Enable older babies to have at least three hours a day moving and being active, taken in short periods, across the day and according to the child’s interest.
Develop a shared approach to managing risk that enables babies to explore and develop their abilities.
Ensure that clothing supports babies’ mobility for crawling and is not hindering or restrictive.
As much as possible, allow babies to put themselves into a sitting position rather than doing this for them.
Engage babies in varied active physical experiences, such as bouncing, rolling, rocking, swooping and splashing, both indoors and outdoors.
Encourage babies to use resources they can grasp, squeeze, tug and throw.
Be aware that babies may have limited awareness of things that might be dangerous for them.
Show babies different ways to make marks in dough or paint by swirling, poking or patting it.
Whilst supporting babies’ drive to stand and walk, continue to encourage plenty of floor play and crawling.
Help parents understand the value of waiting until babies are ready to take steps by themselves, rather than providing assistance to speed things along, so as to develop their own balance and control.
Provide plenty of time for babies to have bare feet during floor play and crawling, so that their feet can develop well.
