How to Stimulate Your Baby’s Motor Coordination
Between 6 and 12 months, your baby is in a phase full of discoveries and learning. This is a unique opportunity for parents to help develop motor coordination, which will be essential for skills like crawling, walking, and handling objects. Below, we list five simple everyday activities that can help your baby develop these skills.
1. Play “pedaling”
Lay your baby on their back on a comfortable surface. Gently hold their ankles and bend their knees toward their belly, then straighten them again. Repeat the movement several times, and to make the game more interactive, sing a song or repeat simple words like “bend” and “stretch.”
How it helps: This activity stimulates leg movement, helping to strengthen muscles and improve body awareness.
2. Practice grasping
Place your baby on their back and dangle a toy above them. The goal is to encourage them to grab the object. As they manage to hold the toy, move it in different directions—up, down, and to the sides. Switch up the toys by using different sizes, shapes, and textures. You can also offer building blocks for the baby to play with. While they try to stack or hold the blocks, take the opportunity to talk and stimulate language development.
How it helps: Besides improving hand-eye coordination, this activity strengthens arm muscles and aids in the development of fine motor skills.
3. Use balls to your advantage
Using an exercise ball, sit your baby on top of it while holding them firmly by the hips. Gently tilt the ball forward, backward, and to the sides, allowing them to experience weight shifts from one side to the other. As they get used to the movement, gradually increase the speed of the shifts.
How it helps: This exercise improves balance, strengthens abdominal muscles, and helps with postural control.
4. Stretching play
Help your baby sit on the floor and place a toy in front of them, within reach. Then, move the toy to different spots, encouraging them to lean forward to grab it. Using toys of various sizes and weights can make the challenge more interesting. Ensure the objects are safe and do not contain small parts that could be swallowed.
How it helps: This activity enhances arm reach, trunk mobility, and muscle strength while also improving hand-eye coordination.
5. Create obstacles
When your baby starts crawling, make the environment more challenging by placing pillows or cushions in their path. Encourage them to crawl over the obstacles by holding a toy on the other side to motivate them. Ensure the space is safe and free from objects that could harm the baby.
How it helps: Climbing over obstacles strengthens arm and leg muscles, improves spatial awareness, and encourages exploration.
Tips for Safe Stimulation
When performing these activities, parents should always stay close and attentive to ensure their baby’s safety. Creating a calm and secure environment allows the baby to explore and develop with confidence. Constant interaction between parents and baby during playtime also strengthens emotional bonds and makes learning more enjoyable.
