Domain 1: Physical well-being: 0-9 months

A father shade's his baby's eyes from sun

Goal 1: Children engage in a variety of physical activities

BABIES MAY

  • Demonstrate reflexes such as grasping a
    finger and toes fanning when bottom of foot is stroked.
  • Learn how to self sooth with sucking and responds to signals for sleep (learns to sleep in bassinet, cradle or crib).
  • Use new skills in different ways. For example, learns the pincer grasp and uses it on many different materials.

YOU CAN

  • Support baby with self-regulation, such as putting baby in crib when drowsy and letting him/her go to sleep without help.
  • Show enthusiasm and encouragement when child tries new motor activities.
  • Actively play with baby every day.
  • Provide “tummy time” with a small mirror or object to encourage baby to develop muscles.
  • Recognize and respond to cues from baby for a break (baby looking away from eye contact, yawning).

Goal 2: Children demonstrate strength and coordination of gross motor skills

BABIES MAY

  • Open and close fingers.
  • Gain control of arm and leg movements.
  • Kick legs and bat at dangling objects with hands.
  • Reach for feet and bring them to mouth.
  • Transfer objects from hand to hand.
  • Clap hands.
  • Roll over.
  • Once able to roll over, lift head and chest while on tummy.
  • Move into sitting position.
  • Sit with support and later, sit without support.
  • Rock back and forth on hands and knees and later, crawl.

YOU CAN

  • Play interactive games and sing songs from child’s home cultural background that involve child’s hands and feet.
  • Provide opportunities for child to move freely during waking hours.
  • Encourage active movement of arms and legs.
  • Encourage baby’s effort to attain new positions by reaching, kicking, rolling, sitting and creeping.

Goal 3: Children demonstrate stamina and energy in daily activities

BABIES MAY

  • Show alertness during waking periods, which increases with age.
  • Cry persistently until needs are met.
  • Lift head, make facial expressions.
  • Initiate active play, exploring and interacting with environment.
  • Sustain physical activity for at least three to five minutes at a time (recognizing the unique capabilities of the child).
  • Sustain strength for increased periods of time as child ages.

YOU CAN

  • Provide child with several hours of unstructured movement every day.
  • Provide babies with regular nap and bedtime routines.
  • Play games together that require movement and physical activity.
  • Once able to roll over, place young infant every day on floor to encourage tummy time to strengthen muscles.
  • Limit the time a baby spends in equipment that restricts movement such as strollers, swings.
  • If using jumpers, bouncers or walkers, closely supervise for safety.
  • Get to their level; crawl, roll, run. Play rough and tumble games, while still keeping the baby safe.

Goal 4: Children demonstrate strength and coordination of fine motor skills

BABIES MAY

  • Track objects with eyes.
  • Grasp caregivers’ fingers.
  • Consistently reach for toys, objects, and bottles with both hands.
  • Grasp objects with fingers and palm.
  • Transfer small objects from hand to hand.
  • Pick up object with thumb and forefinger.

YOU CAN

  • Hold items out for babies to grasp.
  • Put babies on floor with different items to reach for (rattles, books, toys).
  • Play hand games with child (demonstrate Pat-a-Cake).
  • Give child appropriate finger foods to eat (dry cereal, cooked vegetables).

Goal 5: Children use their senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch to guide and integrate their learning and interactions (sensorimotor skills)

BABIES MAY

  • Respond by turning toward lights, sound, movement, and touch.
  • Focus eyes on near and far objects.
  • Enjoy gentle swinging and rocking.
  • Enjoy seeing themselves in the mirror.
  • Calm with caregiver assistance.
  • Explore the environment with mouth and hands.
  • Listen to music, nature and animal sounds.
  • Move objects from one hand to the other.

YOU CAN

  • Make sure child receives routine vision and hearing screenings.
  • Monitor child’s environment for noise level (avoid putting electronic toys in crib, keep loud noises away from infant’s ears).
  • Play with babies by responding to their cues for sounds, sights and touch.
  • Keep the sleeping space free from noise or visual stimulation.
  • Place a mobile near infant’s crib, but safely out of reach to stimulate vision and other senses.
  • Provide time daily for child to move freely on the floor in a safe environment.
  • Gently rock and swing child using your body, rocking chairs, or play structures.
  • Avoid prolonged periods in highchairs or devices
    that restrict movement (mechanical swings, carriers).
  • Provide materials and objects of various textures, shapes, colors, smells, and sounds.
  • Offer freedom of movement so baby can explore sights and sounds of interest.
  • Provides a variety of flavors and tastes.
  • Offer objects safe for babies to mouth.

Goal 6: Children practice health skills and routines

BABIES MAY

  • Relax during bathing routines.
  • Respond to talking during diaper changing routines.
  • Allow you to wipe their gums after feeding.
  • Indicate anticipation of feeding on seeing breast, bottle, or food.
  • Assist caregiver with holding bottle, later grasps a cup, then eats with fingers.
  • Demonstrate increasing ability to self-soothe and fall asleep.

Goal 7: Children eat a variety of nutritious foods

BABIES MAY

  • Breast feed or bottle feed, (family preference).
  • Regulate when, how much, and how fast they eat.
  • Begin to try a variety of nutritious foods from all food groups, after 6 months of age.
  • Explore food with fingers, after 6 months.
  • Show interest in new foods.

YOU CAN

  • Understand that babies cry and respond to their needs. Takes care of self – that may mean leaving a crying baby in a crib to cry. Not shake a baby – just put him/her down in a safe place.
  • Avoid tying pacifiers to children, to prevent strangulation.
  • Always put infant to sleep on his/her back.
  • Have infants in their own bed / don’t sleep with an infant.
Build on success – give babies finger food, allow water play for older children with cups and bowls, have children help with simple cooking projects as they get older.

Goal 8: Children are kept safe and learn safety rules

BABIES MAY

  • Respond to danger cues from caregivers.
  • Understand difference between primary caregivers and strangers.

YOU CAN

  • Understand that babies cry and responds to their needs. Takes care of self – that may mean leaving a crying baby in a crib to cry. Does not shake a baby – just puts him/her down in a safe place.
  • Avoid tying pacifiers to children, to prevent strangulation.
  • Always put infant to sleep on his/her back.
  • Have infants in their own bed / don’t sleep with an infant.

Safety for all children

  • Keep guns, poisons, matches and dangerous tools away from children, using locks, closed cabinets or gun safes.
  • Make sure child uses age- and weight-appropriate car seat when riding in vehicles (gets help installing car seats).
  • Use personal flotation devices in all types of boats.
  • Keep children safe from bodies of water (rivers, ocean, bathtubs, water tanks, mud puddles, etc.).
  • Dress children appropriately for the weather (including using insect repellant and sun screen (read instructions regarding age of child).
  • Provide especially close supervision during baths, while outside, and in the kitchen.
  • Keep balloons away from children through age 5 due to choking hazard (except for mylar balloons).
  • Always use adult seat belts, life jackets, bike helmets and dress appropriately for the weather so child wants to imitate your behavior with car seat, life jackets, etc.
  • Encourage risk-taking behaviors (using slides, climbing on chairs) with supervision as child becomes more competent. Gradually reduce support as child becomes more capable.