Zero to Three offers 10 Activities for Bonding and Learning from Birth to 12 Months, including some tried-and-true ideas and others you may not have thought of before. A few require some preparation, using simple objects families often have on hand, like waxed paper, a soft scarf, a cozy blanket, a mirror, and cut-up pieces of a sponge. (Okay, that last one might take a bit of preplanning.) If the baby enjoys it, then it’s a keeper. If the little one doesn’t like a particular idea, that’s okay, too. Maybe put it away for a while and try it again in a few weeks or months. Babies’ skills, interests, and preferences change rapidly; what was once a dud may become a hit after a bit more time for maturation and development. Zero to Three is an excellent resource for fun and creative ideas.
The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM, click here.
This resource is related to the following ESPM knowledge-level competencies:
- Core Knowledge (CK):
- CK4: The range of typical infant/toddler physiological factors, such as early neurological/brain development and physical growth and maturation.
- CK6: The importance of play as context, method, and outcome of learning.
- Individualized Family Service Plan Development and Review (IFSP-i):
- IFSP-i2 (EIS): Understands the individual nature of child learning styles and the importance of adapting intervention strategies.
- IFSP-i6 (EIS): Understands the need for developmentally appropriate strategies (for example, hands-on, experiential, child-centered, play-based activities within daily routines), adaptations, assistive technologies and other supports that maximize the child’s learning opportunities.
- IFSP-i11 (EIS): Knows strategies that support parents in adapting the natural environment to meet infant/toddler developmental needs.