In addition to being a source of amusement for infants, playing with blocks can help infants improve their motor skills and language skills. But instead of letting infants enjoy a block-throwing free-for-all, set the blocks in front of your young students and explain the characteristics of each as you pick them up for all to see. Characteristics you can cover include colors, sizes and any distinguishing features like spots or stripes. Then stack the blocks in front of the infants and encourage them to knock the blocks down. These seemingly destructive actions will help infants judge distances while coordinating the movements of their arms and hands. For best results, use large blocks that will not present a choking hazard.
This classroom activity can help infants learn to grasp and follow objects. Start by tying a toy to the end of a scarf or ribbon. Dangle the toy in front of an infant and encourage her to track and reach for the toy. If at any point the infant gets frustrated, you can hand over the toy and try again or move on to a different toy-fishing activity option. You can place the toy on the floor with the ribbon directly in front of an infant. Encourage the infant to pull the toy towards himself by grasping and pulling the ribbon.
Putting on a finger puppet performance, complete with singing, is a classroom activity that can help students improve their language skills and coordination. Conduct the performance around a particular song, such as Mary Had a Little Lamb. You could then make finger puppets of lambs and have one representing Mary. As you put on your performance, encourage infants to move their hands and feet in rhythm with the music. You can also encourage word association and vocabulary by teaching infants all of the words related to lambs, such as soft, white and woolly.
While digging in the dirt may sound like a messy activity, it can be a beneficial developmental experience if you conduct it wisely. For best results, purchase fresh, organic potting soil and pour it into a large flowerpot or container. Encourage infants to grasp and feel the soil and then help them wash their hands in a nearby sink or bowl of water. In addition to providing infants with sensory development, this activity can also help promote cleanliness.