Last week’s column ended with a glimpse of a 4-6 month old
positioned with some support in sitting position, practicing fine motor skills
of reaching and grasping. Let’s look at what will be happening in the next few
months.
Our little guy will continue all this great practice of
eye/hand coordination and once in a while he will tumble over. If he has
tumbled forward, he is probably stuck on his tummy with one arm trapped under
him. Wriggling from side to side and at first with a little help from a parent
will free that arm. You can almost hear him thinking, “Now what,” in the first
moments of looking at the world from a new perspective.
His motor development gives him two options for further
development. One option is to crane his head over to one side, using gravity
and the weight of his head to help him roll to one side. Another option is to
tuck his chin and try to push his bottom up in the air as he attempts to get
his knees under his little body.
The interesting thing to notice at this point in development
is how all the parts of his body are so very dependent upon each other. He
cannot isolate a movement. He can initiate a movement in one part of his body
that leads his entire body to respond.
This stage of motor development gives him time to strengthen
his muscles. Soon he will initiate the movement to come out of sitting to being
on his tummy rather than relying on chance. He will quickly gain control of
both arms, and have the strength and coordination to push up to hands and
knees.
What happens next? ––Parents baby proof the house and new
fun begins.
I’m
Suzy Circle
Watch
me spin
Round
and round and round again
(Make
a larger Suzy Circle and give children turns to ‘spin’ Suzy.
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