Grab Bag Surprise
Parent offers baby a selection of safe, graspable objects of different textures and sizes. The guide coaches the parent through observing how the baby reaches for, grasps, and explores objects with their hands, capturing fine motor development, sensory exploration, and early object interest.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Gather 3-4 safe, graspable objects of different textures and sizes. Baby should be seated in parent's lap or propped up comfortably.
How it works
- 1~15s
Okay, pick one of the objects and hold it out where your child can see it -- about chest height, a few inches away. Don't put it in their hand yet. Just hold it there and let them look at it. What happens? Does they reach for it?
Watch for: reaches_toward_offered_object
- 2~15s
Now that your child has it -- or once you help them get it -- watch their hand. Is they wrapping all the fingers around it at once, like a whole-hand scoop? Or are some fingers doing different things? And how tight is that grip?
Watch for: whole_hand_grasp_pattern
- 3~20s
Okay, this is the fun part. Take that first object away gently and offer a different one -- something with a totally different texture. Like if the first was soft, try something smooth and hard. Watch your child's face and hands. Does they react differently to this new texture?
Watch for: differential_response_to_textures
- 4~10s
Here's a quick bonus -- while your child is holding something, take one of the other objects and slowly drop it from about a foot up where they can see it. Does your child watch it fall? And does they look down at where it landed?
Watch for: tracks_dropped_object_visually
- 5
One more thing -- during all this grabbing and exploring, has your child been making any sounds? Babbling, cooing, squealing, blowing raspberries? I'm curious what the soundtrack to all this exploration has been!
Watch for: vocalizes_during_exploration