|
 Helping
Your Baby to Reach Out
1.
Give your baby lots of close physical contact. Your
infant may enjoy being carried about in a "snuggle sack."
2.
Create interesting midline (vertical center line of
child's body) space in varied situations so that your
baby's movement will bring him into contact with things
to touch and hear.
When
baby is
Lying
in a crib - dangle toys from cradle gyms and mobiles
so that they are within reach.
Sitting
at a low table or in a highchair - place toys on
a rimmed tray so that reaching to midline guarantees
rewarding object.
Sitting
independently or playing in a playpen - place interesting
toys within reach.
3.
Play patty-cake and other hand and finger games that
encourage hands at midline.
4.
Place baby's hands on bottle when being fed.
5.
Provide objects of various textures and shapes, and
encourage your baby to touch and explore.
6.
Encourage your baby to search for an object that has
been withdrawn slightly from touch.
7.
Encourage your baby to reach toward the sound of a familiar
toy, first at midline, and then at various points within
reaching distance.
8.
To help your baby understand that spatial information
can be gained through sound:
Place
a rattle or bell in your child's hand or around his
wrist or ankle and alternately move his hand or foot
and then keep it still.
Slowly
move a sound-making toy, keeping it within reach of
your baby, and encourage her to find it.
9.
Talk to your baby about his activity, naming the objects
he contacts and the actions he performs.
10.
All of these suggestions are meant to be fun for you
and your baby. Enjoy your play!
Extracted
from the study "The Development of Reaching in Blind
Children As It Reflects Object Permanence," Hatem, G.,
Hyrnan, N., Keith, E., Maida, S., Rogone, S., Saar,
M.
|
