| How to Stimulate Gross Motor Skills in Infants Posted: 29 Jul 2021 01:00 AM PDT It's amazing how much babies grow and develop during their first year. You've probably seen baby calendars with iconic milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking—all gross motor skills that your baby should learn. If you or your baby's pediatrician is concerned that your infant needs a little encouragement with their gross motor skills, read on for fun suggestions to strengthen and motivate them. [Edit]Give your baby room to explore and move. - Set them down in a safe space so they can stretch and kick. If your baby is very young, unswaddle them and spread a blanket on the floor. Lay your baby down on their back so they can move their body. Once your baby can hold up their head, you can put them down on their side so they can practice rolling. The important thing is to give them room to move their body—don't automatically put them into a swing, baby seat, or bouncer where they're contained.[1]
- Always set your baby on a flat surface like a blanket on the floor that they won't roll off of.
- Kicking and waving their arms helps your baby strengthen their muscles.
- If your baby likes reaching for things, lay them on a baby mat that has toys hanging above them. Your baby won't be able to resist reaching up to play!
[Edit]Lay your baby on their tummy for a few minutes. - Daily tummy time strengthens your baby's upper body muscles. Lay your baby down on their stomach and give them a minute to move, stretch, or rock from side to side. Keep tummy time short—plan on 1 minute for every month of your baby's age. For example, a 3-month old can do around 3 minutes while a 6-month old can handle around 6 minutes.[2]
- Don't leave your baby unattended during tummy time since they should only do it for about a minute.
- You can start doing tummy time once your baby has enough strength to lift up their own head.
- Some babies really don't like tummy time! If your baby fusses and cries, try making it more comfortable and fun. Lay your baby on a cushion and stay close by. Ring a bell or sing a song so they turn their body to look at you.
[Edit]Sit behind your child and engage with them. - Sitting might not seem like a skill, but it actually strengthens their back and core muscles. To help your kiddo learn to balance, place them on the floor and sit behind them or put a big, soft toy behind them so they can lean back if they need to. Then, put toys in front of your baby or sing songs with them to let them know that you're still there.[3]
- Your baby may be a little wobbly at first—this is totally okay! With a little practice, your baby will become more confident and steady.
- To engage your baby, you might hold your hands out in front of them and do patty cake or the itsy bitsy spider.
[Edit]Give your little one toys that make sounds. - Set out noisy toys so your baby has to shake or bang them. Babies are curious and constantly learning about the world around them. Stimulate their interest by putting out pots and pans. Then, give them wooden spoons so they can stretch their arms and bang the spoons on the pots. You can also put beads inside a sealable plastic container and encourage your baby to shake it back and forth.[4]
- Don't offer toys with small parts that your baby could choke on.
- These may not seem like serious gross motor exercises, but these noisy toys get your baby moving!
- Your baby will have more fun if you're playing with them. Occasionally, ask your baby to hand you a spoon or shaker. This way, they turn their body and stretch their arm out to you.
[Edit]Set toys just out of your baby's reach. - Motivate your baby to stretch, crawl, or walk by putting a toy in front of them. If your baby dislikes tummy time or needs some encouragement to try walking, make it fun for them! Hold their favorite toy or a new item just out of their reach and say, "Come and get it!" If your baby doesn't try, move the toy a little closer and encourage them again.[5]
- Don't have any new toys? No worries—babies love checking out new things. You could set out measuring spoons or a stack of plastic measuring cups, for instance.
[Edit]Crawl around on the floor with your kiddo. - Get down on the floor and model crawling behavior. Some babies start shuffling and dragging themselves along, but others need a little encouragement to crawl. Join your baby on the floor and crawl in front of them. Then, turn back to them and say something like, "Come on! Crawl to me!"[6]
- If your baby is still hesitant to crawl, set up a little baby tunnel for them to crawl through and explore.
- Make crawling a game—set your baby down on their tummy and roll a ball in front of them to chase.
[Edit]Hold your baby up by their arms and bounce them while they stand. - Pull your baby up into a standing position with their feet on your knees. While you hold them under their armpits, gently bounce your knees a few times. This helps them learn balance and strengthens their leg muscles.[7]
- Remember, your baby will have more chances at standing if they're not strapped into a stroller or sling all the time.
[Edit]Give your baby a push toy to get them cruising. - Set out walking push toys or hold your baby's hands as they learn to walk. Once your baby has figured out standing, they may take a few cautious steps on their own. For a little extra support, give them a push toy that they walk behind. This is more helpful than strapping them into a walker with a seat. You can also walk with them! Hold both of their hands as they toddle so they feel stable.[8]
- Take off your baby's socks and let them walk barefoot. Shoes might feel awkward to learn in and your baby may slip in socks.
- If you've got stairs, put up a baby gate so your baby can't fall down them or climb up where they're not supposed to be. Close doors to rooms that you don't want your baby in, too.
[Edit]Have a dance party to get your baby moving. - Turn on some music and start dancing! Exaggerate your gestures so your baby tries to mimic you. You might wiggle, shake, turn your body, clap your hands, stomp your feet, or wave scarves around. Switch up the music to find out what your baby likes. You'll probably see them start to bounce or twist as they get into the music, too![9]
- If your baby loves music, try playing games while you play music in the background. You sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth, for instance.
[Edit]Take your baby to parks or play spaces. - Let your baby scramble over play equipment once they're crawling or walking. Help your baby pick up more challenging skills by letting them explore different surfaces. Set them down to play around on the beach or crawl through the grass at the park. Give them the opportunity to practice walking up slopes or stairs, too.[10]
- Most playgrounds have a smaller area for babies and toddlers. These are usually away from bigger kids so your baby can play safely.
- Remember, babies learn at their own pace so be flexible with what you expect your baby to do. If you have concerns that they're not meeting important milestones, reach out to your baby's pediatrician.
[Edit]Warnings - Always supervise your baby when they're playing or exploring. Never set them down on an elevated surface like a changing table and walk away.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Stocking Flowers Posted: 28 Jul 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you have old stockings or worn-out pantyhose, or if you're just interested in learning how to make delicate artificial flowers, crafting stocking flowers may become your new favorite hobby. With just a handful of materials, you can create beautiful arrangements that allow you to enjoy your favorite blooms all year long. [Edit]Forming the Petals - Buy gold or copper crafting wire from your local craft store. Any kind of crafting or floral wire that is thin and flexible will work for this project, but gold or copper will look lovely. Even though the wire will be covered with stocking, it'll still be slightly visible.[1]
- You'll also need wire cutters and a small pair of pliers so that you don't hurt yourself on the wire.
- In general, 24-34 gauge (0.51-.016mm) wire will work best for this type of project, though slightly thicker wire would work, too.
- Choose a flower to replicate for your project. You may already have a flower in mind, and the great thing about this type of craft is that you can make almost any flower with enough time and patience. You just need to know the shape of the petals and how many you need for each flower. Look at photos of your favorite flowers to get inspired. Here are a few of the more common flowers that are great for beginners:[2]
- Create a tulip with 5 petals that come to a rounded tip at the end.
- Make a pansy with 3 round petals and 2 smaller ones in the center.
- Craft a daisy with 10 oblong petals.
- Form an orchid with 5 round petals and 3 smaller ones in the center.
- Cut pieces of wire that are the same size for however many petals you need. About of wire will be large enough to create most petals, and you can always trim away excess material if you need to. Safely cut through the wire with a pair of wire cutters, and set the pieces to the side so they don't get lost.[3]
- A piece of wire will make a petal that's about long.
- You can also make larger flowers by cutting longer pieces of wire.
- Create a loop with each piece of wire and twist the ends together. To make sure each petal is the same size, wrap the wire around something small, like a pill bottle, the rod of a curling iron, or a tube of lipstick. Twist the ends together with a pair of jewelry pliers and leave about of wire hanging off of the petal.[4]
- You'll use the small remaining section of wire to securely attach each petal to the stem later on.
- You can trim off excess wire with a pair of wire cutters.
- Create a ridge on your petals by crimping the wire with jewelry pliers. Some petals, like those on anemones, balsams, buttercups, and carnations, don't have perfectly smooth edges. Add textural detail by taking your pliers and gently bending the wire along the edge to create soft ridges.[5]
- This is where having a photo of the flower can come in handy. But remember, it's okay if there are some imperfections to your creation!
- Pull a piece of stocking over the petal and tie it in place with a piece of thread. You can pre-cut pieces of stocking or you can work with one big piece and cut it as you go. Wrap the stocking over the petal and pull it taut so there aren't any loose sections. Take a piece of thread and wrap it around the bottom of the petal several times before knotting it.[6]
- If you want the petals to be darker in color or less opaque, wrap a second piece of stocking over the first.[7]
- Pink, purple, and yellow stockings can create a lot of different kinds of flowers, though you can get creative with a variety of colors just depending on what you have available.
- If you don't have the right colored stockings already at home, you can buy pairs from the dollar store or you could even use food dye to color beige stockings yourself.
- Cut away any excess stocking material from the petal. Take your scissors and carefully cut just beneath the knot you made. It may help to stretch the stocking away from the petal so you can get as close to the knot as possible.[8]
- If there's enough excess material, you can use it to create another petal.
[Edit]Attaching the Petals to the Stem - Cut a piece of wire to use as the flower's stem. Remember, you can always cut off excess wire, but you can't as easily add more length. If you're uncertain of how long you want the stem to be, add an additional on top of the original .[9]
- If you do decide you want the stem to be longer, you can attach more with florist tape.
- Loop the end of the stem around the middle of 3-4 plastic stamens. Purchase stamens from your local craft store—you can generally buy a large pack for just a few dollars, and there are a variety of colors you can choose from. Wrap the end of the wire from the stem around the middle of the stamens and fold them so they're all pointing in the same direction.[10]
- Some flowers have just a few stamens, while others have dozens; use your reference picture to make your flower as accurate as possible.
- On a real flower, the stamen is made up of an anther and a filament. They're the part of the flower that sticks up out of the center, and they're responsible for carrying pollen.[11]
- Tie the first petal to the stem using thread. To most accurately resemble a flower, the smaller petals should be closest to the stem, so pick one of your smaller petals to start with. Place it against the stem so that the bottom of the petal, where the wires are twisted together, rests against the section of wire that's holding the stamens. Wrap thread around the petal and wire 5-6 times before knotting the thread and trimming the end.[12]
- For the sturdiest flower, you'll want to attach one petal at a time. This will reduce the chance that any of them will come loose.
- Add the additional petals, slightly overlapping them to create a full bloom. As you position the next petal, let it overlap about 1/3 of the first one. Wrap the thread around, knot it, and cut the end. Once the smaller petals are in place, add the larger ones using the same technique.[13]
- Don't worry about the thread getting too thick around the stem. It'll just make the stem look more realistic once it's covered with florist tape.
- Wrap green florist tape around the stem from the bottom of the petals down. At the top of the stem, wrap the tape around the wire and thread 4 or 5 times to make sure they're totally covered. Continue wrapping the tape around the wire in a downward spiral, overlapping the tape as you go to create a thick, sturdy stem.[14]
- You could also use brown florist tape if you're creating a flower that grows on a brown stem rather than a green one, like meadowsweet or flowers that bloom on trees.
- Adjust the petals if needed by bending them to make them look more realistic. You may need to gently bend the petals backward so the bloom looks like it's opening up, or you may need to bend them inward so they look more crowded. You may want to push the sides in to make them curved, or you could just move them around a little to make sure the flower looks symmetrical.[15]
- The great thing about wire is that you can bend and re-bend it as needed. If you make a mistake, simply push the wire back and try again.
[Edit]Adding Final Touches - Use a marker to draw small details on each petal. You could color around the edge of each petal to create a color gradation, or you could add fine lines to create a specific pattern unique to the flower you made. Opt for a fine-tipped marker rather than a broad one so that you have more control.[16]
- Before drawing on your completed flower, test the marker on a scrap piece of stocking. If the ink bleeds and spreads over the petal, you may want to try a different kind of marker or skip this step altogether.
- Add small green leaves to the stem to make your flower more realistic. Create the leaves the same way you did the petals, with wire and green stocking. Tie the leaves to the stem at varying heights, then wrap green florist tape around them to keep them in place.[17]
- Similarly, you could add multiple blooms to a single stem if you want.
- Attach buds that haven't blossomed yet to add more detail. Take two small pieces of wire, create loops with them, and then wrap one around the other to create a circle. Bend the wires slightly to make the circle into an oblong shape, then cover it with stocking and attach it to the stem with thread and florist tape.[18]
- You could even give the bud its own short stem and connect that to the larger one with tape.
- "Pot" your flowers in a container filled with floral foam to finish your project. Buy floral foam from your local craft store and cut a piece to fill the bottom of a small pot or container. Stick the end of the wire into the foam and position it so it's bending the way you want.[19]
- Add multiple flowers to a single pot to create a beautiful display.
- Stocking or pantyhose can be purchased from dollar stores in a range of colors; this is helpful if you don't want to use your own.
- You could dye nylon pantyhose with food coloring to create your own colors.
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful while you work with the wire. The ends tend to be pretty sharp and can poke or scratch you.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Colored stockings or pantyhose
- Crafting or floral wire
- Green florist tape
- Wire cutter
- Pliers
- Thread
- Pack of stamens
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Get Notified when Someone Posts on Instagram Posted: 28 Jul 2021 09:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you to receive an Instagram notification every time a particular user shares a new post. In addition to regular photo and video posts, you can also set up notifications for your favorite users' stories, IGTV videos, and live streams. - Open Instagram on your phone or tablet. It's the pink, purple, and orange camera icon on your home screen or in your app drawer.
- Tap the profile icon. It's the person icon at the bottom-right corner. This opens your own profile.
- If the person you want to receive notifications from has a photo or video post that already appears in your feed, you can also tap the three dots at the top-right corner of the post and select Turn on Post Notifications. But that only works for regular photo and video posts; you won't be able to set up notifications for stories, lives, or IGTV that way. Read on to learn how to set up all types of Instagram posting notifications.
- Tap . It's at the upper-right corner of the screen. This displays a list of everyone you're following.
- Tap the person for whom you want to create notifications. You can scroll through the list or type the person's username into the "Search" bar to find someone quickly. When you tap the person's name, their profile will expand.
- You can only receive notifications for posts from people you are already following.
- Tap the bell icon. It's at the top-right corner of the screen. This opens the Notifications menu.
- Tap the "Posts" switch to turn it on . This ensures that you are notified each time this person shares a new post on Instagram.
- If you want to be notified when this person shares Stories or IGTV videos, you can toggle those switches on as well.
- To be notified when this person goes live, tap Live Videos, and then choose the frequency at which you want to be notified.
- To disable notifications for a user, go to their profile, tap the bell icon, and toggle off the switch(es).
- If you are having trouble receiving notifications after turning this on, make sure that push notifications for Instagram are also turned on in your phone's settings.[1] On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings app > Notifications and toggle on the switch if it's off. On Android, go to Settings app > Apps > Instagram > Notifications and toggle on "Show notifications" if it's off.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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