Nyack Basics: Explore Through Movement and Play
Information and materials related to the Nyack Basics Campaign
Why is this important?
Babies are like scientists who love making discoveries. Watch to see what interests your child, then encourage their curiosity and help them learn when they play and explore.
For Infants
- Do tummy time. Babies should sleep on their backs, but during the day while they are awake, make sure your baby gets some "tummy time."
- Move arms and legs. When you are dressing your baby or changing their diaper, hold and gently move their arms or legs. Talk or sing about what you're doing.
- Follow their interests. Notice what your baby looks at or reaches for. If you can, bring the object closer so they can explore it. Describe how it looks and feels.
- Give objects to handle. Provide objects of different colors, shapes, and textures. Use safe, everyday objects. You don’t need fancy toys to keep your baby’s attention!
- Play peek-a-boo. Hide your face with your hands and then open them up to show a big smile. You can also hide objects under a towel or blanket.
- Let them move around. Let your baby explore their surroundings by reaching, rolling, scooting, and crawling. Just make sure they are safe.
Books for Infants
Baby Loves to Wiggle Wiggle by Call Number: BB SIMSISBN: 9781936669578Publication Date: 2017-09-01Bouncy text and bright illustrations prompt little ones to wiggle toes, clap hands, and reach up to touch the sky, all the while noticing the movement of their bodies. Written by a mind-body educator and illustrated by an award-winning artist, Baby Loves to Wiggle Wiggle will have babies and toddlers moving in no time!
Duck and Goose, Let's Dance! by Call Number: BB HILLSISBN: 9780385372459Publication Date: 2016-01-05Duck & Goose fans of every age will want to honk, quack, dance and sing along with the New York Times bestselling pair in this fun board book, which includes a link to an original Duck & Goose song!
From Head to Toe by Call Number: BB CARLEISBN: 9780060235154Publication Date: 1997-03-28From Eric Carle comes From Head to Toe, a colorful and energetic book that will have young readers clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and wiggling their toes! Giraffes can bend their necks, monkeys can wave their hands, and donkeys can kick their legs. And so can you! Throughout this interactive book, the animals of From Head to Toe invite young readers to copy their antics as they play.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes ... by Call Number: BB KUBLERISBN: 9780859537285Publication Date: 2002-04-01This award winning series has been specifically designed for babies. A great introduction to books through well-known nursery rhymes and interactive text. Singing songs and rhymes is the perfect way to bond with your baby and share quality time. It also aids language development by introducing them to the natural sounds and patterns of speech. Combining these with actions also stimulates the brain and helps muscle development.
If You're Happy and You Know It... by Call Number: BB KUBLERISBN: 9780859538466Publication Date: 2001-09-01This award winning series has been specifically designed for babies. A great introduction to books through well-known nursery rhymes and interactive text. Singing songs and rhymes is the perfect way to bond with your baby and share quality time. It also aids language development by introducing them to the natural sounds and patterns of speech. Combining these with actions also stimulates the brain and helps muscle development.
My First Dance: Ballet by Call Number: BB MYISBN: 9781454918738Publication Date: 2016-09-06A First Book for Young Dance Fans! Plié, relevé, jeté, BALLET! Share your love of classical dance with little ones. From the five basic positions to simple first steps to performance time, this charming book introduces the basic elements of ballet. Beautiful photographs of a diverse cast of young dancers capture all the elegant and dynamic moves in action.
Who Can Jump? by Call Number: BB BRAUNISBN: 9780763667535Publication Date: 2014-03-25Who can jump? Babies will be eager to lift the flaps in this bold, simple board book to see if their guesses are right. All sorts of creatures can jump. Do you know which one this is? Open the flap to find out! Little readers will find this guessing game hard to resist in a bright, interactive board book filled with sweet illustrations.
Snap Like a Crocodile! by Call Number: JP BURNSISBN: 9781899607402Publication Date: 1999-06-30It's a snap! Open the flap and do what a crocodile does! And then make like a dog and sniff and bark, or squawk like a parrot sitting up in the tree. It's simple to snuffle and oink (be a pig!) or grin like a shark (my--those teeth are big!). Can you do every one of those things?
For Toddlers
- Go on a walk. Stop when your child shows interest in something and talk about it. If it is something that is safe to touch, let them touch it to find out how it feels.
- Roll a ball back and forth. Make a “Wheee!” sound when you roll it toward them.
- Play obstacle course. Make a simple obstacle course using blankets, pillows, or boxes. See if your child can go “over,” “under,” “around,” and “through” them.
- Make art. Your toddler will enjoy scribbling with a crayon or chalk. They can also experiment with folding or tearing paper.
- Play guessing games. For example, put a few objects in a bag and have your child guess what’s inside without looking. They can feel, smell, and shake the bag.
- Act it out. Toddlers will start to imitate grown-up activities, like putting a doll to sleep or giving it a shot. Follow their lead and play along.
- Let them problem-solve. If your toddler is concentrating on something, stand back and see what they can figure out by themselves. If they get stuck, give just enough help so they keep going and don’t give up.
Books for Toddlers
Can You Cuddle Like a Koala? by Call Number: JP BUTLERISBN: 9781561452989Publication Date: 2003-09-01From leaping like a frog to winking like an owl, acclaimed author-illustrator John Butler will delight the very young with this simple, interactive look at different animals and the way they move.Butler's lavish portraits feature wide-eyed animals in their natural surroundings. The simple text will invite spirited responses from young children as they imitate the animals in the story, until finally, at the end, they are instructed to Close your eyes tight and rest your sleepy head.
Clap Your Hands by Call Number: JP CAULEYISBN: 9780399221187Publication Date: 1992-03-25Rhyming text instructions the listener to find something yellow, roar like a lion, give a kiss, tell a secret, spin in a circle, and perform other playful activities.
Dance with Me by Call Number: JP SMITHISBN: 9780763622466Publication Date: 2008-09-09When you feel the beat, come on and dance Shake your head, scrunch your nose, rub your belly, stand on your toes Full of rhythm and movement, this dynamic picture book will get you dancing some funky moves
Jake at Gymnastics by Call Number: JP ISADORAISBN: 9780399160486Publication Date: 2014-06-12Join Jake at gymnastics class and- hop like a frog balance on the beam turn somersaults and so much more! Wow! What fun! Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora's irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy!
On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Call Number: JP ALEMAGNAISBN: 9780062657602Publication Date: 2017-09-12This picture book with startlingly beautiful words and pictures will spur imagination and a break from boredom or screen time. Now a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year and Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year! All I want to do on a rainy day like today is play my game. My mom says it's a waste of time, but without my game, nothing is fun! On the other hand, maybe I'm wrong about that... .
Step Gently Out by Call Number: JP FROSTISBN: 9780763656010Publication Date: 2012-03-13Stunning close-up photography and a lyrical text implore children to look more closely at the world around them. Be still, and watch a single blade of grass. An ant climbs up to look around. A honeybee flies past. What would happen if you walked very, very quietly and looked ever so carefully at the natural world outside? You might see a cricket leap, a moth spread her wings, or a spider step across a silken web. In simple, evocative language, Helen Frost offers a hint at the many tiny creatures around us.
In My World by Call Number: JP EHLERTISBN: 9780152162696Publication Date: 2002-04-01Creeping bugs and wiggling worms, splashing rain and glittering stars--nobody notices the details of the world around them more than children--and artists. Take a walk with bestselling picture book creator Lois Ehlert in this vibrant die-cut celebration of nature's many wonders. Complete with a simple rebus game, this gentle book of discovery will inspire readers of all ages to share their love for nature--and to look at the world in a whole new way.
More Materials about Movement and Play
Great DVDs for Movin' and Groovin'
Yoga for Kids: Dino-mite Adventure Yoga kids ABCs Yoga Kids Silly to Calm
Check out some great Parenting books below!
125 Brain Games for Babies by Call Number: J 649.5 SILISBN: 9780876593912Publication Date: 2012-07-01Updated to reflect the latest research about how children learn; the revised edition of 125 Brain Games for Babies is a fun-filled collection of ways to develop the brain capacity of infants. Included are everyday opportunities to nurture brain development in the critical period from birth through twelve months. Each game and sensory experience presented includes an annotation on the latest brain research and how the activity promotes brain power in babies.
125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos by Call Number: J 649.5 SILISBN: 9780876593929Publication Date: 2012-07-01A young child's brain grows at a phenomenal rate in the first years of life. Revised and updated to reflect the latest research on how children learn, 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos is packed with everyday opportunities to contribute to brain development. Each game is accompanied by an annotation on the latest brain research and how the activity promotes brain power in the critical period between twelve and thirty-six months.
365 Games Babies Play by Call Number: J 649.5 ELLISBN: 9781402201080Publication Date: 2003-04-01Each day with your baby brings new moments of caring, teaching, holding and growing through baby's first experiences. Filled with magical ways to create and enhance those special everyday moments, 365 Games Babies Play will help you celebrate each once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you and your baby share. Book jacket.
Brain Games for Your Child by Call Number: J 649.5 FISISBN: 9780285640436Publication Date: 2012-04-01The result of three decades of research by an internationally acclaimed expert, this book is packed with more than 200 individual games to help children of varying ages and abilities build their thinking, language, and social skills--and have fun at the same time. Ideal for parents, teachers, and nursery school staff, each game is clearly introduced to explain the skills it will develop. Both brain games and travel games cover a wide range of ages--from just a few months to nine years old--so the book can be used for many years and within families of multiple kids. Helping to create lasting bonds with parents, siblings, and caregivers, the games and activities outlined will produce clear improvements to a child's mind and make positive developments in literacy and numeracy, musical and reasoning skills, and physical dexterity.
The Everything Toddler Activities Book by Call Number: J 649.5 LEVISBN: 9781440529788Publication Date: 2012-01-15You play with your toddler, but is she learning? You teach your toddler, but is he having fun? Now you can play and teach your toddler at the same time with this book. Written by an experienced child-care expert, this informative and fun guide shows you how to stimulate your child's development with age-appropriate, enjoyable, and educational activities such as: Making Puppets Margarine Tub Jellyfish Dinosaur Eggs Flower Crowns Story in a Bag Camping "Out" Plus rhymes and songs, holiday fun, and crafts galore! This updated edition also includes quick and easy activities for busy parents and new activities you can use to curb your child's tantrums. So if keeping your toddler busy is a challenge--and it usually is--here's the answer you've been waiting for.
Let's Play and Learn Together by Call Number: J 649.5 LEIISBN: 9781592334957Publication Date: 2012-01-01Playing with your baby is more than fun and games: it's the key to building a strong relationship with your infant and providing important early stimulation that promotes learning and development. Let's Play and Learn Together provides 100 games, activities, and exercises that parents can do with their baby to foster cognitive, motor, and language skills as well as creativity and relational skills. Let's Play and Learn Together shows parents how they can use daily caregiving routines such as feeding, diapering, dressing, bathing, and bedtime as opportunities for play, positive emotional attachment, and learning. You'll also find play ideas for each age and stage and for different developmental levels.
A Little Bit of Dirt by Call Number: J 649.5 CITISBN: 9781943147045Publication Date: 2016-03-22Dandelion Bubbles, Rain Drums, Seed Bomb Lollipops and more! Bursting with creative hands-on outdoor science and art activities,A Little Bit of Dirt is full of motivation to get outside and explore. Whether you're investigating the health of your local stream, making beautiful acrylic sunprints with leaves and flowers, running an experiment with your backyard birds, or concocting nature potions, you'll be fostering an important connection with nature. The engaging activities encourage the use of the senses and imagination and are perfect for all ages. Discover more about the natural world waiting just outside your door!
Retro Baby by Call Number: J 649.5 ZACISBN: 9781581108118Publication Date: 2013-10-29Baby bouncers, carriers, electronic toys, and "educational" videos are intended to make our children smarter and our lives easier, but can their overuse negatively impact infant development? Absolutely. Retro Baby: Cut Back on Infant Gear, Media and Smart Toys, and Boost Your Baby's Development with Time-Tested Activities helps caregivers understand the potential dangers of extended equipment use and overexposure to technology. Retro Baby brings 20 years of experience from an occupational therapist and mother of three into your home. Anne Zachry, Ph.D. understands that each family and baby have different needs, and she offers flexible strategies and suggestions for playtime. With "back to the basic" ideas, Dr. Zachry gives you lots of opportunities to spend one-on-one time with your baby, creating that special bond that will last a lifetime.
