Ages and Stages
quality time
MOMENTS THAT MATTER
Two events are simultaneously occurring in my life. (Actually, it feels like a thousand events are simultaneously occurring in my life at all times, but I'm just going to talk about two of them.) Coming up in a few days I'll be teaching my pediatric physical therapy students about various screening tools, and in a few days my son will be going to the pediatrician for his 2 year old check up. At both "events" I'll be using a tool called the Ages & Stages Questionnaire.
Photo by Ato Aikins on Unsplash
If you've taken a child to a doctor's visit lately, you're probably familiar with the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, or ASQ for short. The ASQ is a screening tool, meaning it gives a quick picture of a child's capabilities in different arenas and, like all screening tools, identifies if a particular area requires further investigation. The ASQ looks at a child's development from two months through five years old in the categories of communication, problem-solving, gross motor, fine motor and personal-social. It offers a great glimpse of skills that might be expected at different stages of development.
What many people don't know, however, is that the complete ASQ manual (available to the public for free here) also includes suggestions for activities to do with children ages 2 months through 5 years old. Below are just a sampling of items. There are MANY more in the manual.
Image by Joel Carter
Children One to Four Months Old
- Put a puppet or small sock on your finger. Say your baby's name while moving the sock up and down. Then move your finger in a circle. Each time your baby is able to follow the sock/puppet, try a new movement. This activity trains visual tracking and problem solving.
- Using a black marker and white paper draw several simple shapes (triangles, circles, etc.) on the papers and tape them to your baby's crib or car seat. Try to place them 8-12 inches from their eyes so they can see them, as anything closer or farther will be difficult for them to see at this age.
Image by Martin Vorel
Children Eight to Twelve Months Old
- Read together, pointing to pictures in books or colorful magazines and naming the things at which you are pointing. This will teach your baby words and help develop your baby's verbal communication.
- Put toys on a sturdy table or sofa so your baby can practice standing at a support surface while playing with the toys. This will strengthen his or her body and help him develop his ability to stand independently and, eventually, walk.
Photo by Wendy Aros-Routman on Unsplash
Children Twenty-four to Thirty Months Old
- Roll up socks and have your child toss them into a box or bucket. This will work on throwing skills and visual-motor accuracy.
- Wrap tape around the end of a yarn or stiff string and have your child practice making a necklace with macaroni, Cheerios, dried pineapple, etc. This works on fine motor development.
Even the most creative parents and teachers can struggle to come up with ideas for play or curriculum for small children. I think this is especially challenging for infants. It's also challenging for my students, so I'm always on the lookout--as a parent and as a teacher--for good ideas.
Do you have creative, fun activity ideas for children? Share them here!
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