First Skool

3-7 Month activities



"Setup Shapes on Checkerboard: Place two or three coloured shapes on contrasting squares of a checkerboard (e.g., red on white, yellow on black), changing their location daily. Introduce New Shapes: Gradually add new shapes and colours over time, always rearranging the pattern to keep it interesting. Portable Visuals: Keep the checkerboard near the baby throughout the day to encourage frequent visual engagement"

Intelligence:
Visual

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
10 times daily for 5 to 10 seconds

Material:
Checkboard and Coloured shapes

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn): To stimulate the baby’s visual curiosity and promote tracking by introducing new colours and patterns regularly

Special tips: "Avoid fixing the shapes permanently so you can easily change the layout. Add a wide red stripe at the end of the baby’s mat to encourage movement toward it as their vision and mobility develop"



"Prepare Cards: Add bright colours to your existing 21 outline cards and create 5 additional ""face"" cards with various expressions. Also, make 10 quantity Dot Cards, each with 1–10 white dots on a black background. Daily Routine: Choose two sets of three cards daily (two outline or face cards and one Dot Card). Show each set five times a day, using moments like diaper changes to make it easy to repeat. Engagement: Hold each card 12–18 inches from the baby’s face, naming it clearly and moving on once they focus."

Intelligence:
Visual

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
10 times daily for 5-10 seconds

Material:
Flashcards

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn): To refine the baby’s visual processing and response time through exposure to colourful shapes, faces, and dot quantities.

Special tips: "Observe your baby’s response time and adjust your pace accordingly to prevent boredom. Cycle through all 36 cards over 12 days, adjusting as needed to match their growing visual recognition abilities."



"Prepare Visual and Sensory Materials: Create large, bold-outlined illustration cards for each fruit and corresponding large word cards. Gather ten brightly coloured fruits that have a distinct smell, taste, and texture. Introduce Each Fruit Using All Five Senses: Taste and Smell: Place a small amount of fruit on a cotton swab. Let the baby taste and smell it. Sight: Show the illustration card and the word card for each fruit. Touch: Let the baby feel the whole fruit’s texture. Sound: Clearly say the fruit's name at each step of the introduction. Daily Repetition: Repeat each fruit presentation 10 times throughout the day. Use a different fruit each day for ten days."

Intelligence:
Visual

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
10 times daily for 30 seconds

Material:
Flashcards and fruits

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn): "Sensory Development: Enhances visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory (taste), and olfactory (smell) awareness through multiple exposures to each fruit. Recognition Skills: Builds associations between sensory experiences and abstract representations (spoken words, written words), promoting early cognitive skills. Early Literacy: The baby starts recognizing written words and links them to objects, laying a foundation for reading."

Special tips: "Consistency is Key: Show each fruit’s materials in the same sequence and repeat the name to reinforce connections. Adjust Timing: Observe your baby’s reactions and adapt the pace. If the baby is interested, extend the session slightly; if uninterested, keep it brief. Use Positive Reinforcement: Smile, use gentle tones, and encourage the baby’s reactions to make the activity enjoyable. Daily Variety: Rotate through a different fruit each day to prevent monotony and increase learning through diversity"



"Select Large, High-Quality Images: Find 6-inch or larger single-image photos or illustrations in categories like flowers, birds, insects, and mammals. Use clear, well-defined images from sources like old calendars, posters, or discounted books. Ensure each image shows only one subject (e.g., one flower, not a bouquet). Label each image on the back with a specific name (e.g., ""Two-Spotted Ladybird Beetle"" instead of ""insect""). Choose Two Categories and Organize Cards: Select two categories (e.g., birds and insects) and prepare ten Bit of Intelligence cards in each. Show each category three times daily for ten days, then introduce new sets (e.g., flowers and mammals). Present Cards to Your Baby: Show the cards during times when your baby is alert. Hold up each card just long enough for the baby to see and hear its name. Move to the next card just before the baby looks away to keep them engaged."

Intelligence:
Visual

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
3 times daily for 5 seconds per set

Material:
Flashcards

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn): "Visual Detail Recognition: Develops the baby's ability to focus on and appreciate intricate details within images. Cognitive Development: Enhances memory, recognition, and categorization skills by repeatedly introducing specific names and images. World Awareness: Broadens understanding of nature and introduces diverse colours, shapes, and patterns."

Special tips: "Stay Attentive to Baby’s Cues: Watch for when your baby starts to look away, indicating they've absorbed the image, and switch cards promptly. Rotate Categories Every Ten Days: This ensures ongoing interest and learning without overwhelming the baby. Retire Simple Outline Materials: As your baby advances, discontinue simpler materials (e.g., checkerboard) to match their growing visual capacity. Store these for future use with siblings if needed."



"Use Expressive, Lively Speech: Speak to the baby with clear, varied tones and expressive intonation to make conversations engaging. Avoid monotone; instead, vary your pitch, volume, and rhythm to capture the baby’s attention. Involve the Whole Family: Encourage everyone around the baby to speak with expression and enthusiasm. Maintain a lively tone when talking to the baby to create a stimulating auditory environment."

Intelligence:
Language

Skills:
Communication

Frequency:
every waking hour

Material:
None

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn): "Auditory Development: Enhances the baby’s ability to detect tone, rhythm, and emphasis in sounds, which are foundational for language development. Attentiveness and Interest: Keeps the baby actively engaged in listening and aids in learning meaningful sounds and words."

Special tips: "Be Consistent and Natural: Talk to the baby as part of daily routines, such as dressing or feeding, using expressive language to make these moments engaging. Show Enthusiasm: Babies are highly responsive to enthusiasm, so infusing joy into interactions helps them stay attentive and builds a positive association with listening."



"Label Household Sounds: When sounds like water filling the tub, a door slamming, or a car approaching occur, tell the baby, “That is the sound of [object].” Consistently name sounds like vacuuming, the blender, lawnmowers, and household noises to help the baby recognize them. Help with Sound Localization: Point out the origin of sounds (“That was the dog barking outside”) to help the baby understand where sounds come from. Create a Sound Collection: Gather objects like cymbals, a xylophone, or other noisemakers and introduce them one at a time. Each day, introduce a different sound using the object, repeating it about ten times. Introduce Musical Notes: Use a xylophone to teach different musical notes. Start with “A” and say the note name each time it is played, adding new notes daily. Use Sound Effect Recordings: Play sound recordings featuring diverse noises, such as animals or vehicles, to expose the baby to a variety of sounds."

Intelligence:
Language

Skills:
Communication

Frequency:
10 times daily 5 seconds

Material:
Symbals, a xylophone, or other noisemakers

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Sound Recognition: Helps the baby associate familiar sounds with words, supporting language development and building auditory memory. Sound Localization Skills: Assists the baby in identifying where sounds come from, which improves spatial awareness and security. Auditory Enjoyment: Fosters a curiosity for different sounds and enhances the baby’s interest in listening actively."

Special tips: "Be Consistent: Name sounds as they happen throughout the day to reinforce learning. Engage Multiple Senses: Point to the source of sounds or use gestures to emphasize what the baby is hearing. Keep it Fun: Only add new sounds when both you and the baby are enjoying the process."



"Introduce Sensation: After powdering and just before putting on a clean diaper, take a minute to gently stimulate your baby’s skin with a variety of sensations. Session 1: Lightly tickle the baby’s body, naming each area as you go (e.g., “Now I am tickling your feet”). Session 2: Gently rub the baby’s body using the flat part of your hand. Session 3: Give a soft, gentle massage. Vary Sensations: Try different textures for touch, such as the light touch of a finger, a rub with a soft or slightly rough towel, or using your nails to gently trace areas. Use different parts of your hand for a variety of sensations, like fingertips, palms, or knuckles. Teach Body Awareness: Name each body part as you touch it (e.g., “This is your arm,” “This is your leg”). Gradually introduce more specific terms like “right arm,” “left leg,” and “shoulder” over time. "

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
5 times daily 60 seconds

Material:
None

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Enhances Sensory Processing: Different sensations on various areas of the body help the baby become more aware of their own body and improve tactile processing. Builds Body Awareness: By naming body parts as you touch them, you introduce the baby to early body awareness and language association"

Special tips: "Observe Sensitivity: Take note of any areas that may be particularly sensitive or less responsive. Spend extra time on these areas to help the baby’s body awareness “fine-tune.” Be Gentle and Responsive: Babies may react differently to various sensations. Adjust pressure and texture based on their response to make the experience enjoyable and beneficial."



"Gather Contrasting Textures: Collect pairs of contrasting textures such as: Rough towel vs. soft towel Normal hairbrush vs. soft baby brush Non-abrasive pot scrubber vs. velvet Plastic soap saver vs. foam rubber Burlap vs. satin Keep these pairs in the diaper bag for easy access during routine activities. Introduce Textures: After diapering, take one texture (e.g., a hairbrush) and gently brush over the baby’s arms, hands, legs, feet, abdomen, back, shoulders, and head. As you go, narrate what you’re doing, such as “Do you feel the hairbrush on your hand?” After brushing with one texture, repeat the process with the contrasting texture (e.g., the soft baby brush). Daily Practice: Use the same pair of textures throughout the day, introducing it ten times. Rotate to a new contrasting texture pair each day and cycle through pairs every ten days. "

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
10 times daily for 60 seconds

Material:
"Contrasting textures Hard brush, baby brush, Light sandpaper, velvet cloth, Plastic Non abrasive pot scrubber,Slik cloth, Rough towel, Soft towel "

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Enhances Tactile Differentiation: Exposure to contrasting textures helps the baby differentiate distinct sensations, improving their tactile awareness. Promotes Body Awareness: By brushing each part and naming it, babies start associating touch sensations with different body parts."

Special tips: "Observe Baby’s Reactions: Babies may respond differently to each texture, so take note of which they seem to prefer or react to most strongly. Maintain Comfort: Use gentle, slow movements and avoid overstimulation, keeping each session to about 30 seconds."



"Start on a Short-Pile Carpet: Place the baby on a carpet with a short pile. The slight friction encourages them to put more weight on their arms and legs instead of their belly. Progress to a Medium-Pile Carpet: When the baby can crawl easily on the short-pile carpet, move to a carpet with a slightly thicker pile. Observe their weight distribution as they adjust to this new surface. Introduce a Thick Shag Carpet: When the baby is comfortable with the medium pile, introduce them to a thick shag carpet. On this surface, the baby will likely start lifting themselves up and rocking, eventually building strength to stay on all fours. Track Crawling Distance: Keep a simple log of distances by estimating room lengths and counting trips across these spaces. Aim for the baby to crawl about 400 yards daily as they become more mobile. "

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Physical

Frequency:
as many as possible (Minimum 4 hours daily on floor)

Material:
Short and medium pile carpet, Thick Shag

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Builds Arm and Leg Strength: Each level of thickness encourages the baby to put more weight on their limbs, supporting better balance and strength. Encourages Progression to Creeping: These steps make the transition to creeping (on hands and knees) easier as the baby gains strength and coordination. Fosters Independence in Movement: The baby gradually becomes more comfortable exploring their environment and covering distances independently"

Special tips: "Watch for Signs of Frustration: If the baby struggles with a surface, revert to the previous level and try again in a week. Ensure Safety: Thick carpets are forgiving for falls, offering a cushioned environment as the baby learns balance and control."



"Perform each activity twice daily to help your baby develop balance in the brain. Start slowly and gently, progressing gradually to faster motion as your baby grows accustomed. Always stop before your baby wants to stop for an enjoyable experience Horizontal Spin in Prone Position (Belly Down): Position: Hold the baby on their belly over your shoulder. Action: Slowly spin in one direction, then reverse. Tip: Avoid getting dizzy to maintain balance. Horizontal Spin on Left Side: Position: Place baby’s left side on your right shoulder. Action: Spin slowly in one direction, stop, then spin the other way. Horizontal Spin on Right Side: Position: Place baby’s right side on your left shoulder. Action: Spin in both directions. Rocking in Supine Position (Face Up): Position: Hold the baby’s wrists while a partner holds their ankles. Action: Gently rock the baby side-to-side. Horizontal Rotation: Position: Facing the baby, hold their left wrist in your left hand and left ankle in your right. Action: Lift and spin baby clockwise, then repeat counter clockwise. Horizontal Rotation in Supine Position (Belly Up): Position: Hold baby’s left wrist in your right hand and left ankle in your left. Action: Spin baby clockwise, then reverse. Horizontal Rotation, Head In, Prone Position (Belly Down): Position: Hold the baby by hands and wrists with their head facing you. Action: Spin baby with arms extended, in one direction, then the other. Important: Do not reverse with head outward. Horizontal Pitching: Position: Baby is on their back on a mat. Each parent holds a wrist and an ankle. Action: Gently swing baby to a head-up position, then head-down. Acceleration (Up and Down): Position: Stand facing the baby, holding under their armpits. Action: Gently toss the baby upward and catch. Note: Gradually increase the height with care. Parents may want to transfer this to the father as the baby gains weight. Vertical Rocking, Head Down Position: Position: Place baby on their back on a mat, standing at their head, hold both ankles. Action: Rock baby side to side like a pendulum. Important Notes: Positioning on the Floor: Always place the baby on their back when setting down to protect their neck. Progress Gradually: Allow time for the baby to adjust before increasing speed or height in each activity."

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Physical

Frequency:
2 times daily for each activity for 15 seconds -60 seconds

Material:
None

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Enhances Vestibular Balance: Each spin stimulates the baby’s balance centers within the brain, supporting motor control and spatial awareness. Encourages Gradual Balance Development: Starting slow allows the baby to adapt to motion before increasing speed"

Special tips: "Use baby Neck Collar Stop Before Baby Feels Overwhelmed: Pay close attention to the baby's response and stop before they want to, to maintain a positive experience. Focus on Comfort and Security: Ensure the baby is securely supported over your shoulder, and hold them gently but firmly throughout each spin."



"Select Safe Objects: Choose bright, non-toxic items, the right size for small hands. Introduce Slowly: Place one object at a time within reach and encourage the baby to grasp it. Add Variety: Gradually introduce different objects, moving to smaller, edible ones as skills improve. Encourage Release: Offer a new object or gently ask for the item instead of taking it."

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Physical

Frequency:
10 times daily for 60 seconds

Material:
small object/small pieces of food

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Boosts sensory exploration with different textures, shapes, and sounds. Encourages independence and determination in completing tasks."

Special tips: "Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate each grasp to encourage effort. Safety First: Ensure small objects are edible or supervise closely to prevent swallowing. Create a Stimulating Environment: Remove hazards, but keep safe, interesting objects within reach."



"Set Up the Bar: Secure a bar in a doorway at an accessible height for the baby. Support and Lift: Hold the baby firmly around the hips and lift him up to the bar so he can easily grasp it. Lower Slightly: As he grasps the bar, gradually lower his body until his arms are straight while continuing to support him. Introduce Gentle Swinging: Begin to swing him gently back and forth, allowing him to get comfortable with the motion."

Intelligence:
Bodily physical

Skills:
Physical

Frequency:
15 times daily for 20-30 seconds

Material:
Bar hung in a doorway

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):"Builds arm strength and coordination. Encourages early comfort with gentle swinging motions. Boosts confidence in gripping and hanging."

Special tips: "Watch for Cues: End the session when the baby shows signs of fatigue or has had enough. Gentle Removal: Sometimes you may need to help him let go as his grip gets stronger. Safety First: Ensure the bar is securely installed in the doorway and safe for baby’s use."



You can introduce basic math to your infant by counting familiar things, starting with their own body. For example, “This is your nose, you have one nose, but two ears. Let's count your toes—one, two, three, four, five on each foot

Intelligence:
Mathematical Logical

Skills:
Cognitive

Frequency:
Whenever possible

Material:
None

Purpose (How it helps your child to learn):Mathematical concepts are learned easily if they are associated with specific objects, especially if those are as personal as eyes,ears,fingers and toes

Special tips: "Actions,too,can be turned into counting games.Say""lets walk up the stairs. One stair, two stairs and three stairs.."" Count everything with your child: Beans,spoons,glasses,steps,stairs,stones,books and potatoes for dinner."

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