Toddlers and touchscreens – what research tells us
Before your toddler was born did you tell yourself they wouldn't use an iPad until they were at least five – only to realise that a game or scroll through photos can be a sanity-saver when you’re busy? Your toddler using tech might be something you feel judged for – and headlines can be scary – but, what does research show?
The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development (Babylab) at Birkbeck, University of London is home to the TABLET (Toddler Attentional Behaviours Learning with Touchscreens) project.
10 life-long skills your toddler will achieve by learning how to twist their wrists
Being able to turn their wrist while holding an object is a fascinating skill, and one that will eventually enable your toddler to get so many essential tasks done in life. Let's look at what they might use that twist of the wrist for...
1) Opening doors and drawers that have knobs
It’s a wrap, well, an unwrap really – a sneak peek at the skills used when unwrapping
Although your toddler may be too young to really understand the idea of presents, they might have a new-found interest in paper – particularly in unwrapping it! Paper play promotes lots of lovely fine motor movements, as well as a whole host of other skills.
Physical – exercising fine motor muscles
My toddler keeps taking their shoes off – help and hacks are here!
Is this your toddler? Do you find that shoes come off when driving, while walking and as soon as they are put on? Although it may feel frustrating at times, this is one way of your toddler promoting their own learning and encouraging greater independence. We have some tips here for helping all the shoe removing toddlers out there!
Lots of learning is taking place
It takes more than movement to pick up a teddy
A lot of research has been carried out in recent years into how hands move, and this is all thanks to the development of robotics! It shows there is much more to the human grasp than just the movement of hands.
Different grasps for different tasks
How does your toddler actually learn to use a spoon?
Research shows that social interactions with family members is a prime time for your toddler to pick up new skills, like using a spoon independently.
Social interactions at mealtimes
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
Why does your baby love posting objects so much?
You might have noticed that your baby is showing an interest in posting objects – possibly ending up with your phone in a cereal box or your keys going through the letterbox! Shape sorters and other posting-type toys provide loads of entertainment, plus they're brilliant for your baby's development.
Babies learn a lot from the process of posting one object into another. They will most likely find opportunities to do this when they are ready, so having some toys or safe posting spaces made ready can help to avoid the stress of searching every container you own to find your keys or bank card.
My child isn’t holding their pencil properly, what should I do?
If you’re concerned about your child’s grip or control over a pencil, it’s likely that you have no need to be worried. It can be helpful to remember that motor development does not progress at the same rate, or in the same pattern, for all children. There is broad variation in the ‘typical’ age that children progress through motor milestones – so the way your child is comfortable holding a pencil could look very different to their friends.
Your child’s unique journey of development has been unfolding since before they were born,[1] and you will have seen how inter-connected the streams of development are.
Why eating off the table can be a good thing!
While your baby is developing their grasping and self-feeding skills, you can allow them more space to work in by putting their finger foods directly onto the table or highchair tray.
Room to move in the tray
