We used the disco ball back when Cian was 4 months old, to try and encourage tummy time. Cian is now 6 months old and loves tummy time. So much so, he will throw himself out of the bumbo, to get back on his tummy and carry on rolling around.

I spotted that he was transfixed with the disco ball during our ‘kitchen disco’ earlier on, so decided to update the activity and try it with sitting. This definitely distracted him from his chicken pox.

Resources

  • Disco ball

Method

Cian happily sat in his bumbo for 20 minutes! He is not a fan of sitting, but the disco ball kept him sitting for much longer than normal.

As a reward, for all his sitting, I let him explore the disco ball during tummy time.

He loved the disco ball so much that he happily went back for more bumbo time afterwards.

DfES Outcomes for EYFS (2013)

Communication and language

Listening and attention (Birth to 11 months)

• Turns towards a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.

• Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.

• Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.

• Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.

Speaking

Speaking (Birth to 11 months)

• Makes own sounds in response when talked to by familiar adults.

• Practises and gradually develops speech sounds (babbling) to communicate with adults; says sounds like ‘baba, nono, gogo’.

Physical development

Moving and handling (Birth to 11 months)

• Turns head in response to sounds and sights.

• Gradually develops ability to hold up own head.

• Makes movements with arms and legs which gradually become more controlled.

• Rolls over from front to back, from back to front.

• When lying on tummy becomes able to lift first head and then chest, supporting self with forearms and then straight arms.Watches and explores hands and feet, e.g. when lying on back lifts legs into vertical position and grasps feet.

• Reaches out for, touches and begins to hold objects.

Personal, social and emotional development

Self-confidence and self-awareness (Birth to 11 months)

• Laughs and gurgles, e.g. shows pleasure at being tickled and other physical interactions.

• Uses voice, gesture, eye contact and facial expression to make contact with people and keep their attention.

Managing feelings and behaviour (Birth to 11 months)

  • Shows a range of emotions such as pleasure, fear and excitement.

Making relationships (Birth to 11 months)

• Enjoys the company of others and seeks contact with others from birth.

• Responds when talked to, for example, moves arms and legs, changes facial expression, moves body and makes mouth movements.

• Recognises and is most responsive to main carer’s voice: face brightens, activity increases when familiar carer appears.