Fun Infant Development Activities for 11 Month Olds in Daycare
Are you looking for fun and engaging infant development activities to help foster learning with the littlest ones in your care? As an experienced childcare provider, you know how different each 11-month-old can be. Some are ready to take off at a full gallop, while others seem content to explore their environment through simple touch-and-feel activities. With that in mind, this blog has compiled creative infant learning activities specifically designed for 11-month-olds in daycare – all of which will bring a smile of joy and wonder as they develop essential skills along the way!
11 Month Milestones
Before diving into the activities, let’s review some key milestones that 11-month-old infants typically reach. They may be crawling, cruising, or even taking their first steps. They are likely babbling and trying to communicate, and they may enjoy playing with toys that involve cause-and-effect relationships. Keep these milestones in mind as you plan and choose activities to do with infants in your care.
- Standing with little support
- Pulling to stand
- Letting go voluntarily
- Cruising
- Using gestures to communicate
- Feeding self
- Verbaliing familiar words
- Imitating the activities of adults and older kids
- Interacting more with family and caregivers
Social Development in Daycare Settings
One way to promote social development in daycare settings is through doll play. Playing with baby dolls is a classic activity for infants that can support their social-emotional development. By imitating actions that caregivers do with them, infants are learning to build healthy relationships with others. Playing with dolls also helps develop a sense of nurturing and empathy. Provide dolls and toys that allow infants to practice caring for them, such as feeding, changing, swaddling, and cuddling.
Sensory Activities for Infants
Exploring the outdoors with infants is a great way to promote sensory development and physical activity. Allow infants to crawl, walk, or toddle on surfaces and textures such as grass, sand, and mulch. Playgrounds are also great for exploring different surfaces and textures. Look for play features that move, such as swings, slides, and musical instruments, to engage infants’ curiosity.
Fine Motor Skills for 11 Month Olds
Building block towers is a simple but effective activity that promotes fine motor precision and graded release. Placing blocks on a tower requires a gentle hand and dexterity. Allow infants to knock the tower down after building it to build their confidence and teach them cause-and-effect relationships. You can also use blocks to play simple games such as stacking and counting.
Toys For Promoting Infant Development
Looking for toys that will promote the development of 11 month old infants? Look no further than these top picks! Check out these favorite toys that promote gross motor development, problem-solving, fine motor and more, all while keeping your little one entertained and learning. Don’t wait to add these toys to your daycare or classroom to promote infant development!
Brain Development For Infants Through Play
Brain development for infants through play is crucial, so as a childcare provider, it is important to provide them with activities that promote their cognitive, physical, sensory, and social/emotional development. By being intentional with playtime, you can help infants learn and grow in a fun and engaging way.
Incorporating activities such as singing, reading, tummy time exercises, and sensory play can stimulate their brain development, strengthen their muscles, and improve their communication skills. As they engage in these activities, they learn more about the world around them and develop their problem-solving, creativity, and social skills. Plus, playing with infants is a wonderful way to build a strong bond and create a positive and loving environment for them to thrive in. So, don’t hesitate to incorporate brain development activities through play in your daily routines with infants, as it can make a significant difference in their overall development and well-being.
Infant Curriculum For Daycare
Want more engaging infant development activities? Look no further than my free infant daycare curriculum, which is available for download. This comprehensive resource includes various activities from each learning domain, ensuring the babies in your care have a well-rounded learning experience.
Additionally, my “GROW WITH ME” YouTube playlist is an excellent resource for early learning. With a specific video dedicated to each month of a baby’s first year, this playlist is chock full of simple and fun activities that are designed to inspire curiosity and promote learning.
If you enjoyed this blog post, be sure to check out my provider’s main page for even more great tips and infant learning activities. It’s the perfect place for you to enhance your knowledge and gain inspiration for your daily routine. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help the babies in your care reach their full potential!