Building Muscle Power
Parent places baby on their tummy on a blanket with an interesting toy just out of reach, encouraging baby to stretch and use their legs to move toward it. The agent guides the parent to observe reaching from prone position, leg movement, and early pre-crawling efforts that build the strength foundation for crawling.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby lying face down on a soft blanket on the floor. A motivating toy placed just beyond baby's reach. Floor should be a surface with some grip, not too slippery.
How it works
- 1~30s
Now watch your child. Does they see the toy? Is they reaching toward it? When a baby reaches while on their tummy, they have to shift their weight to one side and extend an arm — that's hard work! Encourage your child by tapping the toy or making it make a sound. Does they stretch out an arm toward it?
Watch for: Baby reaches toward a toy while lying on their tummy, shifting weight and extending an arm.
- 2~35s
Now watch your child's legs. Does they kick or push against the floor when trying to reach the toy? Some babies start moving their legs in a swimming motion, others push off with their toes. Move the toy slightly further away to see if your child tries to use their legs to get closer. What are those legs doing?
Watch for: Baby pushes or kicks legs while on tummy, attempting to propel forward toward the toy.
- 3~40s
Let's do one more round. Place the toy at a slightly new angle — maybe off to one side. We want your child to pivot or shift direction on their tummy. This time, also pay attention to how long your child stays engaged. Does they keep trying for several seconds, or does they get frustrated quickly? Encourage them with your voice. What happens?
Watch for: Baby shows sustained effort to move toward a toy, combining reaching and leg movement in a coordinated way.