month 11:

Developing gross motor skills

Greetings

When babies move their arms, legs, and other major body parts, they are developing their gross motor skills. They're also developing their brains. Basically, your child’s cognitive abilities develop together with crawling and walking because these activities make complementary parts of the brain work together. Below we have a couple of fresh suggestions to help your baby’s ongoing motor skill development.

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Activities that you can do

Here are some activities you can try this month to encourage more motor skill development.

1. Scarf box

Stuff a few small silk scarves (or other lightweight fabric) of different colours into an empty tissue box with their tips poking out. Encourage your baby to pull them out of the box. Once your baby pulls out the scarves, you can throw the scarves into the air and watch each one slowly land on the ground (or on baby’s face).

2. Baby drummer

Give your baby a few kitchen utensils for drumming, such as pots, pans, and serving spoons. (Make sure none of the spoons or utensils have sharp edges.) Let your baby experiment with hitting the pots and pans—even if you need to wear ear plugs!

Plus, for even more ideas on what to do with your baby, check out this list of 30 engaging baby activities for cognitive & physical development.

Remember: If your baby begins to fuss or cry during any of these activities, it might be a sign that they're hungry or need a rest.

Tips for your own self-care

One way you can sneak a little inspiration into your day is by listening to podcasts or audiobooks while you do the dishes, tidy the house, or drive around. Whether you’re looking for advice, inspiration, or just a bit of fun, these days it seems there’s a podcast for everyone!

Things to watch for this month

These are some of the things that your baby might be doing this month:

Getting to a sitting position without help
Standing unsupported for a few seconds
Walking while holding furniture for support (“cruising”)

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Disclaimer: The activities provided in this newsletter are for educational purposes only. If you choose to proceed, do so with caution and at your own risk.

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