---
title: "Core Strengthening Activities: 0-12 months"
description: Core strength is so important because it is the building block off of which other function develops. Check out our Core Strength Round-Up to learn all about the core and find some fun activities you can do with your little ones! Now we are going to talk a little bit about infants (or up through […]
---

[Starfish Therapies Blog | Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy Tips](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)

# [Core Strengthening Activities: 0-12 months](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/09/core-strengthening-activities-0-12-months)

 Written by [Stacy Menz](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/author/stacy-menz) | Sep 10, 2020 2:41:17 PM

Core strength is so important because it is the building block off of which other function develops. Check out our [Core Strength Round-Up](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/09/all-about-the-core-round-up/) to learn all about the core and find some fun activities you can do with your little ones!

Now we are going to talk a little bit about infants (or up through New Walker). With these little ones core strengthening often looks like the developmental activity. While there are other activities as well, here are some to get you started! And don’t forget to check out our [Developmental Milestone Round-Up](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/05/developmental-milestones-round-up/) for more information about each skill!

**0-3 months**

This age is all about **floor time**, floor time, and more floor time! They are learning to work their muscles against gravity and build strength! This looks like playing on their:

- Stomach (aka [tummy time](https://starfishtherapies.com/2019/10/10-tummy-time-tips/)) – if tummy time is a struggle check out our [6 week gross motor program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-tummy-time/)!
- [Side](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/01/playing-in-sidelying/)
- [Back](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/baby-abs/)

**Baby wearing** is also a great way to help with head control and provides different input from gravity.

And **supported sitting** with an adult is also a great option. This means you are having them sit on your lap and holding them at the trunk. It helps to give them a different perspective of the world as well as lets them work on head control some more!

***Don’t forget to check out our e-book on how to purposely play with your [0-3 month](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/raising-a-motor-smart-kid-0-3-months/) old for some great videos and resources!***

**3-6 months**

We aren’t giving up on **floor time** yet! Things have changed some for them so you may see:

- [Reaching](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/working-on-reaching/)
- [Propping up](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/01/prone-propping-and-pushing-up/)
- Kicking
- Attempts to move (all of a sudden they aren’t where you left them!)

In addition to floor time you want to continue working on **sitting**. This can be supported sitting but also propped and unsupported [sitting](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/03/tips-tricks-independent-sitting/)! If this is hard for your little one we have a great [program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-sitting/) to help them become proficient at sitting! Ideally you want to avoid floor chairs but if you need to use them make sure its for short periods and no more than 15 minutes.

**[Rolling](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/some-more-ideas-for-rolling/)** is such a great way to work on core strength because they are working their whole body. You can also use it as a great tool for kids with any type of [asymmetries](https://starfishtherapies.com/2019/11/preferences-and-asymmetries/) because it can target one side at time. We do recommend working on both sides though! And if you and your little one need a little extra boost, check out our [gross motor program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-rolling/)!

And don’t forget about **[Pull to Sit](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/all-about-pull-to-sit/)** and **[Hand and Foot play](https://starfishtherapies.com/2017/04/hand-and-foot-play/)**! These are great abdominal exercises for the little ones (us adults should probably do them too!)

***Don’t forget to check out our e-book on how to purposely play with your [3-6 month](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/raising-a-motor-smart-kid-3-6-months/) old for some great videos and resources!***

**6-9 months**

You will recognize a lot of the same activities from above! A few of them are:

- Pull to sit
- Rolling
- [Sitting](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/02/5-tips-getting-into-sitting/) – although now looking even more at getting in and out of sitting

Some new things to work on are:

- Hands and knees
- [Crawling](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/tips-for-crawling/) (on [belly](https://starfishtherapies.com/2012/05/learning-to-commando-crawl/) and/or hands and knees) – this can be a hard skill for so many kids. It is by far our most popular [gross motor program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-crawling/)!
- [Kneeling](https://starfishtherapies.com/2017/06/kneeling-exploring-new-heights/) at support
- [Side sitting](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/06/side-sitting/)
- [Playing on softer surfaces](https://starfishtherapies.com/2012/11/core-strengthening-with-a-tunnel/) (like cushions)
- [Crawling up stairs](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/crawling-up-stairs/)
- Climbing onto couch
- [Pull to stand](https://starfishtherapies.com/2017/05/i-wont-stand-for-that-unless-i-learn-how/) – to help your little one with getting into standing and all that early standing entails [check this out](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-early-standing/)!

**9-12 months**

And yes, there are duplications from above like these:

- Hands and knees
- [Crawling](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/troubleshooting-crawling/)
- Kneeling/standing at support
- Side sitting
- Playing/crawling on softer surfaces (like cushions)
- Crawling up stairs
- Getting in and out of sitting
- Climbing
- Getting in and out of sitting
- In and out of standing

But here are some new ones!

- [Cruising](https://starfishtherapies.com/2009/11/cruising-along/) – Again, we have a [program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/cruising-gross-motor-programs/) to help you with this one!
- [Squatting](https://starfishtherapies.com/2012/05/ideas-for-squatting/)
- [Independent standing](https://starfishtherapies.com/2020/07/independent-standing/)
- [Early walking](https://starfishtherapies.com/2018/03/early-standing-and-walking/) – and this is probably our second most popular [motor program](https://starfishtherapies.com/product/gmp-pre-walker/)!

You may see repetition because as your little one accomplishes a skill you can change the difficulty of it to help them get stronger.

[View full post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2020/09/core-strengthening-activities-0-12-months)

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