Obstacle Course Explorer
Parent creates a simple obstacle course with a ball blocking access to a favorite toy, encouraging baby to problem-solve and move toward desired objects. The agent coaches the parent to observe baby's planning, persistence, and exploratory movements — building cognitive problem-solving and early motor planning skills.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby on tummy on soft carpet or mat. Parent sitting or lying facing baby. Have a plastic ball/rolling toy and baby's favorite toy within reach. Ensure baby is alert and not hungry or tired.
How it works
- 1~25s
First, show your child the favorite toy. Make it interesting — wiggle it, make a sound with it. Once your child is looking at it, place it just a few inches out of reach. Watch their eyes and body language. Does your child stay focused on the toy? Do you see them leaning toward it or reaching with their eyes? Tell me what you notice about their attention.
Watch for: Baby maintains focused attention on a desired object placed just out of reach, showing sustained interest and goal orientation.
- 2~30s
Now place the plastic ball right between your child and the favorite toy — creating a little obstacle. Watch carefully. Does your child try to reach around the ball? Does they look from the ball to the toy as if understanding the ball is in the way? We're looking for those first problem-solving glances that show your child is figuring out the challenge.
Watch for: Baby recognizes an obstacle blocking desired object and attempts to move or go around it to reach the goal.
- 3~40s
Let's encourage your child to use their whole body. If they hasn't reached the toy yet, gently encourage them to push with their legs or scoot forward. Watch how your child coordinates reaching with body movement. Does they use legs to propel forward while reaching? Does they adjust position to get around the ball? We're looking for that whole-body problem-solving.
Watch for: Baby coordinates reaching arms with leg movements or body repositioning to obtain a desired object, showing integrated motor planning.