The Dancer Mobile

The Dancer Mobile is a classic Montessori mobile for babies age three months and older. It helps baby work on depth perception and dynamic visual focusing skills. The color contrast, light reflection, and graceful movement of the shapes help grab baby's attention.

This DIY version is pretty easy to put together. Items you'll need:

• this pattern for the shapes 
• two pieces of self adhesive metallic paper or hologram paper in two contrasting colors (like dark blue and silver or bright red and silver)
• scissors
• a needle or pin
• fishing wire
• wooden dowels

Directions:

Peel one of the metallic papers and stick it on to the back of the pattern so that you can see the shapes. Cut out the shapes. 

One side of the shapes should now be covered with shiny hologram paper. Peel the other metallic paper and stick the shapes to it, white paper side down. Cut the pieces. You should now have hologram paper on both sides. 

Lay the shapes out so they create figures. You can make each side all one color or alternate like I did here. Use the needle to poke holes through the shapes and thread the fishing wire through to tie the shapes together, knotting the bottom.Tie the fishing wire to the wooden dowels at varying lengths. You now have a mobile with graceful, shiny dancers!

Jake (now 15 weeks old) has been very into focusing intently on objects and people's faces lately, so I hope he likes the Dancer Mobile.

Megan Brooks is a Sr. Public Relations Specialist for Texas Health Resources, Stepmom, and New Mom to a nearly four-month-old son.