Keep on pushing – you'll be surprised how good it is for your toddler!
As they push down on objects, your baby is demonstrating to you that many elements of movement are coming together. Pushing down on something involves the coordination of several capabilities. Here, we look at five processes that happen when your baby pushes down on toys and objects during play.
Control of force
Your toddler’s love for you makes them want to be like you
Our children learn through watching us: what we do, what we say, how we say it and how we do it. It starts from a very young age and continues for the whole of our lives. Your toddler looks to you to learn about life; you are their experienced person.[1] They might now be starting to copy some of the fun things you do when you are together, so keep on making them giggle and laugh.
Copying your actions
Rediscover what it really means to have fun
Given how hectic your life is, it may seem as though having fun is the last thing on your priority list. In this TED Talk, science journalist Catherine Price explores the meaning and importance of having fun. It might inspire you to spend 12 minutes removing yourself from the bustle of daily life and concentrate on fun – your fun.
“Only children believe they're capable of everything” Paulo Coelho
We love this quote! Children are mostly full of enthusiasm and confidence. They seem boundless in their efforts to achieve their next goal. They let very little stand in their way.
Novelist, Paulo Coelho, says about children, “They are trusting, they are fearless, and they believe in their own power.”
Sign About Meal Time by Anthony Lewis – learn some British Sign Language signs and chat with your baby about food
This simple board book is part of a series that looks at how we can make signing a part of our everyday activities, from getting up in the morning to a trip to the park.
As the title suggests, Meal Time introduces some signs that you might use with your baby when you eat together. The illustrations are a great conversation starter. You and your toddler could learn some signs together and chat about the food and drink the babies in the book are eating.
Your toddler's pace is their own – so relax and enjoy the now
The Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” reminds us to focus on that first step rather than the destination. As you master skills in the app, you’ll find information that helps you focus on where your child is now – but if you find yourself being dragged into comparison and worry about ‘meeting milestones’, we have some ideas to help!
Think about what your toddler can do and the skills they have already mastered
How you can support your toddler to become a walker
When you watched your baby take their first wobbly steps, you’ll have understood why they are called toddlers! Becoming a confident walker involves not only getting stronger but also using information from the senses – so how do your toddler’s senses help them to walk?
From toddler to walker – how your toddler’s steps change
‘A child, more than anything else, is a spontaneous observer of nature’ Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori studied and researched early childhood development in the 1900s. She was a leading advocate of outdoor learning, believing that children thrive most in nature. We are also lovers of the great outdoors, so we wanted to flag up just five of the reasons it does wonders for your baby’s growth and development...
- Babies are curious and the world outside offers a wealth of sights, sounds and smells for them to explore.
- Being outdoors can be a great stress reducer – indoor rules can literally go out of the window!
- Nature offers a variety of surfaces and objects that are great for your baby’s physical development.
- When your baby spends time in nature, they build connections with the environment and can lead to them having a greater love and respect for the world.
- Being outdoors is thought to boost your baby’s immune system development. Being exposed to a variety of bacteria found in nature helps the body from head to toe.
Disclaimer – there are a gazillion more reasons that spending time in nature boosts your baby’s development, but, just as important, it's hugely beneficial for your own wellbeing. Get your coat!
Time for another home safety check?
Your baby’s physical skills are developing and soon they will be on the move, so now might be a good time to do another safety check. Look at the spaces where your baby plays from their point of view and check what they might be able to reach as they begin to move, so you can think about what you need to change.
Be on the look out for small parts and button batteries
Looking, sitting and balance – becoming a confident sitter!
Muscle strength is just one key factor in your baby's improving physical skills; another, which isn't always as obvious, is their increasing sensory development.
When they sit, your baby uses information from what they see, along with their balance system and receptors in their muscles to maintain their posture.
