Gull Lake Community Schools

Making Connections School Readiness

4 Month Check List

Communication

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My Baby can:

I can teach my baby by:

Things I may need to help me teach

 

Chuckle softy.

Talking, singing and playing with her.

Spending time with my baby

 

Stop crying when he sees me after I have been out of sight.

Holding my baby and playing with him.

Spending time with my baby

 

Stop crying when she hears a voice other than mine.

Allow baby to know other friends and relatives

Allow friends and family members to hold, talk to and play with my baby.

 

Make high-pitched squeals.

Talking, singing and playing with her.

Spending time with my baby.

 

Laugh.

Talk and sing to your baby

Spending time with my baby.

 

Make sounds when looking at toys or people.

Talking, singing and make sound effects while playing with toys.

Bright colored toys, other people spending time with my baby.

4 Months

Gross Motor Skills

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My Baby can:

I can teach my baby by:

Things I may need to help me teach

 

Move his head from side to side.

Show baby toys or your wiggling fingers, move them side to side while baby watches.

Toys, or your wiggling your fingers

 

Lay her head back down on the floor instead of letting it drop or fall forward when she has been holding her head up while on her tummy .

Helping her play on her tummy for short times throughout the day.

Books, pictures, bright colored toys for her to look at by pushing herself up, a towel rolled up to place under arms to help her hold up head.

 

Hold his head up so that his chin is about 3 inches from the floor for at least 15 seconds when he is on his tummy.

Placing bright colored toys for him to look up at

Books, pictures, bright colored toys for her to look at by pushing herself up, a towel rolled up to place under arms to help her hold up head.

 

Hold her head straight up, looking around when she is on her tummy.

Placing bright colored toys for him to look up at

Books, pictures, bright colored toys for her to look at by pushing herself up, a towel rolled up to place under arms to help her hold up head.

 

Hold his head steady when I am holding him in a sitting position.

Sit on the floor with your legs straddled and hold baby in a seated position

Spend time with my baby, toys for baby to look at.

 

Bring her hands together over her chest, touching her fingers while she is on her back.

Let baby play on her back and hold toys for her to reach for.

Place toys just within reach so baby is encouraged to move toward them

 

4 Months

Fine Motor

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My Baby can:

I can teach my baby by:

Things I may need to help me teach

 

Hold his hands open or partly open, rather than in a fists.

Offering her toys within her reach.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Wave a toy about that I have put in her hand.

Offering him toys within his reach

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Grab or scratch at his clothes.

Offering finger foods such as cereal or bread cubes.

Finger foods that are safe for your child to eat.

 

Hold onto a toy that I have put in her hands for about a minute while looking at it, waving it about, or trying to chew it.

Offering small toys while child is seated.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Grab or scratch his fingers on a surface in front of him, either while being held in a sitting position or when he is on his tummy.

Let baby play on tummy on a blanket with a patterns or designs. Hold baby in seated position on the blanket.

A blanket or sheet with a pattern for baby to look at and touch.

 

Reach for a toy on a table close by, even though her hand may not touch it when I hold her in a sitting position.

Offer toys or books while baby is seated.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

4 Months

Problem Solving

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My Baby can:

I can teach my baby by:

Things I may need to help me teach

 

Follow his eyes on a toy that I move slowly from side to side about 10 inches in front of his face.

Offering 2 – 3 toys in front of baby.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Follow a toy that I move up and down about 10 inches in front of his face with his eyes.

Offer toys to baby and move them around while he plays on his back.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Look at a toy that you place on the floor or table in front of him when I am holding his in a sitting position.

Show baby toys and books.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Look at a toy that I have placed in her hand.

Placing toys in her hands.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Put a toy that I have placed in her hand in her mouth.

Put a toy in his hand.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

Wave her arms around toward a toy that I am dangling above her when she is lying on her back.

Offer toys to baby and move them around while he plays on his back.

Toys, books, bright colored objects, small blankets that are a safe size

 

4 Months

Personal Social

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My Baby can:

I can teach my baby by:

Things I may need to help me teach

 

Watch his hands.

Holding baby in front of mirror.

Mirror

 

Play with her fingers when she has her hands together.

introducing baby to new people.

Taking baby to grocery store, church, park

 

Know she is about to be fed when she sees the breast or bottle.

Holding baby in front of mirror.

Mirror

 

Help hold the bottle with both hands at once or hold the beast when nursing with her free hand.

 

 

 

Smile when she sees me nearby before I smile or talk to him.

 

 

 

Smile or coo at herself when in front of a large mirror.

 

 

 

4 Months

Other Information

1. My baby hears well and I am not concerned. Yes No

2. My baby uses both hands equally well. Yes No

3. When I hold my baby standing, his feet are flat on the floor most of the time. Yes No

4. My baby’s parents do not have a history of hearing problems. Yes No

5. My baby has been healthy during the past 6 months. Yes No

6. Does anything about your child worry you? Yes No

If your baby can do 20 or more of the items on this survey – you are off to a good start. However, if your baby was unable to do 10 or more of the items please contact your doctor and:

Gull Lake Community Schools "Making Connections"

Steve Patterson, School Readiness Coordinator

315 Hutchinson Road

Battle Creek, MI  49083

269-964-4877

spatterson@gulllakecs.org