Chapter 10
Movement
89
A young baby has little control over how he moves. But slowly, as he
grows, he gains control first of one part of his body, then another:
First, he gains control
of his head and body
(trunk)...
...next he develops
arm and some hand
control...
...and finally,
leg control.
Children learn to move because they are interested in something,
like a toy, and want to reach it. A child who cannot see well will need
more encouragement to move because he may not know there is an
interesting world to explore.
For a child who does not see well, movement may also be frightening.
Help your child get used to movement by encouraging him to move from
the day he is born. If your baby is less than 6 months old or does not
move much, first read Chapter 5 on “Activities for the Young Baby.”
When your child can control his head and sit with help, he is ready to
begin the activities in this chapter. These activities will help your child
learn to:
• sit by himself and crawl
• stand, walk, and use a cane
• have strong, flexible hands and arms
• feel fine details and shapes with his fingers
For information on keeping your child safe, see Chapter 9 on “Safety.”
For information about safety when walking in new places, see page 112.
For information on ways to encourage play between your child and
other children, see page 129.