Reaching for Toys
Parent places brightly colored toys just out of baby's reach while baby is on their tummy, encouraging reaching and grasping. The agent coaches the parent to observe head control, hand-eye coordination, and grasp reflex development.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby on tummy on a soft mat. Two or three brightly colored toys placed just beyond baby's reach. Parent nearby at baby's level.
How it works
- 1~30s
Place one of the bright toys just in front of your child, about an arm's length away. Tap it or wiggle it to get their attention. Now watch — does your child reach out toward it? You might see them stretch an arm, lean forward, or even scoot a little. Tell me what your child does when they spots the toy.
Watch for: Baby reaches toward the toy with purposeful arm movement, showing hand-eye coordination.
- 2~30s
Now let's look at your child's grasp. Place the toy right where your child can touch it. Watch their hand — does your child open their hand to grab the toy, or does they use a fist? Can they hold onto it for a moment? The way babies grasp tells us a lot about fine motor development. What do you notice about your child's hand?
Watch for: Baby grasps a small object when placed within reach, demonstrating developing grasp reflex.
- 3~30s
Let's try one more time with a different toy. Place it in front of your child and watch what happens with their head while they reaches. During tummy time reaching, babies often lift and hold their heads up to see the toy. Does your child keep their head up while reaching? Or does the effort of reaching make their head drop? This tells us about overall strength and coordination.
Watch for: Baby maintains head control while reaching for toys during tummy time.