Early Math Counts

Play: Infants begin by using their eyes to explore toys and then begin to use their hands and mouths to explore. Their play is primarily shaking, banging and mouthing. At the end of this stage, they begin to look for dropped toys and may find a partially hidden object.

Communication: Young infants recognize their parents and familiar caregivers. They smile and laugh during playful interactions such as peek-a-boo. They make early cooing and babbling sounds.

Motor: When placed on their tummies, infants learn to hold up their heads and reach for toys. They begin to reach and grasp for objects, beginning with the caregivers’ clothes and hair and then moving on to toys and objects. At the end of this stage, many infants may help hold their own bottles and help bring the bottles to their mouths. They may also begin to take pureed food from a spoon.

• Blanket
• Stroller or carrier

Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that meet safety requirements.

Outdoor play: Young infants learn about OVER and UNDER by listening to the language that you use when describing where things are in relation to one another. Enjoy a walk outside together as you notice and talk about things that are OVER and UNDER. Look where the infant is looking and talk about things that the infant’s eyes are focusing on. Point to objects that the infant is looking at and talk about them in relation to OVER and UNDER. If the infant is looking at a tree, talk about the clouds or the airplane OVER the tree and the cat or the pinecones UNDER the tree. The infant will notice things that are OVER like birds, helicopters and the sun and things that are UNDER like flowers, squirrels, sticks and rocks.

Play: At the beginning of this stage, play is mostly shaking, banging and mouthing toys. By the end of this stage, infants begin to combine objects that go together in play. They reach for and hold two objects and may begin to reach for a third. Many infants will look for dropped toys and find partially and completely hidden toys. Many infants enjoy taking objects out of containers and putting them back in.

Communication: At this age, infants respond when their names are called. They may turn their heads, make eye contact and sometimes smile and vocalize. They may look for family members and pets when called by name. They may respond to simple requests made with gestures, such as: “Come here.” They may understand “No” or “Stop.” They may lift their arms to be picked up, clap hands and wave bye-bye. They love to shout and squeal and may be babbling with many different sounds. They may be participating in and sometimes initiating peek-a-boo.

Motor: During this stage, many infants begin to sit by themselves and play. They begin to move by rolling, crawling and cruising. They pick up toys by using a raking motion with their whole hand and, by the end of this stage, they are using their fingers and thumbs to pick up small objects. They may feed themselves small bits of food.

• Blanket
• Stroller

Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that meet safety requirements.

Outdoor play: Enjoy a walk outside together as you notice and talk about things that are OVER and UNDER. Point to interesting things outdoors that are OVER and encourage the infant to look where you are pointing. If you notice an airplane flying OVER the tree, point to the airplane and excitedly encourage the infant to find the airplane. Say: “Zooooom! The airplane flies OVER the trees!” Point to interesting things that are UNDER and encourage the infant to look where you are pointing. Say: “Meow, meow! The cat is UNDER the mailbox.” You may notice other things that are OVER, like birds, helicopters and the sun and things that are UNDER, like flowers, squirrels, sticks and rocks.

Play: At the beginning of this stage, many infants are imitating the use of everyday objects such as cups and spoons. This moves into early pretend play, when the infant may feed you or pretend to drink from a cup or eat off of an empty spoon. They also are great imitators and may enjoy imitating daily activities. They may enjoy putting multiple objects into containers and systematically searching for hidden toys and objects. Many infants will pat pictures in books and sometimes vocalize while looking at books.

Communication: At the beginning of this stage, many infants begin to respond to one-step directions such as: “Give me the ball.” They may need gestures to help them understand the direction. At the end of this stage, many infants follow a related two-step direction without the help of gestures, such as: “Get the ball and give it to Daddy.” They may be pointing to ask for wants and needs and to ask you to name objects. At around 12 months of age, many infants say one to three words on their own and, by the end of this stage, may say up to 15 words or more. Many infants play turn-taking games at this stage.

Motor: At the beginning of this stage, many infants are crawling and cruising to get around and, by the end of this stage, infants are walking with good balance. They may also enjoy walking while carrying large objects and pulling toys. When given a crayon for the first time, they may mouth the crayon or mark the paper. By the end of this stage, many infants are scribbling on paper. They may be starting to scoop food with a spoon and actually get some to their mouths. Infants may also be using a straw or an open cup to drink.

• Climber
• Outdoor toys (such as like shovels or rakes)

Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that meet safety requirements.

As you play or walk with the infant on the playground, use the words “over” and “under” to label the infant’s movements as the infant plays on the equipment. As the infant begins to run under the monkey bars or the slide, say: “ You are running UNDER!” When the infant climbs on top of the monkey bars, say: “You are climbing OVER!” as you point to the ground below.

For infants who are crawling and cruising, use the infant’s own movements to help the infant learn OVER and UNDER. When the infant is on the move, crawling or cruising, run around the playground with the infant and cheer him/her on, saying: “CLIMB OVER!” or “GO UNDER!” as the infant runs by the swings and slides and climbing equipment. Most infants love a cheering audience!