This guide provides an overview of key developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities to support children's growth across different domains. Use these suggestions to create engaging, educational experiences that help children thrive while in your care.
Provide safe objects with different textures (soft fabrics, bumpy toys, smooth surfaces) for baby to touch and explore.
Benefits: Sensory development, cognitive growth, fine motor skills
Partially hide a toy under a small blanket and encourage baby to find it. As they develop, hide it completely.
Benefits: Object permanence understanding, problem-solving
Place baby on their tummy on a firm surface for short periods several times a day, with supervision. Place interesting toys just out of reach to encourage movement.
Benefits: Strengthens neck, shoulder, and core muscles, prepares for crawling
Hold baby in front of a mirror and talk about what they see. Point out facial features and expressions.
Benefits: Self-recognition, facial processing, social interaction
Sing songs with hand motions like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Pat-a-Cake." Use exaggerated facial expressions and gentle touch.
Benefits: Language development, rhythm, cause-and-effect learning
Hold colorful toys slightly out of reach to encourage baby to extend arms, roll, or crawl toward them.
Benefits: Motor development, coordination, determination
Fill a shallow container with rice, beans, or water and provide measuring cups, funnels, and small toys for exploration. Always supervise.
Benefits: Sensory processing, fine motor skills, cause and effect
Provide collections of items to sort by color, size, or type (buttons, blocks, toy animals).
Benefits: Classification skills, color recognition, logical thinking
Create a simple obstacle course with cushions to climb over, a tunnel to crawl through, and a path to follow.
Benefits: Gross motor skills, spatial awareness, following directions
Offer props for role-playing daily activities like cooking, shopping, or caring for a baby doll.
Benefits: Social understanding, language development, imagination
Provide finger paints and paper for creative expression. Use washable, non-toxic paint.
Benefits: Creative expression, sensory exploration, fine motor skills
Create simple shape-matching activities with construction paper or use shape sorter toys.
Benefits: Shape recognition, spatial skills, problem-solving
Hide letter cards or magnetic letters around the room and have the child find specific letters or letters that spell their name.
Benefits: Letter recognition, problem-solving, phonological awareness
Create a "balance beam" using tape on the floor. Add challenges like stepping over objects or carrying small items.
Benefits: Balance, coordination, body awareness
Play simple board games that teach taking turns, following rules, and handling winning/losing.
Benefits: Social skills, emotional regulation, rule-following
Encourage children to dictate stories while you write them down. Let them illustrate their stories.
Benefits: Language development, creativity, narrative skills
Conduct simple experiments like growing plants, making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, or observing ice melting.
Benefits: Scientific thinking, cause-effect understanding, observation skills
Use homemade or store-bought playdough with tools like cookie cutters, plastic knives, and rolling pins.
Benefits: Fine motor skills, creative expression, sensory development
Create engineering challenges using household materials, such as building a bridge that can hold weight or a tower that can withstand wind.
Benefits: Problem-solving, spatial reasoning, scientific thinking
Introduce activities like jump rope with tricks, hopscotch with variations, or organized sports.
Benefits: Coordination, motor planning, sportsmanship
Work together on community service projects, group art, or building activities that require teamwork.
Benefits: Cooperation, leadership, responsibility
Encourage writing stories, poems, comics, or journals with more complex plots and characters.
Benefits: Self-expression, literacy skills, imagination
Introduce games like chess, checkers, or card games that require planning and strategic thinking.
Benefits: Critical thinking, planning ahead, learning from mistakes
Go on hikes, collect specimens for identification, make maps, or create a nature journal.
Benefits: Observation skills, scientific knowledge, physical activity
Pay attention to what interests the child and build on their natural curiosity. Children learn best when engaged in activities they find interesting and meaningful.
Set up spaces where children can explore safely without constantly hearing "no." Childproof thoroughly and rotate toys to maintain interest.
Children often want to repeat activities many times. This repetition is how they master skills and deepen understanding. Be patient with their desire to "do it again."
Talk about what you're doing and what the child is experiencing. Ask open-ended questions that encourage thinking rather than yes/no answers.
Some of the best learning happens during "messy" activities like water play, sand play, and art projects. Prepare properly with smocks and drop cloths, but don't avoid these valuable experiences.
While planned activities are valuable, unstructured play time is equally important for development. Aim for a healthy mix of both in your daily routine.
Look for opportunities to let children do things for themselves. Supporting their growing independence builds confidence and competence.
Take photos or notes about developmental milestones and learning moments to share with parents. This helps create continuity between home and your care.