Watch, I am putting it down gently – using modelling to support your baby to learn about boundaries

What to try 

• Show your baby how to put plates, cups and cutlery gently onto the table.  
• Find a few toys and place them around a table.  
• Find some plates and place one gently on the table, then give your baby a plate they can put down.  
• If your baby is still a bit wobbly when standing or prefers to crawl, you could have the plates on a blanket on the floor or practise being gentle by placing toys gently into a box or onto a shelf. 

Good to know 

You might notice we use the term modelling quite often in our activity ideas. This simply means that you show your baby something, simply by doing it alongside them, perhaps with a commentary. Your baby will learn a lot by watching you and other people around them and will copy the things they see. They will be more likely to copy the things they see people they consider to be important doing, so might copy you, older children or other adults. Modelling can be a great way to show your baby what to do in a situation.  

Remember, they’ll need to see something many times before they start to do it themselves and, sometimes, they won’t be able to control the urge to try something out – so expect a few more banging plates and thrown toys!