Do you know what we have been up to over here lately? Teaching baby how to crawl! Goodness, the big siblings are just loving helping this littlest one of ours develop her gross motor skills and meet all of these exciting milestones.
We did some research on crawling and learned all about the steps and stages involved with helping baby crawl. You might have seen the post I wrote all about that last week: Helping Baby Crawl with 5 Fun Games
In that post, I talk about the 5 sequential games we play to help teach baby to crawl. In this post, I thought we’d expand on those games giving you lots of activities to play with each of the sequential steps to learning to crawl.
Just before we get into the games, I have a free printable to share with you! These high-contrast animals are perfect for printing and using to build your baby’s coordination, tracking skills, and more! You can find that freebie below. I hope you love it!
Okay, onto the crawling! We start with the “Pre-Crawling Section” where you will find:
- activities for tummy time,
- activities that encourage reaching,
- and activities for baby in a sitting position.
If your little one is already starting to crawl, you can skip right to the “Crawling Section” to find:
- encouraging early crawling,
- crawling obstacle courses,
- and movement motivators
I hope you love these activities for your baby! And please remember, all children develop at their own time. I can attest to this first hand as none of my 4 children started crawling at the same time. Some were early, and some ‘late’ … none of which makes the slightest difference at this point in their development.
So relax Mama. And have some fun playing with these activities!
Pre-crawling Activities
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Activities for Tummy Time
Much of baby’s later development relies on the strength and coordination gained from tummy time practice in the early days. Early on, baby can practice supporting their head by simply resting on your shoulder in a burping position or by lying on your chest at a slight incline. Gradually you can introduce additional tummy time ideas to make the whole experience more enjoyable for everybody. Don’t worry, the wailing is totally normal.
Balls in a Muffin Tin by Cando Kiddo – How genius! Leaving balls inside a muffin tin helps baby practice spinning and grabbing balls without having them roll away.
Open Exploration of Books – Get down on the floor with your baby and explore some books together. Read short stories or books with one or two words per page. Alternatively, you can simply take baby’s lead and give her the vocabulary for the pictures she reacts to.
Texture Bags by Creative Play Ideas – Teaching baby how to crawl is so much easier when the floor is a more fascinating place than usual!
Tummy Time Outdoors – Lay baby on a blanket outside and have them explore the grass, rocks, and flowers that lie beyond the blanket. Be mindful of small objects when doing this.
Paint with Baby by At Home with Ashley (link no longer available) – This activity could work just as well by laying the canvas on the floor and allowing baby to tap at the paint from their tummy. You can use the texture bag idea above and place paint inside for a similar experience.
Textile Egg Cartons – Glue items with various textures to the bottom of an egg carton and let baby explore. Felt, sandpaper, canvas, tissue paper, cotton balls, leaves, bubble wrap – you name it!
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Activities that Encourage Reaching
When baby reaches for objects directly in front of them, they are strengthening important arm, back, and core muscles. Co-ordination also improves as they slowly shift their weight to balance their body to reach with one hand. These activities can be done while baby is sitting or on their tummy; both are beneficial in different ways.
Peek-a-boo – During tummy time, place a blanket over your face and watch them eagerly reach to remove it!
Toy Box Tip by Kiddy Charts – Tip a toy box and watch baby stretch, reach and shift their weight as they explore the box’s contents.
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Activities for Baby in a Sitting Position
Mama OT tells us that being able to transition between sitting and being on all fours is a very important development toward crawling. Until baby gets there, we can help baby practice with shifting their weight and turning at their core by playing in a sitting position outside of any support devices.
The Twist and Reach by Teaching Littles – Placing baby’s favorite toys just out of reach on either side can encourage baby to twist and shift their weight to play. This activity can help baby practice transitioning from a seated to a hands-and-knees position.
Tug of War – Improve baby’s sitting balance with a gentle tug of war. Give baby a towel or blankie and playfully tug to pull it away.
Scarves in the Kleenex Box – Place scarves and other soft materials in an empty Kleenex box and baby will sit content for a while!
Sing Songs – Singing with baby is a great way to keep them engaged while sitting. Songs that include hand gestures or funny noises are always a win! Rainy Day Mom provides an easy list of nursery rhyme songs that do just that.
Play Catch – Rolling a ball to your sitting baby encourages them to reach forward to grab the ball. This leaning forward action is especially helpful as baby learns to transition to being on all fours.
Crawling Activities
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Encouraging Early Crawling
As baby improves their reaching, balance, and coordination, crawling isn’t too far from the horizon. Mama OT mentions that babies usually begin crawling once they have established “a strong hand preference for which hand to move first (and fall forward onto) after time spent rocking and playing in the hands-and-knees position.”
Elevated Toys by Cando Kiddo – Get baby practicing that hands and knees position by placing their favorite toy on a floor mattress or couch cushions. Doing so will have them strengthen their core, leg, and arm muscles and improve coordination.
Homemade Baby Roller by Your Kids OT – Support your baby’s hips and guide them gently to roll forward as they reach for a toy. They will be improving their ability to shift weight between each arm.
Roll Ball through an Open Box – Open a box at both ends and roll the ball through. Baby will reach for the ball in anticipation of its arrival and they’ll be eager to crawl to catch it. Looking for the ball will also encourage them to pivot while on their tummies, which helps with coordination.
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Crawling Obstacle Courses
Soft Hide-and-Seek Obstacle Course by Teach me Mommy – When teaching baby how to crawl, the right motivation will get them moving! Lay out some of your baby’s favorite soft toys then hide them under various textured towels or blankets. Baby will love experiencing the different textures and the special surprises along the way.
Cushion Obstacle Course by Hands On as We Grow – Have baby explore the cushion mountain on their own or by hiding toys. This fun activity encourages baby to strengthen their arms and legs and fine-tune their balance.
Texture Crawl by I Can Teach My Child – Find objects with a variety of safe textures for baby and let them loose to crawl and explore.
Zig-Zag Obstacle Course by Hands On as We Grow – Place colorful toys along a zig-zag path to create a mini obstacle course. Start baby at one end and watch their motivation soar to crawl and explore!
Teaching Baby How to Crawl:
Movement Motivators
Tunnel Baby Game by Kids Activities – The delight in this activity comes from baby feeling the tickle of the leaves as they pass through the tunnel. You can attach feathers, yarn, plastic spoons, or other seasonal items like paper snowflakes.
Box Tunnel by The Imagination Tree – …Or you can use socks and a box! I just had to include this idea too!
Hide and Seek: Music Edition – Hide a variety of musical toys in an open space and encourage baby to listen and find them.
Photo Crawl by The Stay-at-Home Mom Survival Guide – Use photos from an old calendar or magazine and tape them to the floor for baby to explore.
Baby Scavenger Hunt – Start by pointing out a soft toy and naming it. Invite baby to come help you find another one you may have hidden or just placed further away. Baby might crawl with you right away or need some initial prompting.
Bubble Wrap Run by Play, Create, Explore – Babies and bubble wrap. Need I say more? Baby can explore freely or have them chase a bubble popping sibling.
Even MORE Movement Motivators
Crawl Tag – Start crawling away from your baby and look back to invite them to chase you. Alternatively, you could start by tickling their toes and see if they run away so you can start the chase!
Playing with Bubbles – This one could technically be used at any stage when teaching baby how to crawl. Baby will be eager to crawl and reach to pop the bubbles!
Play with Ice – Lay an outdoor vinyl tablecloth down indoors or out. Place ice cubes on the tablecloth and invite baby to grab and chase the sliding cubes.
Crawl and Paint by Bambini Travel – Messy is inevitable when teaching baby how to crawl, so why not embrace it to the fullest? Squirt some paint onto the paper, or place some into take-out tins and watch baby go!
Christie, a mom and occupational therapist at Mama OT, provides some great insights on the stages and development of crawling in this three part series. I found her thorough explanations on how different developmental milestones contribute to crawling very insightful, and helpful in writing this post.
I hope you found an idea or two just perfect for you and your little crawler… or your soon-to-be crawler!
Thank you so much for reading friends.
xo
Sarah
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