floor. If she doesn't do this, you can softly touch her head on the floor.
Related milestone in the source: Sitting: can remain in a seated position for limited periods of time, using own arms as support.

Pivoting#060 · Moving

Goal: Learning to crawl
Materials: Toy, smooth surface
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3+ times on each side
How to do it: While on a smooth surface, place the baby facing down. Show her a toy and put it out of her reach, behind her and toward one of her hips. She should begin bending the hip and knee of the opposite side in order to reach for it. If she doesn't do this, you can help her with the movement. As she starts to move toward the toy, move it farther away, ultimately making her go in a complete circle. You can periodically give the toy to the baby and continue the exercise to keep her interested. Do the same on the other side.
Related milestone in the source: Rolling and Moving: able to roll over, turn, and pivot in all directions.

Preparing to Creep#063 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen arm, back, and chest muscles
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Repeat 4 - 6 times
How to do it: With the baby lying face down on your lap with his chest on one leg, hold a toy just above his head and encourage him to look at it. He will need to lift his head and chest with his arms to see it, arching his back in the process.
Related milestone in the source: Core Strength: lying face down, can adopt a superman-like position (arms and knees lifted, back arched).

Preparing to Creep - II#064 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen arm, back, and chest muscles
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 2 - 4 minutes
How to do it: Lay the baby face down on the floor or your bed. Hold a toy in front of him, high enough that he has to lift up his head and chest to see it. Encourage him to push his upper body with his arms so that he can see the toy. Over time he will be able to hold the position for increasing amounts of time.
Related milestone in the source: Able to lift chest up with arms when prone.

Preparing to Creep - III#065 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen arm, back, and chest muscles
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3 - 5 times
How to do it: Place the baby on the floor face down, with her arms fully extended, lifting her chest and head. Hold a toy within her reach at her shoulder level or higher, encouraging her to reach for the toy. The baby will put all of her weight on one arm while she reaches out for the toy with the other hand.
Related milestone in the source: Able to lift chest up with arms when prone.

Reaching a Sitting Position#067 · Moving

Goal: Improve ability to get to a sitting position
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3 - 5 times
How to do it: When the baby is in a seated position, shift her slightly to one side, so that her weight is on her hands or arms. Ideally she will return to a sitting position by herself, but you may need to guide her the first few times. Repeat in all directions. As she improves, you can move her to a lying down position, helping her sit from there.
Related milestone in the source: Sitting: can remain in a seated position for limited periods of time, using own arms as support.

Reaching for Toy Above - II#068 · Moving

Goal: Prepare for crawling
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3 - 5 times
How to do it: With the baby facing down, show her one of her favorite toys and slowly lift it approximately 6 inches above her head, with the toy still visible to her. Encourage her to reach for it using one hand.

Recovering Sitting Position#069 · Moving

Goal: Improve the baby's balance
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3 - 5 times
How to do it: While your baby is in a sitting position in front of you, with or without support, move her forward and backward and then from side to side holding her by her hands or using a bar. This will improve her equilibrium.
Related milestone in the source: Sitting: can remain in a seated position for limited periods of time, using own arms as support.

Rolling - III#071 · Moving

Goal: Introduce rolling
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3+ times on each side
How to do it: Place the baby on her back. Bend one leg and, holding that knee, pull the leg across her body, over the straight leg until it touches the floor. This will cause her to roll over. Repeat on the other side.
Related milestone in the source: Rolling and Moving: able to roll over, turn, and pivot in all directions.

Rolling - V#072 · Moving

Goal: Stimulate rolling
Materials: Toys, open surface
Time or repetitions: Repeat 4+ times on each side
How to do it: Once the baby has started rolling, use a toy or group of toys to encourage him to roll a longer distance by rolling multiple times in a row.
Related milestone in the source: Rolling and Moving: able to roll over, turn, and pivot in all directions.

Rolling - IV#073 · Moving

Goal: Introduce rolling
Materials: Flat pillow or blanket
Time or repetitions: Repeat 3+ times on each side
How to do it: Place a flat pillow or folded blanket on the floor and put your baby face down on it, with one side of her body remaining on the floor. Because her body is not level, she should attempt to roll to straighten herself out. Repeat on the other side.
Related milestone in the source: Rolling and Moving: able to roll over, turn, and pivot in all directions.

Sitting Up#078 · Moving

Goal: Improve balance and prepare for sitting
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 5 - 8 times
How to do it: Lie down on the floor with the baby lying on top of you, with her legs placed over your torso and her torso on your legs. Hold her by the hands and raise your chest so that her torso is horizontal with the floor and her legs are vertical. Then alternate the movement by raising your legs and lowering your torso to the ground like a human rocking horse.
Related milestone in the source: Able to stay in a sitting position for a few seconds without assistance.

Sitting Up - II#080 · Moving

Goal: Prepare for sitting position
Materials: Small bar
Time or repetitions: Repeat 5 - 8 times
How to do it: Place the baby on a soft surface, like a mattress or pillows, and give her a small bar to grab. When you are sure that she has a solid grip, raise her slowly. Once you have raised her a few inches, encourage her to continue lifting her chest until she reaches a sitting position. This is likely to take some practice, so do not expect her to go all the way to sitting position the first time. Once she has reached her maximum point for that session, help her back slowly until she releases the bar. Sing an encouraging song while repeating the exercise a few times.
Related milestone in the source: Able to reach a sitting position from lying on back, using similar movements to rolling (between months 6 and 8).

Sitting Up - III#081 · Moving

Goal: Learn to sit up
Materials: Toy
Time or repetitions: Repeat 5 - 8 times
How to do it: With your baby lying on her back, insert a pillow under her back and head so that she is raised 20-30 degrees. Hold one of her favorite toys in front of her. The position will allow the baby to reach the sitting position more easily. You can provide assistance at the beginning, if necessary.
Related milestone in the source: Able to reach a sitting position from lying on back, using similar movements to rolling (between months 6 and 8).

Standing Up Foundations#085 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen leg muscles
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 10+ times
How to do it: Hold the baby vertically with her feet on the floor; gently bounce her until her muscles engage and she takes some of the weight on her own. Reduce your support so that she engages more, but continue holding on to her waist to provide additional support.

Stretching Back, Legs & Arms#086 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen large muscle groups
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Repeat 5 - 8 times
How to do it: With the baby facing up, hold her under her armpits with your thumbs on her chest and other fingers holding her back. Slowly lift her, trying to maintain a horizontal position. The baby will react by arching her back and stretching her legs and arms.

Tummy Time#089 · Moving

Goal: Strengthen neck and arm muscles
Materials: None, just you
Time or repetitions: Suggested time: 3 - 5 minutes
How to do it: Have your baby spend time on his tummy while he is awake. Tummy time should be repeated multiple times a day, starting with a few minutes at a time. As the baby becomes more comfortable, you can increase the time for each session.
Related milestone in the source: Front to Back Roll: when face-down, might be able to move side to side until rolls over onto back (between months 4 and 5).