What Can an Infant's Play Tell You About Her Physical & Cognitive Development?

Babies play in subtle ways that might not look like much to adults. When babies play, however, they are hard at work developing their abilities and working toward important first-year milestones. Observe your infant as she plays and look for cues that indicate physical and cognitive development.

  1. Tracking Objects

    • If you notice that your newborn follows rattles, stuffed animals or other toys with her eyes when you shake and move them in front of her, it̵7;s a sign that she is practicing an important developmental skill. When a baby is able to track objects, it means that her vision is improving and she is now able to focus her eyes more easily. Tracking moving objects with the eyes is also an indication that your baby is developing her hand-eye coordination, a motor skill that will be essential to your child̵7;s ability to hold and manipulate tools -- like crayons and silverware -- later. During the next year, your baby will continue to develop hand-eye coordination as she swipes at, reaches for and picks up toys and other objects.

    Cooing and Smiling

    • When your baby coos and smiles at the funny faces you make or the silly baby talk you speak, she̵7;s doing much more than expressing her amusement. She̵7;s also showing signs of brain development and reaching critical milestones in language acquisition. Although your baby cannot yet form words, she is attempting to communicate and interact with you. The Intercultural Development Research Association recommends that when your baby coos and babbles, you should respond to your baby to foster her understanding of how two-way conversation works.

    Kicking and Grasping

    • Your baby̵7;s playful kicks might seem like jerky, uncoordinated random movements, but as she plays this way, she̵7;s developing leg muscles that are critical to her eventual ability to roll over and crawl. The back-and-forth kicks she makes are also an early precursor to walking. When your baby grabs at objects, she is demonstrating her improved hand-eye coordination and developing her ability to hold objects, which is a fine-motor skill.

    Tummy Time

    • Tummy time is an essential form of play in your baby̵7;s first months of life, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends tummy time from the day you bring your baby home from the hospital onward. Your baby might not enjoy time on her tummy at first, but you can encourage her to play in this position for longer stretches with a toy or by getting down on the floor with her. As your baby reaches and stretches, look for her to eventually lift her head, move it from side to side, and prop herself up with her arms. These are all healthy signs that she is developing the muscle strength necessary to sit up on her own and begin to crawl a bit later.

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