Maharat Infant Development Program
24-Week Parental Training Program (Ages 4 months - 3 years)
Program Overview
Learn what to expect from 4 months to 3 years. Understand developmental pathways, red flags, and when to seek support.
Explore tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, auditory, and visual sensory systems. Identify seekers vs. avoiders.
Build mobility, balance, core strength, hand-eye coordination, and early writing readiness.
Support pre-speech development, joint attention, eye contact, and early language modeling.
Strengthen mother-child bonding, emotional expression, co-regulation, and secure attachment.
Learn constructive behavior guidance, visual schedules, and positive reinforcement techniques.
Program Timeline
24-Week Curriculum
Infant Medical History & Assessment Form
Progress Tracking & Milestones
Developmental Milestone Checklist
Home Activities & Practice
Texture Exploration
Gather safe items with different textures: soft blankets, crinkly paper, smooth spoons, bumpy toys. Let your baby explore each texture for 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ Duration: 10-15 minutes | Frequency: Daily
Water Play
Fill a shallow basin with warm water. Let your baby splash, pour, and explore water. Supervise closely for safety.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: 2-3 times per week
Sound Exploration
Use pots, wooden spoons, bells, and shakers. Create different sounds and let your baby listen and respond.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: 3-4 times per week
Tummy Time
Place baby on tummy on a safe surface. Start with 3-5 minutes and gradually increase. Place toys just out of reach to encourage reaching.
⏱️ Duration: 5-10 minutes | Frequency: 3-4 times daily
Supported Sitting
Sit baby upright with pillow support. Gradually reduce support as balance improves. Surround with soft cushions for safety.
⏱️ Duration: 10-15 minutes | Frequency: Daily
Crawling Tunnel Play
Use a play tunnel or create one with blankets. Encourage baby to crawl through. Place toys at the end to motivate movement.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: 2-3 times per week
Grasping Practice
Offer toys of different sizes and textures. Let baby grasp and explore. Gradually introduce smaller objects as grip develops.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: Daily
Finger Painting
Use washable, non-toxic paint. Let baby explore colors and create marks. Supervise closely and wash hands after.
⏱️ Duration: 10-15 minutes | Frequency: 1-2 times per week
Stacking & Sorting
Use soft blocks, cups, or rings. Practice stacking and knocking down. Sort by color or size as skills develop.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: 3-4 times per week
Singing & Nursery Rhymes
Sing familiar songs and nursery rhymes daily. Use exaggerated expressions and movements. Pause for baby to respond.
⏱️ Duration: 10-15 minutes | Frequency: Daily
Narration & Self-Talk
Talk about what you're doing: "Now we're changing your diaper. I'm using a clean diaper." This builds language understanding.
⏱️ Duration: Throughout the day | Frequency: Continuous
Turn-Taking Games
Play peek-a-boo, pass a toy back and forth, or take turns making sounds. Wait for baby's response.
⏱️ Duration: 10 minutes | Frequency: Daily
Program Materials & Handouts
Document observations of your infant's development each week. Note new skills, behaviors, and areas for focus.
Comprehensive checklist of developmental milestones from birth to 3 years. Check off as your baby achieves each milestone.
Weekly checklist of recommended home activities. Track which activities you've completed each day.
Comprehensive handbook covering all 24 sessions, activities, and strategies for supporting infant development.
Set of 24 printable cards with quick activity ideas, one for each week of the program.
Template for baseline, mid-term, and final progress assessments. Use at weeks 1, 12, and 24.
Weekly Program Schedule
Registration, settling in, informal chat with other parents
Presentation on weekly topic with expert guidance and Q&A
Hands-on activities, sensory stations, interactive play with professional guidance
Individual feedback, handouts, and guidance for home practice
Connect with other parents, share experiences, light refreshments
24-Week Calendar
Parent Guide & Support
What age can my baby start the program?
The program is designed for infants aged 4 months to 3 years. However, we can accommodate younger infants with special needs or developmental concerns. Contact us for individual assessment.
Do I need to attend every session?
Regular attendance is recommended for best results, but we understand life happens. If you miss a session, we provide recorded sessions and catch-up materials.
What if my baby is fussy during sessions?
It's completely normal! Our facilitators are experienced with infants. We have quiet areas available and can adjust activities as needed.
How much time should I spend on home activities?
We recommend 10-15 minutes of structured activities daily, plus natural learning throughout the day (narration, singing, play).
What if I have concerns about my baby's development?
Please share your concerns with our facilitators. We can provide referrals to pediatricians, therapists, or early intervention services as needed.
- Be consistent: Regular practice yields better results than occasional intensive sessions.
- Follow your baby's lead: If your baby loses interest, switch activities. Quality over quantity.
- Create a safe environment: Remove hazards and ensure activities are age-appropriate.
- Celebrate small wins: Every milestone, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.
- Connect with other parents: Share experiences and learn from others in the program.
- Document progress: Take photos/videos to track development and share with professionals.
- Stay positive: Development is individual. Avoid comparing your baby to others.
- Ask questions: Our facilitators are here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out.
Contact your pediatrician or early intervention specialist if you notice:
- No response to sounds by 4 months
- No eye contact or social smile by 3 months
- Difficulty tracking objects with eyes by 3 months
- Not reaching for objects by 6 months
- Significant asymmetry in movement (one side much weaker)
- Excessive stiffness or floppiness
- No babbling by 6 months
- Extreme sensitivity to touch, light, or sound
- Feeding difficulties or choking
- Regression (loss of previously gained skills)
Maharat Learning Center
704 Saphire Tower, Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai, UAE
+971-4-2888104
info@maharatgcc.com
www.maharatlearning.com
Program Coordinator
For program inquiries and support:
clientrelations@maharatgcc.com
Ask for Nusaiba
Developmental Milestones by Age
Motor Development
Lifts head briefly, follows objects with eyes, grasps reflex, jerky movements
Communication
Cries to communicate, makes cooing sounds, responds to voices
Social-Emotional
Social smile (2-3 months), recognizes caregiver, calms when held
Cognitive
Focuses on faces, tracks moving objects, begins to anticipate feeding
Motor Development
Rolls over, reaches for objects, sits with support, brings hands together
Communication
Babbling, laughs aloud, responds to name, makes consonant sounds
Social-Emotional
Shows excitement, enjoys social interaction, beginning stranger awareness
Cognitive
Explores objects by mouthing, beginning cause and effect understanding
Motor Development
Sits without support, crawls or scoots, transfers objects hand to hand, pincer grasp developing
Communication
Babbling with inflection, understands simple words, waves bye-bye
Social-Emotional
Stranger anxiety, separation anxiety, shows preferences for people
Cognitive
Object permanence developing, explores cause and effect, memory improving
Motor Development
Pulls to stand, cruises along furniture, first steps, refined pincer grasp
Communication
First words, understands simple commands, points to objects, gestures
Social-Emotional
Shows affection, plays peek-a-boo, enjoys music and dancing, beginning independence
Cognitive
Problem-solving attempts, imitates actions, understands object functions
Motor Development
Walks independently, climbs stairs with support, throws ball, scribbles
Communication
10-50 words, follows 2-step commands, names familiar objects, enjoys books
Social-Emotional
Shows independence, beginning parallel play, expresses emotions, separation anxiety peaks
Cognitive
Symbolic play, memory improving, beginning pretend play, explores environment
Motor Development
Runs, kicks ball, climbs stairs independently, turns pages, uses utensils
Communication
50-300 words, 2-word phrases, follows 2-3 step commands, asks questions
Social-Emotional
Increasing independence, beginning cooperative play, shows empathy, expresses wide range of emotions
Cognitive
Pretend play, memory improving, beginning problem-solving, understands concepts like big/small
Motor Development
Jumps, pedals tricycle, copies circles, uses fork and spoon, washes hands
Communication
300+ words, 3-4 word sentences, tells stories, uses pronouns, asks "why" questions
Social-Emotional
Cooperative play, beginning turn-taking, shows pride in accomplishments, beginning self-awareness
Cognitive
Complex pretend play, memory strong, beginning understanding of time, problem-solving improving