What can I do with my infant (birth to six months)?
Did you know there is such a thing as infant Montessori? There really are things you can do with your newborn! This post features lots of the activities we did with my son from birth to around six months. If you want to know more about Montessori at this age I recommend Understanding the Human Being, Montessori from the Start and The Joyful Child.
Use contrasting images for developing eye sight and concentration.
Prepare the environment with carefully considered materials on low shelves.
Consider a 'movement area' next to a wall mirror for the child to observe themselves. Children at this age can observe and track mobiles.
This is a very light early grasping material, small bell rattle.
Keep the child involved in family activities and allow for free movement.
A bell on a ribbon is great for coordinated movement, tracking and building concentration.
Lots of free movement next to wall mirror.
Present first treasure basket.
Interlocking discs are good for hand to hand transfer.
More work with the hands - this is a small bell cylinder.
A handmade puzzle ball for grasping.
Tummy time.
Reaching and moving towards a toy, preparing to crawl.
If you are interested in Montessori mobiles I have an entire category here. I feature all the mobiles we used and there are also lots of images of mobiles from other families. I also have posts of Otis as a newborn and at 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and at 6 months.
If you have a child around or close to six months you might also be interested in my recent post What can I do with my baby (6-12 months)! Next week I will post What can I do with my three year old.