Our approach to Infant development (6 weeks to 1 year old)
During infancy, children develop motor skills, experience tummy time, explore and learn through interaction with their teachers. Our caregivers for Infants use this opportunity to work on stretches, leg movements, and ensuring the children are practicing hand-eye coordination in order to prepare themselves for the next stages of early childhood development.
As they reach late infancy, our caregivers work with children to develop those core muscles. They’re learning to crawl, express their emotions, and move their legs and arms. Cognitively, they are learning to identify and recognize family members and caregivers as they walk into the room. They’re even learning to produce those first adorable babbling sounds we love to hear.
What our curriculum for Infants includes
Our Infant curriculum starts with regular playtime including tummy time and open-ended exploration, sensory stimulation, as well as nap, diapering routines, and feeding times that are tailored to each infant’s needs.
INFANTS WILL EXPERIENCE:
- Introduction to sign language with Gibby Gibbon® to develop communication skills
- Activities that encourage exploration and sensory stimulation
- Interactive songs and music
Our programs for Infants
Sign Language
In this program, Infants begin to learn early sign language to communicate their needs—including how to ask for “more” or sign that they are “all done”—to their caregivers in their classroom, and with their parents at home. This is important because it enables children to express their wants and needs resulting in less frustration!
Our programs for Infants
6:30–8:30 Greeting the Infants
Parent Communication, Collecting Infant Belongings, Free Play
8:30-9:00 Breakfast
(According to Infant’s Needs)
9:00-9:45 Fine Motor Skills
Cause and Effect, Tracking, Grasping, Turning
9:45-10:15 Outside Time
Balls, Push/Pull Toys, Strollers
10:15-10:30 Sensory
Touching, Feely Books, Textures
10:30–10:45 Morning Snack
(According to Infant’s Needs)
10:45-11:45 Gross Motor Skills
Pushing, Pulling, Reaching, Crawling, Cruising
11:45-12:00 Lunch
(According to Infant’s Needs)
12:00-1:00 Napping or Playground Activity
1:00–2:00 Fine Motor Skills
Pounding, Throwing, Targeting
2:00–2:30 Afternoon Snack
(According to Infant’s Needs)
2:30–3:30 Gross Motor Skills
Climbing, Crawling, Rolling
3:30–4:30 Language Skills
Listening, Speaking, Looking
4:30–5:30 Music
Rhythmic Movement, Singing, Listening
5:30–6:30 Free Play/Greeting Parents
(Diapering is provided and supervised on an as-needed basis.)
Our year-end milestones
Every day will be a fun new adventure at The Learning Experience® for your little one, and while our lessons and curriculum prepare them to meet important goals, we want to ensure they are developing at the right pace.
A snapshot of several of the many milestones your Infant should reach this year:
- Develop motor skills from crawling to standing to walking, as developmentally appropriate
- Engage in social interactions
- Recognize familiar people such as caregivers and teachers
- Recognize familiar words when spoken
- Self-feed
- Babble and mimic speech
Enrichment Programs for Infants
Our enrichment programs are an extension of the curriculum, providing in-depth, hands-on learning experiences to our little learners enabling them to develop mastery in a fun and engaging manner. At no additional cost, our enrichment curriculum provides a home-to-school connection for all children with specifically chosen kits to take home following each session, allowing the continuation of the child’s passion outside of the classroom.
Little Musicians
Our Little Musicians Enrichment Program provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to explore instruments, beats, and songs. They will use their creative expression, interact with their peers, and ultimately build confidence as they learn emotional regulation and strengthen their cognitive language abilities. Parents will have the opportunity to join in a family showcase at the end of the program to support home learning.
Little Engineers
Our Little Engineers enrichment program provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to participate in problem-solving activities that encourage creativity, perseverance, and real-life application skills. Children will work through challenges and tasks individually, in pairs, or as a team, leading to the strengthening of relationships and social-emotional regulation. Parents will have the opportunity to join in a family showcase at the end of the program to support home learning.
Little Athletes
Our Little Athletes Enrichment Program provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to engage in the foundational concepts of sports. Children will increase their gross and fine motor skills by learning to throw, catch, kick, balance, and much more. Older children will learn the fundamentals of basketball and soccer.
Little Athletes
Infant Kit:
The Infant enrichment kit is specifically designed to meet age-appropriate developmental milestones, supporting the development of their gross and fine motor skills of each child. This enables children to engage in learning to throw, catch, kick, balance, and much more. All these items go home at the end of the 10-week program continuing their learning!