PD MH EE R2

  • Alongside the continuing role of adult bodies, the floor is the best enabling environment for babies at this stage.
  • Limit the time older babies spend in seats, highchairs, bouncers and other “containers” as this prevents the critical physical development that takes place through crawling.
  • Plan space to encourage free movement, while being kept safe by attentive adults. 
  • Maintain a familiar and nurturing environment that allows babies to feel secure, curious and adventurous, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Provide large cushions, tunnels, slopes and low-level steps or platforms to stimulate and challenge toddlers.
  • Offer continuous low-level surfaces outdoors as well as indoors, so that babies can pull up to a standing position, cruise sideways and take first steps.
  • Provide sturdy push-along carts, wheeled toys and pull-along toys indoors and out for pushing and pulling.
  • Use music to encourage and enjoy movements.
  • Make play resources easily and simply accessible on shelves and open containers for children to reach and fetch for themselves.
  • Provide resources that stimulate babies to handle and manipulate things, e.g. metal and wooden objects or board books.
  • Use gloop (cornflour and water) in small trays so that babies can enjoy putting fingers into it and lifting them out.