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.

• Bin with pictures books

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.

Book Reading: Put a few books with pictures and photos that interest young infants ON a table next to your reading chair. Sit down with the infant in your lap. Point to the books ON the table and say: “Look (child’s name), the books are ON the table.” As you take a book OFF of the table, say: “(Your name) takes the book OFF of the table.” Open the book and point to the pictures, naming one or two pictures on the page. When you finish reading, say: “The end.” Put the book back ON the table and say: “(Your name) puts the book ON the table.” Choose another book to read and repeat the ON and OFF discussion.

• Toy bin or basket
• Blocks

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.

Block Play: Support the infant in a sitting-up position in your lap or sit across from an infant who can sit independently. Place a bin of books in front of the infant. Help the infant take the blocks out of the bin and turn the bin upside down. Build a tower of blocks ON top of the upside-down bin. As you build the tower, say: “(Your name) puts the blocks ON, ON, ON!” Or just say: “Block ON!” Then encourage the infant to knock down the tower and say: (Infant’s name) knocks the blocks OFF, OFF, OFF!” Continue building the tower and knocking it down together, describing where the blocks are in relation to the other blocks and the upside-down bin: ON or OFF.

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.

• Toy bin or basket
• Blocks

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 on the floor: Sit down ON the floor with the infant. Place a bin of blocks in front of the infant. Help the infant take the blocks out of the bin and then turn the bin upside down. Build a tower of blocks ON top of the upside-down bin. As you build the tower, say: “(Your name) puts the blocks ON, ON, ON!” Or just say: “Block ON!” Encourage the infant to knock down the tower and say: “(Child’s name) knocks the blocks OFF, OFF, OFF!” Continue to encourage the infant to stack the blocks and then take turns knocking down the blocks, describing where the blocks are in relation to the other blocks and the upside-down bin: ON or OFF.