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DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS AGED 0–6 MONTHS​

SENSORY DEVELOPMENT​

(Vision, Hearing, Touch)

• Face-to-face interaction: Speak slowly and expressively while maintaining eye contact with the infant.
• High-contrast visual stimuli: Use black-and-white cards, particularly effective between 0–3 months of age.
• Music and lullabies: Soft music and the caregiver’s voice support auditory development.
• Varied tactile experiences: Allow the infant to explore different textures such as cotton, towels, and soft toys.

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT​

0–3 Months​

• Tummy time: Provide supervised prone positioning several times per day for 1–5 minutes.
• Hand exploration: Avoid mittens to allow the infant to explore their hands freely.
• Leg movements: Gently guide bicycling motions to promote lower-limb mobility.

3–6 Months​

• Reaching for objects: Place colorful toys within reach to encourage voluntary movement.
• Encouraging rolling: Position yourself to the side and use auditory cues to stimulate rolling.
• Supported sitting: Allow brief periods of sitting with appropriate support (e.g., pillows).

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT​

• Respond consistently to the infant’s smiles and vocalizations.
• Mirror play: Enable the infant to observe their own facial expressions.
• Imitative interaction: Imitate the infant’s sounds and facial movements to reinforce social reciprocity.
• Physical affection and skin-to-skin contact: Essential for the development of secure attachment.

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT​

• Continuous verbal input: Narrate daily activities to increase language exposure.
• Shared book viewing: Use cloth books or picture books with large, simple images.
• Responsive communication: Respond promptly to cooing and early vocalizations.

AGE-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES​

0–1 Month​

Primary focus: Establishing security and sensory awareness

• Engage in face-to-face verbal interaction
• Provide skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care)
• Present black-and-white visual stimuli
• Sing lullabies using a calm and soothing voice
• Introduce tummy time once or twice daily for approximately 1 minute

1–2 Months​

Primary focus: Head control and social responsiveness

• Short periods of play in the prone position (2–3 minutes)
• Respond to social smiles
• Encourage spontaneous hand exploration
• Facilitate auditory tracking using a rattle
• Verbally describe daily routines and caregiving activities

2–3 Months​

Primary focus: Visual tracking and vocal development

• Encourage horizontal visual tracking using brightly colored toys
• Engage in vocal interaction in front of a mirror
• Imitate cooing sounds to promote early vocal turn-taking
• Perform gentle bicycling movements with the legs
• Support visual attention during tummy time by positioning toys within sight

3–4 Months​

Primary focus: Hand–eye coordination

• Encourage reaching and grasping for objects
• Engage in shared viewing of cloth or soft books
• Provide opportunities for tactile exploration of varied textures
• Promote rolling through side-lying positioning
• Accompany songs with coordinated arm and hand movements

4–5 Months​

Primary focus: Mobility and understanding of cause–effect relationships

• Allow the infant to grasp objects and bring them to the mouth
• Provide brief periods of supported sitting
• Use sound-producing toys to reinforce cause–effect learning
• Engage in rolling games
• Call the infant by name and pause to observe responses

5–6 Months​

Primary focus: Independent movement and early communication

• Facilitate play with toys while in a seated position
• Encourage independent rolling on a safe floor surface
• Play mirror-based identification games (e.g., “Who is this?”)
• Introduce clapping games using hand movements
• Repeatedly model simple words (e.g., “mother,” “father”)

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS​

• Each infant develops at an individual pace.
• Discontinue activities if signs of fatigue or overstimulation are observed.
• Screen exposure is not recommended for infants.
• The most effective developmental supports are affection, repetition, and play.