The magnificence of movement

Your baby may have started to crawl, creep, bottom shuffle or have an entirely individual style of moving. No matter how they achieve this, they are on the move! Your baby has come such a long way since birth. Movement is amazing for both the body and brain, helping to enhance motor skills and build strong sensory systems. Let’s explore the magic of movement and how your baby will thrive from it. 

An intrigued baby 

So, the days of your baby lying and sitting to play are now a thing of the past. One minute they were there, the next minute, they have moved! This is extremely exciting for your baby, they have so much to explore now and the independence to do it. Imagine how it must feel for them right now: they can get to where they want to – with much less help! 

A coordinated baby 

While your baby is moving, they are coordinating several limbs to be able to move in a forwards or backwards direction.  

Many processes take place in the brain and central nervous system to make this happen; your baby will direct their thoughts as to where they want to go, control and engage muscles, and coordinate movements in the upper and lower limbs to get there, meaning movement becomes carefully planned.^[1]  

These planned movements will be necessary when your baby gets stronger and learns to walk, balance and move over uneven surfaces and slopes. 

A decisive baby 

Your baby is starting to make decisions about where they want to be and where they want to play. This stimulates their brain, creating and embedding pathways that will help your baby learn and develop. 

Giving your baby time to make their own decisions helps their brain to learn, remember and use experiences to guide decision-making in the future. This will help them become a reflective thinker, gain resilience and be better able to deal with the ever-changing life they will experience.^[2] 

A strong baby 

When moving independently, your baby will not only strengthen their arms, shoulders and back, but also develop the arches in the palms which will help them when grasping and gripping objects. This skill is invaluable for virtually every activity your baby will carry out using their hands, for instance, eating, drinking and playing.  

Movement is truly magical. Brace yourself for the wealth of skills your baby will acquire, simply by moving. 

References: 

[1] A.S Kelso, D.L. Southard, D. Goodman. (1979). On the Nature of Human Interlimb Coordination. Science. Vol. 203, NO. 4384. 

[2] D.J Siegal, T.P Bryson. (2011) The Whole Brain Child. Delacourte Press.