Learning to play in the first year

At birth, your baby's movements are all part of the reflex actions she was born with, and it's not until she's about 6 weeks old that she can begin to move her arms and legs with purpose - so it's not until then that she can purposefully reach out to touch an object. And after those first definite jerky movements, it will take a lot of practice before she develops the more refined movements such as grasping with her hands.

Like all things related to your baby, her rate of growth and development will be unique to her. While she will most likely go through developmental milestones in the same order as other children, she may reach them faster or slower than her contemporaries.

The reflexes your baby has at birth (and the couple of reflexes that appear within the first few months after birth) are vital for:

• Survival (Sucking and Rooting reflexes for feeding)
• Development of posture (Moro and Tonic Neck reflexes for protecting the body)
• Development of muscles (the Plantar and Stepping reflexes for moving the feet and practicing weight bearing)

Why is it important to learn to play?

It's through playing that your baby will learn about the world she lives in and the people who live in it. Through play her senses will be stimulated and she’ll have lots of opportunities to practice new skills.

 

REMEMBER!

Play should always be fun, and at the same time allow your child to practice and master various skills which will assist in her growth and development.

 

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This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot. Sources include Vic Govt's Go For Your Life .