35Strengthening of the Lower Body
36 Packing-up
37 Simple Puzzles (3-4 pieces)
38 Stacking Up
39 Response to Instruction
40 Non-verbal Communication
Strengthen the baby's lower body and motor skills as well as develop coordination skills and a sense of balance.
Create opportunities and various activities to strengthen the baby's lower body parts to enhance coordination, gross motor skills and a sense of balance. Here are some examples of progressive training is this area; allow time for the baby to crawl, hold the baby by the hands to walk around and kick or swing. Setting a routine for these daily exercises and repeated practises will help to strengthen and develop the body to full functionality.
Cultivate the good habit of being responsible as well as sorting and organization skills,
The baby should be able to grasps and let go of things by this stage. Train the baby to pack up by giving the verbal cue with demonstration and holding the baby's hand to do so before picking the baby up from the playpen, exer-saucer mat or any other play areas. After which, expect the baby to pack up each time after play.
Promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness and language development. Enhances observational skills, sorting and matching skills as well as eye-hand coordination.
Show the baby the completed puzzle and describe the different parts of the picture to teach the baby to notice the details. Remove one piece and guide the baby to complete the puzzle by directing the baby to observe the missing part of the picture.
Then repeat the procedure with removing two pieces, followed by three or four pieces. Provide help and guidance with each introduction of a new puzzle until the baby is familiar with it to practice on his or her own to build the baby's confidence and interest and avoid the baby from getting frustrated and giving up prematurely.
Develops fine motor skills, balancing skills and eye-hand coordination.
Use blocks that are about 2cm on each side. Train the baby to pick up each block and let go. Then place two blocks on a flat surface and direct the baby to stack on block on top. Subsequently increase the number of blocks.
Introduction to obedience in response when being called.
Once the baby can direct his or her movement, train the baby to come to you by giving a simple command, "come here" and show him or her what that means by moving the baby to you. Subsequently during repeated daily practices, praise the baby whenever he or she goes to you upon that command but show the baby what the command means by bringing the baby towards you each time the baby moves elsewhere at the command.
Teach simple signs language to impart manners and appropriate expression of needs. Introduce basic communication and extend vocabulary.
Teach a few simple sign language namely, "more", "please", "thank you", and "sorry" so that the baby is able to express himself or herself appropriately before being able to speak. Teach the sign language by holding the baby's hand to gesture the sign while saying the word to teach the baby to associate the word to the gesture. Create opportunities in relevant situations to teach such as when giving raisins to the baby after a meal, teach him or her to sign "more please" to ask for more raisins and "thank you" each time a portion of raisin is given. Expect the baby to sign sign "thank you" whenever given food, toy, services and other things and "down, please" when wanting to get down. Introduce the words, "no" and "stop" by signing them each time any of these words are used to communicate with the baby. Subsequently, the baby will be able to respond to these signs even when they are used without verbal cues.