Ed
uc
io n
Ea
o d F a m il y
at
rly
Ch
o
ild h
Building Blocks for Family
and School Success
Songs to Sing
I Can Make My Baby Smile
Tune: “Mary Had A Little Lamb”
I can make my baby smile,
My baby smile, my baby smile.
I can make my baby smile
When I tickle her toes.
I can make my baby laugh,
My baby laugh, my baby laugh.
I can make my baby laugh
When I tickle her nose
Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream!
(sit facing, feet touching and hold
hands - pull back and forth)
Variations: Rock, rock, rock
your boat (rocking from side to
side) - Tip, tip, tip your boat
(tipping far over to one side then
to the other) - Sail, sail, sail your
boat (letting go of hands, raising
them high overhead rocking from
side to side)
What is ECFE?
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is where moms, dads
and children between birth and kindergarten go to discover new
things about each other by spending valuable time together -- and
apart.
At ECFE you will find:
• support for your challenging role as a parent.
• friendships for you and your child.
• resources, books, DVD’s, toys.
Visit www.ecfe.info to find an ECFE class near you.
You are baby’s first teacher. This booklet describes
some of the skills children have at different times in
their development. Each developmental stage is
accompanied by play activities and songs you can
do together. You will also find some parent
education pages sprinkled throughout the booklet.
As baby’s first teacher you will want to:
• read to your baby every day
• create a safe place for baby to explore
• provide a predictable world
for baby by using routines.
Every child
learns and
grows in his or
her own way.
Learning takes
place during all
daily activities
such as play
time, meals, bathing, dressing and quiet times.
If you have concerns about your child’s development,
please contact
at 1-866-693-GROW (4769).
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Birth - 3 Months Skills
smiles
lifts head and chest when on stomach
eyes follow moving objects and people
recognizes bottle or breast
turns head towards mom’s voice
grasps objects placed in his or her hand
responds to loud sounds
vocalizes when talked to or sung to
brings hands together
wiggles and kicks arms and legs
baby lets you know with her cries that she needs to be fed, changed, or held and is comforted by your touch.
Activities for Birth to 3 Months Old Babies
• Put your baby on her tummy for 2 to 3 minutes when awake and content.
• Talk to your baby. Tell her what you are doing; share in words
how much you love her. Wait for her response. Watch her body
move to the melody of your voice. Soon she will coo back and
your conversation will go on.
• Gently massage your baby during your daily routines - bathing,
diapering, soothing. This simple activity stimulates brain
development and strengthens the bond between you and your
baby.
• Begin reading to your baby. It’s never too early to start!
• Provide toys with different textures for your baby to explore with
her hands and mouth.
SONGS TO SING
I Am Special, sung to “Are You Sleeping”
(Insert baby’s name) is special, name is special. Look at name, you
will see.
Someone very special. Very, very special.
Yes (she/he) is. Yes (she/he) is.
Roly Poly
Roly, poly; roly, poly; up, up, up
(hands and arms up)
Roly, poly; roly, poly; down, down, down
(hands and arms down)
Roly, poly; roly, poly; out, out, out
(hands and arms out)
Roly, poly; roly, poly; in, in, in
(hands and arms in)
variations: use your baby’s feet
Tickle Your Tummy sung to: “Skip to My Lou”
Tickle your tummy, ha, ha, ha,
Tickle your tummy, ha ,ha, ha,
Additional verses:
Tickle your tummy, ha, ha, ha,
Beep your nose...
Tickle your tummy, ha, ha, ha.
Clap your hands...
Kiss your baby...
Hug your Mommy/Daddy...
TickTock
Tick, tock, tick tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Now the time is one o’clock. Cuckoo!
(Lift baby up in the air)
Repeat first two lines
Now the time is two o’clock. Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
(Lift baby up two times)
Start Reading Now … It’s Never Too Early!
• Read to baby every day.
• Choose a time to read when you and baby are in a good mood and ready to enjoy a book together.
• Hold baby in your lap, show her the book, point to the pictures and use an expressive voice.
• Choose books that have simple, repetitive text, rhyming words and simple vivid pictures.
• Check out board books from the library.
• Your baby will enjoy the comfort and security of favorite books read again and again.
• Stop reading if your baby gets upset. Try again later.
Four to Six Months Skills
•
•
•
•
rolls from stomach to back and back to stomach
enjoys social play with caregivers
turns towards sounds, duplicates sounds
reaches for objects, picks them up
and puts them in his mouth
• transfers toys from one
hand to another
• explores his surroundings
• laughs out loud
• babbles as in conversation
• recognizes familiar faces
• begins lip reading
• discovers hands and feet and likes to watch them move
• your baby fusses to bring you close and holds her arms
up to be held
Activities for 4 to 6 Months Old Babies
Give your baby time to exercise. Lay him on his stomach with toys
just out of reach. At first, set the toys far enough away that a good
stretch will put them within reach. As he becomes more active,
move them a little further away. Be careful not to frustrate your
baby. Soon he will be scooting across the floor.
Provide music daily. Your baby loves to hear you sing.
Repeat the new “words” and “sounds” that your baby is making.
This will encourage her to talk more and let her know that you are
listening.
Hold your baby in a standing position and help him bounce up
and down. Listen to him laugh and giggle while you play.
Join an ECFE class. Make friends for yourself and your baby!
Songs to Sing
Ears, Eyes, Nose and Mouth. Tune: “Skip to My Lou”
Ears, eyes, nose and mouth. Ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
Ears, eyes, nose and mouth. Ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
Additional verses:
Gently rub your baby’s tummy, cheeks or inside of palms in a circular motion, as you sing: (same tune)
Round, round, round and round...
Also place something in baby’s hand or touch with object as you sing:
Soft, soft, soft and soft *Also use, hard, bumpy, smooth
Wiggle Your Toes Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your toes, wiggle them up and down.
Wiggle them fast, wiggle them slow, wiggle them all around.
Wave, wave, wave your arm...Stomp, stomp stomp your feet...
Blink, blink, blink your eyes...
Peek-A-Boo Tune: “Skip to My Lou”
Peek-a-boo, I see you.
Peek-a-boo, I see you.
Peek-a-boo, I see you.
I see little______(insert child’s name)
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King’s horses
and all the King’s men
couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Playing with Baby
•
•
•
•
•
Baby learns and develops skills in play.
Learning takes place during all daily activities.
Play is best when both parents and baby enjoy the activity.
Play when baby is rested, fed and alert.
If baby indicates he is bored with an activity, try something new or stop for now.
• Babies like variety in their play. Your baby needs time to play with you, time to play alone, time to play outside and inside, time to play actively and quietly.
• Babies like the repetition of familiar play activities and they also like the challenge of new activities.
Toy Suggestions for Babies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Safe mirrors
Floating bath toys
Push/pull toys
Soft, bouncy balls
Teething toys, rattles, squeak toys
Metal bowl with a big wooden spoon
Plastic stacking cups or measuring cups
Washable, cuddly dolls and stuffed animals
Cardboard boxes for stacking, climbing in/out, pushing
Lightweight blocks purchased or made from milk cartons
Simple plastic containers with covers
Grocery bags for filling and emptying
Toy Safety
Babies use their mouths, hands, eyes and bodies to explore and learn.
Ask these questions about your child’s toys to make sure they’re safe.
1. Does the toy follow age guidelines?
2. Does the toy have small parts? If the part fits through a toilet
paper tube, it’s too small for baby.
3. Does the toy have smooth edges? Is it in good condition?
4. Is it washable?
5. If the toy has a cord, is it less than 12 inches?
6. Does the toy contain lead, which is hazardous?
7. Does the toy have magnets that are harmful to the child’s digestive
tract if swallowed?
Check with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission for updates
on recalled toys and baby equipment.
Six to Ten Months Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
sits without support
crawls on all fours
understands the meaning of “bye-bye” and recognizes his name
repeats sounds made by others
enjoys banging, shaking and dropping objects
claps hands
drinks from cup
puts objects in/out of containers
shows a preference for books, toys and people
enjoys playing peek-a-boo
feels anxious when his parent goes away - even to another room
enjoys watching other children (but not playing with them yet)
pushes up on hands and knees and rocks
passes objects from hand to hand
Activities for 6-10 Months Old Babies
Make a book with family photos. Take index cards and mount
a photo on each one. Place each photo card in a Ziplock Bag.
Punch holes along the side and tie with yarn.
Keep talking!! The more you talk with baby the more he will
learn. Talk about what baby is doing, what you are doing
and what to expect next.
Play hide and seek games by covering toys with a towel or
blanket and searching for them. Try covering yourself with the
blanket too!!
Introduce a variety of foods, but remember, your child learns
through play and everything is a toy, including food!
Songs to Sing
This is the Way Tune: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”
This is the way we brush our hair, brush our hair, brush our hair
This is the way we brush our hair, when we get up in the morning.
This is the way we brush our teeth... wash our face...
wash our hands... get you dressed... get buckled in your seat...
I Am Turning Tune: “Frere Jacques”
I am turning, I am turning, round and round, round and round
First I go one way. Then I go the other way.
Touch the ground, now sit down.
I am dancing, I am marching, I am chugging, I am flying
I am moving, I am spinning
Touch, Touch, Touch Your Nose
Touch, touch, touch your nose
Touch your nose like me
Touch, touch, touch your nose
Touch your nose like me
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Touch, touch, touch your eyes
Touch your eyes like me
Touch, touch, touch your eyes
Touch your eyes like me
Additional verses: Hair, mouth, feet, etc.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout (walk hands up)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
(push hands out)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain (form circle with arms)
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again (walk hands up)
Ten to Twelve Months Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
feeds self some finger foods
waves good-bye
pulls to stand
has an increased attention span
holds objects between thumb and forefinger
plays with two toys at the same time
exhibits some taste preferences
reaches behind self for toys without having to look for it
makes long babbling sentences complete with voice inflections
says one or two words
understands simple requests, such as “Bring the ball”
enjoys applause for new abilities
enjoys push and pull toys
Activities for 10 to 12 Months Old Babies
Open the kitchen cupboards. Babies love to play with bowls,
wooden spoons and especially pots and pans.
Bath time is a great time for learning. Provide cups and funnels
for pouring and measuring; add some bubbles for fun.
Dance with your baby. Introduce the music you like and enjoy it
together. Research tells us classical music enhances learning.
Continue to read to your baby daily. Your baby may already have
chosen a favorite book that he demands you read over and over and
over again. This is a good thing! Repetition develops good memory
skills.
Place your baby where he or she can crawl to nearby toys.
Time to baby-proof your home !!!
Put your Finger on Your Nose Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
Put your finger on your nose, on your nose,
Put your finger on your nose, on your nose.
Put your finger on your nose, and feel it as it grows,
Put your finger on your nose, on your nose.
Put your finger on your toe, on your toe,
Put your finger on your toe, on your toe.
Put your finger on your toe, and move it to and fro,
Put your finger on your toe, on your toe.
Put your finger on your ear, on your ear,
Put your finger on your ear, on your ear.
Put your finger on your ear, and see if it’s still there,
Put your finger on your ear, on your ear,
Make up other verses about different body parts
If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will really show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
…. Say “So Big-g-g!”
…. Play peek-a-boo.
…. Give a hug.
…. Blow a kiss.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round (move hands round and
round each other in a winding motion)
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.
The driver on the bus says, “Move on back.” (point to the back)
The horn on the bus goes “Beep, beep, beep.” (touch your baby’s nose)
The wipers on the bus go “Swish, swish, swish.” (move baby’s arms
back and forth)
The parents on the bus say, “I love you. I love you.” (kiss baby)
Parent Self-Care
• Be gentle with your partner. Set aside some time each day
to be together.
• Share your expectations and feelings with each other.
• Expect differences in parenting styles.
• Allocate weekly time away from baby for each of you.
• Share in the housework and change your expectations from
an immaculate house to a house that is comfortable and lived in.
• Realize that you can’t add a baby to your family and still maintain
the same priorities in every area of your life.
• Double-check parenting advice with others, refer to a few good
resources, and listen to your instincts.
• Maintain adult friendships and meet new friends with children
the age of your baby. Take an ECFE class!
Check out these websites for more parenting information.
www.ecfe.info
www.mnparentsknow.info
www.aap.org
www.brazeltontouchpoints.org
www.childcareawaremn.org
www.jennyslight.org
www.momenough.com
www.naeyc.org
www.parentawareratings.org
www.parentingcounts.org
www.pbs.org
www.thinksmall.org
www.zerotothree.org
Information in this booklet was compiled by:
Wayzata Family Learning Center ECFE
Saint Paul ECFE
Mounds View ECFE
December 2013
Early Childhood Family Education
Coordinated Outreach - ECO
www.ecfe.info