ROCKING & ROLLING
Planning
Guided Play Experiences with Babies and Toddlers
Rebecca Parlakian, with Ijumaa Jordan
Damaris( 9 months) is lying on his back on a soft, firm carpet. He is mouthing a rubber spatula— one of the objects his teacher, Leticia, placed on the floor for babies to explore. He occasionally takes it out of his mouth and lifts it into the air, gazes at it, then mouths it a bit more. After another minute, he drops it and rolls to his side. He gazes at the whisk and the spoon. He touches the whisk and runs his fingers along the metal wires. He picks it up, rolls onto his back, and holds the whisk up in the air. He shakes it and smiles.
Next, he places it in his mouth— or tries to. He finds the whisk doesn’ t fit! He can only put his lips around one of the metal wires. He quickly drops it to his side. Leticia holds up the spoon and asks,“ Would you like to try the spoon next?” He reaches for it and begins to explore.
96 Young Children
Fall 2026