Motion Moments: Infants

Motion Moments Infants shows you a few simple ways to weave physical activity into
your current early care and education program in a center or family child care
home
people everywhere are talking about the obesity problem in america
and the health problems associated with obesity not only impact adults
but our children
as a caregiver, you are in a special position
and uniquely qualified to help children develop
healthy eating
and age-appropriate physical activity
and limited screen time viewing habits
to help them avoid childhood obesity
physical activity and movement are essential to help children gain new skills
and enhance their development
as well as their social
an emotional well-being
infants are completely dependent on their parents
caregivers and teachers
for opportunities to be active
for many years the american academy of pediatrics has said
back to sleep
and tammy to play
here are just a few ways to encourage infant in your care
to move in play while awake and playing on their tummies
you are on your stomach
looking right at the baby
make eye contact
smile
talk and encourage the baby to keep his head up
and move his arms
place the object so at least some effort is required to touch it
at first babies may fuss or struggle and be uncomfortable in this position


if you give the babies in your care a chance to be in this position
for a short time everyday
or even several times during the day while awake
they should be able to tolerate this activity for longer and longer periods
of time
tummy time helps build babies muscle strength and prepares them for being
able to slide on their bellies and then crawl
and eventually walk
it's important to provide frequent position changes for the babies in your
care
moving them from one position to another
or one place to another with a few different toys provides a whole new
world for your babies to explore
you can encourage and direct some movement for your babies even if they
can't get very far on their own
while smiling and talking to the baby
move the baby's legs in a bicycle motion
try to get the baby to continue the motion even after you stop moving the
legs
after the leg movement, gently stretch the baby's arms up and over his head
and then down again
once or twice
as you reach for a nearby toy
put the toy within easy reach and give praise when the object is touched
you might even sing a little song to the baby during this activity



as a caregiver there are times when you need to interact with adults who come into
your room
and yet care for the children remains your priority
notice how the caregiver is able to engage with the adult
continuing to pay attention to the child
encouraging movement from the child
and making the child the center of attention
giving babies opportunities to move is critical to their overall health
early brain development and development of social skills
and motor skills and the maintenance of the healthy weight
how have these motion strategies changed the children's day?
oh, the children are so happy when they are able to move around and explore their environment
can and should these strategies be used with children who have special needs?
yes of course they should be used with children that have special needs
because those children need that as well. They need the
physical activity. All children need physical activity and sometimes we may have to adapt some
of the activities but all children should be able to have that opportunity
does it take additional funds to implement these strategies?
um...
for us
the simplest things are just things that we use in the classroom that are free
how have you involved the parents in your movement activities?
by modeling behavior. Having them
come in and see
me being silly with the kids. See me running. See me crawling after them on the floor
I think that alone
kind of eases the parents into, oh this is okay
this is something that's appropriate. You know, they do it at their school and it's okay to do at home as well