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 baby is now more able to use their body and hands to push down with force. They are learning how they can use their muscles to be able to control and manipulate objects.  

Much of this force is drawn from their fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and core as they push down.  

Strength 

It takes a lot of strength and control in both fine and large motor muscles to be able to push down on toys and objects. 

When pushing, your baby builds strength in their hands and wrists.  

Pushing objects into others also contributes to building finger strength. Your baby must have strong fingers to be able to hold onto blocks and click them on top of each other.  

Proprioception (awareness of their body) 

Your baby develops more than just muscular control in order to plan and carry out how to push down in play; they are also working out how to understand the sensory effects of those movements.^[1] 

They are learning how to respond to how much weight, pressure, movement and changes in position they need to be able to carry out a planned movement.  

For some time, your baby will continue to work out how to combine the information they gain through their hands and wrists with the feelings they have in their joints.^[2]  

Perceptual motor development 

Perceptual motor development means the ability to receive, understand and successfully respond to sensory information.  

Every time your baby moves or touches anything, they gather new sensory information. They use this information to help them learn how to control their body in their ongoing development of fine motor skills and muscular coordination.^[2]  

Motor planning 

Motor planning is involved in virtually everything we do, from picking up items to opening a door.  

When your baby pushes on objects or pushes things together, they plan a move and coordinate their muscles and joints.  

They’re showing you that they understand a task and can plan actions to help them achieve a goal. 

References: 

[1] Haith, M.M, Benson, J.B. (2020). Manual Motor Development. Encyclopedia of Infant and Early Childhood Development (Second Edition).  

[2] Play in Occupational Therapy for Children, 2nd Edition. (2008). Mosby Elsevier.