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Chapter 10: Movement

A young baby has little control over how he moves. But slowly, as he grows, he gains control first of one part of his body, then another:

First, he gains control of his head and body (trunk)...

...next he develops arm and some hand control...

...and finally, leg control.

Children learn to move because they are interested in something, like a toy, and want to reach it. A child who cannot see well will need more encouragement to move because he may not know there is an interesting world to explore.

For a child who does not see well, movement may also be frightening. Help your child get used to movement by encouraging him to move from the day he is born. If your baby is less than 6 months old or does not move much, first read Chapter 5 on "Activities for the Young Baby."

When your child can control his head and sit with help, he is ready to begin the activities in this chapter. These activities will help your child learn to:

• sit by himself and crawl
• stand, walk, and use a cane
• have strong, flexible hands and arms
• feel fine details and shapes with his fingers

For information on keeping your child safe, see Chapter 9 on "Safety." For information about safety when walking in new places, see page 112. For information on ways to encourage play between your child and other children, see page 129.

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