How to Improve an Infant's Motor Development

As your infant grows, it's important to provide numerous opportunities for large motor and small motor development. It's not necessary to go out and buy complicated equipment and advanced toys to promote your child's motor development. You can easily do this with basic playful interactions every day.

Things You'll Need

  • Blocks, stuffed animals and other age-appropriate toys
  • Soft-cooked, small foods

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide your little one with plenty of ̶0;tummy time.̶1; Encourage your baby to strengthen her neck, core, arm and shoulder muscles by engaging her in play while she is lying on her stomach. Engage your infant on her stomach at least once a day. Keep tummy time sessions brief at first, and lengthen them gradually as her muscles develop.

    • 2

      Facilitate the stimulation of different muscles and encourage different movements by putting your infant in different positions throughout the day. Move her from the playpen to the floor to a bouncer or swing. Show her what to do by moving her arms and legs yourself, and she will start to copy these movements herself.

    • 3

      Give your baby various objects and textures to explore. The website What to Expect suggests you provide toys including blocks, balls, stuffed animals, dolls and activity boards to facilitate fine motor development, which involves the coordination of muscles to complete tasks including grasping, pushing and pulling. Engage your child in finger-plays such as Pat-a-Cake or the Itsy-Bitsy Spider.

    • 4

      Encourage your child to roll over. Offer her toys on her side and above her head when she is playing on her back so she has to turn and reach for them.

    • 5

      Promote the development of hand-eye coordination by providing opportunities for your infant to reach for favorite toys while sitting in your lap. Install a safe and age-appropriate mobile over your child's crib once she is 4-months old. Make sure the mobile is low enough that she can touch the pieces with her hands.

    • 6

      Allow your child to practice fine motor skills once she is able to sit in a high-chair. Provide soft-cooked, colorful foods on the tray of the high chair.

    • 7

      Create an environment that encourages movement. Modify the environment as your infant reaches different stages of development. Set up firm washable cubes, pads and inclines into interesting and challenging surfaces for crawling, climbing, creeping and walking, suggests website Education.com.

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