Shake, Rattle and Roll!
Prep:聽聽1 minute | Activity Time: 1鈥2 Minutes
Infants are just beginning to develop the hand skills that they will need for grasping writing tools when they are older. At first, your baby will need help to grasp objects. You can foster the development of your baby鈥檚 hand grasp by placing an infant rattle or soft toy in the palm of her hand and letting her close her fingers around the object. Your baby will enjoy exploring the toy by shaking it and listening to the sound it produces. She will also enjoy exploring the fun object in her grasp by putting it up to her mouth!
- An infant rattle or small soft toy
Step 1:聽Gather one of your baby鈥檚 favorite rattles or small soft toys.聽
Step 2:聽Place the rattle or toy in the palm of your baby鈥檚 hand and watch her close her fingers around the object.聽
Step 3:聽Respond to your baby鈥檚 exploration of the object by commenting on the action. For example, you might say:
鈥淭hat鈥檚 right! Shake, shake, shake!鈥 or 鈥淚 hear, 鈥楽queak, squeak, squeak!鈥欌澛
Step 4:聽When your baby spontaneously releases her grasp on the object, try placing it in the palm of her hand again.聽
Step 5:聽Discontinue the activity when your baby no longer has interest in the object.聽