Baby Milestones

+ play ideas to support development

BY CASEY OF LITTLE LIFELONG LEARNERS

 Playing with your baby
Play is essential for your baby's overall development and
wellbeing. It's how they make sense of the world around them

The days are long but the months fly by when you have a baby in the home.
When I became a mother for the first time, I had no idea what developmental
milestones to expect or what kinds of invitations my baby might enjoy. I've
prepared this free guide to remove some of the unknown. Throughout this
guide, I will share some of the key developmental milestones you might expect
your baby to reach throughout their first year alongside some simple
invitations you might enjoy with your baby.

Remember, these developmental milestones are based on the average baby

in their first year but all babies develop differently and along their own path. If
you are ever concerned about your baby's development, speak to a healthcare
professional. Early intervention is the key!
NEWBORN - 3 MONTH PLAY IDEAS
- Set up a movement area for free movement including stretching, wriggling and
rolling. This is a great way to encourage gross motor play from birth

- Add a mirror down on the floor (secured safely) in your baby's movement area
so they can observe their own movements

- High contrast cards, books and

images are useful. DIY your own with
older siblings or use this template
- Hang your own mobiles to
encourage early reaching
- Tummy time either on the floor, in
your arms, on your chest or in a baby
carrier
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
- Wriggle and wave arms and legs
- Turn head to side when cheek is touched
- Lift head when placed on tummy
- Make eye contact from approx. 20cm
- Move head to the direction of sounds/voices
- Eyes track slow movements
- Focus on contrasting colours
- Begin grasping objects
- May start rolling from tummy and/or back
3 - 6 MONTH OLD PLAY IDEAS
- Sensory bottles filled with interesting objects for your baby to explore

- Hang interesting objects and items from a baby gym or even your dining table.
Favourites include bath sponges, ribbons, rings and even leaves and flowers

- Tape sensory bags to the floor with painter's tape. You can add water and
frozen peas or even some homemade
paint for an interesting texture DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

- Reach for and grasp toys

- Add a variety of sensory balls to a
basket. Look for different shapes,
sizes, colours and textures
- Add floating balls or ducks to a very
shallow tray of water for tummy time
- Make a colour sensory basket with
objects all of the same colour
- Pass toys from hand to hand
- Play with their own feet
- React when around another baby or child
- Begin to explore cause and effect
- Reach for nearby objects while on tummy
- Mouth, inspect and shake objects
- Transfer toys from hand to hand on back
- Mimic sounds from other people
6 - 9 MONTH OLD PLAY IDEAS
- Make sensory frames by adding textured fabrics and materials to some empty
plastic frames. Use hot glue to secure the materials to the backing boards
- Water sensory tubs are lots of fun! Add a splash of food colouring, rubber
ducks, cut up sponges or plastic balls to add interest

- Make edible paint using baby rice

ceral and a drop of food colouring DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

- Other edible sensory tubs like jelly,
crushed up cereals, spaghetti
coloured with food dye as it cooks
- Place scarves or silks inside an
empty wipe container for your baby
to pull out
- Create your first painting with
washable paints on a canvas
- Sit independently and may start crawling
- Pick up objects by grasping with whole palm
and eventually with thumb and fingers
- Make different sounds to express feelings
(including babbling)
- Pick up and throw objects
- Drop toys and look for them
- Begin to distinguish different shapes
- Begin solids and explore many different
textures and tastes
9 - 12 MONTH OLD PLAY IDEAS
- Invitations at tables to encourage your baby to pull up and cruise

- Make a musical instrument discovery basket

- Add loose parts like wooden peg dolls with some different sized baskets and
containers for transferring and posting

- Post plastic balls into a cardboard DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

box with a hole cut in the top
- Stick washi tape down on the high
chair and invite your baby to peel it
back up
- Hide photos of family members
under puzzle pieces to encourage
naming family members - eg 'mama'
- Post paddle pop sticks into bottles
- Pull up to stand and cruise around furniture
- May stand alone and take first steps
- Pincer grip to pick objects up
(pointer and thumb)
- Points to interesting items and objects
- Bang two objects together for effect
- Understand object permanence
- Understand one step commands
- Say words like ‘mama, dada, bubba’
Final
Play is a wonderful way to bond and connect
with your little learner and I have such fond
memories of baby playtime with each of our

Words
children!

If you're looking for some support around getting

playful with your little learners, I'd love for you to
come and join us in the Little Play Club! This is a
monthly membership for playful parents who
love using play as a way to create lifelong
memories with their little learners.

Each month, we share simple play ideas, online

video lessons and more, all designed to make
playtime easy, fun and memorable!

GET ON THE WAIT LIST

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