Activities

[cherryvalance]

My mom is taking care of DS for us and I want to put together a list of activities for them to do. She goes through his basic schedule (eat, play, sleep) and PT exercises, but I feel like she needs more guidance on more things to do either outside or inside.  I think she's also at a loss because it's been bitterly cold and snowy, so walks are out for the time being. 

I seem to remember there was a chart floating around here, but for the life of me I can't find it.

DS is 4 months old. The things I've done with him were library visits/activities, mommy and me yoga, going out for coffee or lunch, etc.  She would do library stuff, but not gym classes. 

Any ideas?

[King26]

Activities are the bane of my existence. DH and I have been trying to come up with some.
How about walking at the mall before it opens?

[mrsgoontz]

I would love to hear responses to this. I feel really lost on this topic.

My mom is starting to watch C on Monday when I go back to work. So far, all I've really come up with is Wednesday & Friday our library has a baby story time that she is going to take him to. We are in Texas so the snow/freezing weather usually isn't too much of an issue so she can take him for walks.

[thoseareradishes]

I don't really take E out for activities, because of germs. We do go shopping or run errands. At home we mostly play on the floor. She can basically crawl now, so she likes chasing her toys around. We also go upstairs where there is more carpet and she likes to play with her ball. Eating solids takes up some time, and she also sits in her booster chair and does fine motor skill activities (picking up small objects for now, I need to make some more things for her to do). Sometimes I put her in her pack and play and she enjoys getting to flop all over playing with some fabric books, a soft mirror, and her kick and play piano. I usually give her her bath during the day also. She has an activity table and she likes making it play music.

It probably seems kinda boring but it works for us most of the time.

[cherryvalance]

When I was on maternity leave, I felt like it was so easy to involve him in whatever I was doing. We'd take walks or go to stores, anything that took us out of the house. I liked that he got fresh air and new sights, sounds, and smells. I feel like my mom could benefit from getting out more, too, but I think they're nervous to go anywhere with him alone (without me/H).

mrsgoontz, I don't know if your mom has more experience, but even with experience, it helped my mom to have a written schedule of when he ate/slept, what types of play or exercises he should, do, etc. She likes being able to reference it whenever she's doubting herself.

thoseareradishes, he does most of those, but I'll suggest bath time and pack n play time to her. At least those are new sensory experiences to break up his day a little.

[shauni27]

Dec 16, 2017 12:44:04 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I don't really take E out for activities, because of germs. We do go shopping or run errands. At home we mostly play on the floor. She can basically crawl now, so she likes chasing her toys around. We also go upstairs where there is more carpet and she likes to play with her ball. Eating solids takes up some time, and she also sits in her booster chair and does fine motor skill activities (picking up small objects for now, I need to make some more things for her to do). Sometimes I put her in her pack and play and she enjoys getting to flop all over playing with some fabric books, a soft mirror, and her kick and play piano. I usually give her her bath during the day also. She has an activity table and she likes making it play music.

It probably seems kinda boring but it works for us most of the time.

We are similar, though not because of germs. I just bring S to whatever I am doing (errands, visits with friends, out to eat, going for a hike, etc.) and the rest of the time when we are home we do normal baby stuff--baths, read books, play on the mat and do PT stuff, and recently eating solids which takes a good 30 minutes.

I do think it is boring a lot, especially for people who do not have babies. But it works and it is how they develop skills. Plus, it's winter--a good time to get cozy inside

[mpc]

Basically all of DD's outings are either errands I need to do or activities for my 4 year old. So watching gymnastics practice, or riding in the cart at Publix. i did use to go to the mom club at the hospital while I was on leave, although not sure if your mom would want to do that. I just signed both kids up for a music class starting in january. It's called Music Together and we've done it before and really enjoyed it, during multiple ages. You could see if you have one of those nearby. At 4 months though i really wouldn't worry about doing anything baby specific, just take them along for the ride wherever you wanted to go anyway.

[cactuscookie]

I don't know if it's helpful, but here's the one I posted before: www.paplv.org/forparents/Documents/Parent%20Workshop%20Handouts%20and%20Presentations/Developing%20Early%20Learners/Activities%20for%20Children%20from%201%20month%20to%2066%20months%20old.pdf