Early Math Counts

• Two balls (one small and one big)

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.

Tummy Time: Tummy time is especially important for the development of motor skills, especially since the advent of the “back to sleep” campaign. Infants need entertainment during tummy time. Place the infant on the floor on his/her tummy. Show the infant the BIG ball. Say: “BIG ball.” Roll the BIG ball slowly away from the infant and point to it rolling away. Say: “The BIG ball is rolling away.” Be sure to capture the infant’s attention so that the infant can track the BIG ball with his/her eyes as it moves away. Show the infant the LITTLE ball.  Say: “LITTLE ball.” Roll the LITTLE slowly away from the infant and point to it rolling away. Say: “The LITTLE ball is rolling away.” Be sure to capture the infant’s attention so that the infant can track the LITTLE ball with his/her eyes as it moves away. Continue the game, alternating between the BIG ball and the LITTLE ball for as long as the infant remains engaged in the activity and is happy on his/her tummy.

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.

• Two balls (one small and one big)

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.

Playing ball sitting on the floor: Sit across from the infant on the floor. Provide support for the infant to sit if the infant needs it. Show the infant the BIG ball. Say: “BIG ball.” Roll the BIG ball to the infant and point to it rolling towards the infant. Say: “The BIG ball is rolling to (child’s name).” Encourage the infant to reach for and grasp the ball. Balls are easier for infants to grasp at this age if you let a little air out (beach balls work well for this activity). Once the infant has the ball, say: “Roll the BIG ball to (your name).” You may need to help the infant release the BIG ball and push it towards you. Show the infant the LITTLE ball. Say: “LITTLE ball.” Roll the LITTLE ball to the infant and point to it rolling toward the infant. Say: “The LITTLE ball is rolling to (child’s name).” Encourage the infant to reach for and grasp the ball. Once the infant has the ball, say: “Roll the LITTLE ball to (your name).” You may need to help the infant release the LITTLE ball and push it towards you. Continue the game, alternating between the BIG ball and the LITTLE ball for as long as the infant remains engaged in the activity.

• Two balls (one small and one big)

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.

Playing ball on the floor: Sit in a circle on the floor with all of the infants in your care that can sit independently and play. Play a turn-taking game rolling balls back and forth with each of the infants. Begin with the BIG ball and roll it to the infant who is showing the most interest. Say: “(Your name) is rolling the BIG ball to (child’s name).” When the infant picks up the BIG ball, say: “(Child’s name), roll the BIG ball.” Talk about where the BIG ball rolls and name whoever picks it up, encouraging the next infant to release and roll the ball.  Add the LITTLE ball to the circle, rolling it towards an infant. Continue rolling or encouraging the infants to roll the BIG and LITTLE balls to you and one another, naming the infant who has each ball, requesting that they roll the ball to you or another infant and describing the ball: BIG or LITTLE.