My LO ( 7mtns) spends a lot of time rolling, rocking and reaching out to grasp something on the floor. Using his new found freedom to get to where he wants to go. You can almost see how him thinking, planning and plotting; trying to zero in on a new object in the distance then plot his path to it with plenty of pit stops, distractions and ‘helpful’ siblings along the way. Steam is coming off that head the amount thinking going on in there.
Since he didn’t come with elastic legs
What treasures does he find?
- a lift the flap book
- wooden block
- Set of teething rings
- sunny patch from a nearby window. How the light changes and the area is warm.
- stain on the carpet….opps
- soft toy
- Silky Superman cape….thanks bro’
- metal teaspoon
- cushion left from the pretend wall of his sibling
- window to look out
- …..er fluff and things we don’t see but they find
- chair leg
- Breeze on his face and a fluttering curtain
- Castle top
- Burp cloth
- Shadows on the floor
He’s content. When he fusses, we try a new area.
Why would you want to hinder this movement phase by giving him elastic legs that give him one thing to do that he has very little control over? Why would you take him from self exploration ( don’t we learn better when we are self motivated?) and enclose him in plastic ( to make him safe-granted) that allows him to propel himself around. Under aged driving with a child with poor muscle control…..hmmm doens’t sound good for anyone there.
Trapping a mobile child in a station to play doesn’t seem right either. My LO loves to move so I can see him becoming very frustrated being trapped. The play items are brightly coloured and plastic ( over stimulation and tasteless). As a play item they do little else than the one thing; be it spin, make noises or five things at once etc. Once you’ve seen it do that the next 400 times will be the same….
We use a Bumbo for snack and meal time. He’s had no need, yet for distraction to feed. When it happens he’ll have a high chair with a tray. There are plenty of safe places for me to leave him that allow him freedom of movement whilst I nip to the loo, answer the door, rescue a lost toy for his brother.
When he’s tired he lays right where he is and takes a two minute rest. Then he’s off again.
Self generated play- independent play- play that teaches through exploration and discovery. Controlling their bodies is a developmental skill they can only master with plenty of opportunities for appropriate play. He’ll be ready soon enough to sit and engage but right now that’s when he finds something interesting.
Baby push ups and beached fish impressions are necessary and needed and it is play.
Play’s purpose isn’t to entertain but discover and engage especially at this age.
Forget the TV– The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, No TV for under 2. But there’s BabyTV and Educational DVDs marketed to your child. Do you believe what’s on the box? Advertising and marketing or what respected Pediatricians who study and know babies tell us. Your choice.
I believe there’s plenty of other things to do with the under 2 child anyway before we need to use TV or DVDs, apart from the free activities in the email from this site :).
There are lots of other views about TV
Educational TV time for babies won’t create a genius child
TV for Babies: Does It Help or Hurt?
no tv for under 3
…Well the LO is rolling out of sight and it looks like he’s heading for the Thomas train track his brothers have so lovingly built so I best divert him before World War III breaks out.
What do your LO do for play at this age that puts them in charge of their play? I’d love to hear.
