SparKits
Visual Tracking
Let's Begin
Gather Materials
Bubbles
Scarf
Step 1
Bubble blowing is a great activity for many ages and is great for indoor or outdoor play. For your young infant, bubbles are a fun way to help develop visual skills. Bubbles are eye-catching and slow moving so they are an excellent way to help encourage your child to focus and track visually. The same is true in using the scarf for tracking. It is slow moving, colorful and visually pleasing.
Step 2
Start with baby in either a lying down or sitting up position. Slowly move the scarf back and forth in baby’s line of vision. Watch to see it catch his eye and see that he follows the scarf with his eyes. What is his reaction? Perhaps still or, he may kick his legs, and move his arms in a delighted response.
Step 3
Now, try the bubbles. Again, start with baby in either a lying down or sitting up position, and blow bubbles in baby’s direction and line of sight. Watch as he looks for and follows the bubbles. What response does he have this time?
CDC Milestones
Curious about your child’s development? All children develop at their own pace, but the Center for Disease Control’s developmental milestones can be a helpful guideline. Here are a few examples:
1-year-old
- Shows fear in some situations
- Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
- Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
18-months-old
- Explores alone but with parent close by
- Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures
- Drinks from a cup
2-years-old
- Shows more and more independence
- Knows names of familiar people and body parts
- Might use one hand more than the other
Additional family resources
Early Learning with ECA
Learning begins at birth. ECA provides foundations for learning, starting with age-appropriate experiences for infants, toddlers, and preschool. ECA also offers a range of family support programs that encourage family involvement with children’s learning.
Free tips and learning games
This free texting service provides quality, developmental information for parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight right to your phone. Messages include research-based, age-appropriate content from national experts, along with local updates of events and resources.
Free resources at your library
Your local library has many resources for you as a parent as well as for your child. We encourage you to take advantage of all they have to offer. For an online list of libraries by city, go to publiclibraries.com/state
Find help in your community
Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-502-0700 for free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral assistance. Trained 2-1-1 Specialists can connect you to local organizations that can assist you with food, housing, health care, transportation, education and more.
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Use of the materials described above are done so at your own risk and any children interacting with these materials should do so only under close adult supervision.
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