Infants experience more physical growth in their first year than at any other time in their lives. Every reach, kick, roll, and wobble counts as meaningful development and lays the groundwork for the motor skills they'll master as toddlers and preschoolers.
But physical growth is only part of the story. As Steve Sanders, EdD, notes in Encouraging Physical Activity in Infants, children learn about the world through movement, and those early movements play a crucial role in their overall development during the first five years. When babies move and explore, they're not just exercising. They're learning, growing, and taking in their world in ways that shape their bodies, brains, and feelings.
So how can you help babies move and grow in your infant classroom? Like all areas of early development, children look to caregivers as guides. In this article, we've listed seven simple, fun activities that help babies develop the motor skills they need to roll over, crawl, and walk.
According to Encouraging Physical Activity in Infants, physical activity should be part of an infant's daily routine for healthy development. But you might be thinking, "How do I find time for physical movement between feedings, naps, and diaper changes?" The good news is that physical activity for infants doesn't require extra time. It often happens in the in-between moments of the day.
In the book, Sanders recommends including short periods of play and movement at least twice a day. You can start with three-minute periods. Then build up to thirty minutes as the baby gets older. These moments can happen during transitions, between care routines, and even during outdoor time.
The goal is to provide safe, secure spaces for babies to move and explore independently, as Beverly Kovach and Denise Da Ros-Voseles note in their book Being with Babies: Understanding and Responding to the Infants in Your Care.
Setting up safe movement zones helps babies explore freely while giving you peace of mind. Begin by clearing a space in your classroom where infants can stretch, roll, and practice new motor skills without obstacles or distractions.
Once the space is defined, focus on making it both safe and inviting. Use soft furnishings, such as pillows, plush mats, or quilts, to cushion movement and create comfortable areas for tummy time and rolling.
To maintain a safe movement environment:
Infants are naturally curious and eager to explore. A safe, thoughtfully designed movement area supports that exploration while helping them build confidence in their growing abilities.
At this age, physical activities should help babies develop balance, coordination, and muscle strength while allowing them to move freely. The activities below provide daily opportunities for movement, turning every wiggle, roll, and reach into moments of healthy growth and development.
Overhead play mats and gyms create engaging spaces where babies can stretch, reach, and build strength in their growing bodies. Reaching for hanging toys works the back and shoulders while encouraging babies to cross the midline, or reach from one side of their body to the other. These foundational skills pave the way for later milestones, such as crawling and walking.
Physical skills the activity supports: Reaching and grasping, crossing the midline, shoulder and back strength, hand-eye coordination
Best for age: Birth to 4 months (when babies start to discover their bodies and how they move)
What you'll need:
Tummy time is one of the most essential activities for infant development. Starting around six weeks, it helps babies build the neck, back, and core strength needed for rolling, sitting, crawling, and eventually walking.
For mirrored tummy time, simply place a mirror in front of the baby. As they observe their reflection—facial features, expressions, and movements—they become motivated to lift and hold their heads up longer, strengthening their muscles while supporting visual tracking.
Start with just a few minutes at a time. Place the baby on their tummy on a soft mat. Some babies may resist at first due to limited head control, but with practice and encouragement, lifting and holding their heads becomes among the first skills they master.
Physical skills the activity supports: Head control, neck and core strength, shoulder stability, visual tracking (mirrored tummy time)
Best for age: 6 weeks and older
What you'll need:
According to Encouraging Physical Activity in Infants, the sense of touch helps babies learn about their bodies and how they move. When they grab and squish different textures—like in a sensory bin—they’re creating new memories that’ll help them learn other skills later on.
For infants, keep it simple. Let them scoop water in a shallow bin, squeeze a rubber ball with ridges and grooves, or explore different types of fabrics. Every scoop, squeeze, or roll helps strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and build the grip they’ll need for skills like feeding themselves, throwing a ball, or turning a tricycle handle.
Physical skills the activity supports: Fine motor skills, grip strength, proprioception (understanding how their arms, legs, and bodies move in space), spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination
Best for age: 3 months and older
What you'll need:
As infants begin to crawl, usually around six to nine months, their focus shifts to exploring their surroundings and moving through them. To support this exploration, set up infant-friendly courses that help them practice crawling, climbing, and reaching as they move through your space.
Place pillows, tunnels, low ramps, and textured mats in a safe area of the classroom. Invite infants into the course by joining them on the floor. Offer praise, place a favorite toy just out of reach, or gently tap a tunnel or ramp to spark interest and movement.
Physical skills the activity supports: Upper- and lower-body muscle strength, balance, and spatial awareness. As a bonus, they also sharpen their problem-solving skills as they figure out how to move around, over, or through the objects.
Best for age: 6-12 months (crawling stage)
What you'll need:
Activities that involve gentle, guided movement can promote muscle strength, balance, and spatial awareness while strengthening the bond between the caregiver and infant. Try these activities during designated movement times or as part of daily routines, such as morning circle or after diaper changes. Keep sessions short and playful, and move at the infant’s pace while offering gentle support and encouragement.
Try these gentle movement ideas to get started:
Physical skills the activity supports: Leg strength, arm and shoulder strength, balance, spatial awareness, and muscle coordination
Best for age: Birth to 8 months
What you'll need:
As babies approach their first birthday, they often begin pulling themselves up to stand and cruise along furniture. You can support these new skills by creating safe spaces to practice.
Furnish your classroom with sturdy, infant-sized furniture that won’t tip over, and set up a clear “cruising” path where babies can move safely from one piece to another. Place toys on low tables or shelves to encourage them to stand and reach, and stay nearby to offer gentle support as needed.
This cruising practice strengthens leg muscles, improves balance, and develops coordination, so babies grow into confident, capable walkers.
Physical skills the activity supports: Leg strength, balance, weight shifting, spatial awareness, confidence in upright movement
Best for age: 8-12 months
What you'll need:
Every movement matters in the first year of life. When you give infants safe spaces to explore and activities that challenge their developing skills, you turn every movement—big or small—into an opportunity for growth. By adding these activities and movements into your daily routines, you're not just helping babies build strength and coordination. You're showing them that they’re capable, confident, and ready to discover the world around them.
Looking for a comprehensive curriculum for your infant or toddler classroom? Learn Every Day®: The Program for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos is a research-based, year-round program that incorporates play into children’s daily learning routines to enhance their growth and development. Reach out to your local Kaplan representative to see if this resource is the right fit for your childcare program.