Wee Steamers: Shhh, Baby’s Sleeping.

CATEGORY: Science

GRADE LEVEL: Early Childhood

   Play and Learn

Provide children an array of infant materials and equipment for play and exploration: infant dolls, pacifiers, bottles, diapers, newborn clothes, wipes, baby food jars, blankets, cradles, strollers, snuggies.  Observe their play for insights into their understanding about infant growth and development.   https://www.pre-kpages.com/dramatic-play-baby-nursery/  

   It's Diaper Time! Wet or Dry?

Give your little scientists a chance to see how diapers work when they get wet. Start by encouraging them to compare a dry and wet diaper (any brand or size).  Next, remove half the inside lining of a diaper and place it in a cup.  Add a little water and watch as the lining absorbs the water.  Encouraging children to share their observations.    

   Who's That Baby?

For this fun guessing game, have children bring in their baby pictures, and encourage the group to guess the identity of each child.  Each child can talk about similarities and differences between when they were infants and now.  At home, look at baby pictures with your child and encourage the same comparison.  https://tulamama.com/guess-baby-picture-game/    

   Baby Food Taste Tasting Party

Help your little cooks get a sense of the taste and texture of baby food by making your own banana puree!  Give each child ½ ripe banana to mash with a fork.  Options:  add a little milk to thin, or wheat germ to thicken.  Ask children why bananas are a good food choice for infants, and why we give them soft-textured foods.  https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/banana-puree-baby-food/  

   Off to the Baby Races!

Give your little athletes an infant’s point of view with a crawling race or an obstacle course. For a crawling race, use a large motor room or take the race outdoors. Provide clear start and finish  markers (inside: line of masking tape; outside: cones or empty plastic bottles). For an indoor obstacle race, cover a table with a blanket (cave), attach streamers to a chair (waterfall), tape a string to the floor (tightrope), tape large oval-shaped pieces of red construction paper (lave pools).  Rule: only crawling is allowed!

   Pop-Up Baby Birds Craft

Little nature lovers will enjoy making this paper plate nest featuring four chicks that move up and down! Click CRAFT tab to download 2-page PDF. One version is in full color and the other is in black-and-white, offering children the option to color the birds themselves. Add twigs, leaves, and grasses for an extra fun touch!