Although Mover skills may not be needed for success in academic subjects, children who possess a Mover's speed, agility, balance, and coordination are usually revered by their classmates, and thus gain an early social edge. Mover infants, of course, will be enthralled by any efforts to provide them with the sensory experiences they adore. Listeners, who prefer to talk rather than do, will respond best to verbal coaxing and a play-by-play description of the activity at hand. And Lookers, as always, will get the most from those Mover games and tasks to which visual stimulation has been added. The following ideas may be helpful.
ENHANCING AN INFANT’S EXISTING MOVER SKILLS
■ Breastfeed your baby, if possible. He'll adore the skin-to-skin contact.
■ Learn to do infant massage, and treat your baby to this sensory experience often.
■ Provide a lambskin mat or blanket. This will keep baby cool in summer and warm in winter, and is said to encourage relaxation and sleep.
■ Bathe with your infant. Holding him on your lap in the tub will maximize skin contact.
■ Offer crib dolls and stuffed animals for hugging and cuddling.
■ Attach a crib gym, with suspended rings, bells, and knobs, for baby to grab and kick at.
■ After carefully checking the interior of an empty appliance carton for exposed staples, put a favorite toy inside to encourage your baby to crawl in, or creep inside the box yourself and invite your baby to follow.
■ Rocking Pony by Fisher-Price is small enough to offer climbing and rocking fun to any baby old enough to sit without support.
■ Provide toys your baby can push while standing, like Corn Popper and Musical Chimes, both by Fisher-Price.
■ Offer a four-wheel, no-pedal riding toy, such as Tyke Bike by PlaySkool.
H Place a sofa cushion on the floor, and stay close by while your baby practices climbing up and over it.
S3 Activity Rocker by Today's Kids is height-adjustable, has a dashboard, and makes four "action sounds" to accompany baby's rocking.
■ Baby Crawl-Through by Shelcore is an inflatable windowed tunnel that encourages creeping and crawling.
■ Make a game of covering baby's arm, foot, leg, or abdomen with a folded cloth diaper or face cloth and letting him work free of it.
■ When your baby is in his infant seat, place lightweight toys on his lap or at his feet to encourage kicking.
ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOVER SKILLS IN LOOKER AND LISTENER INFANTS
■ Touch your baby as much as possible—hold him, rock him, hug him, and caress him. When he's not in your arms, keep him near you in his cradle or infant seat for plenty of patting and stroking.
■ "Wear" your infant in a baby sling or front carrier. This increases skin contact between you and baby and makes him more of a participant in your chores and activities.
■ Sing while you're rocking and holding baby. The sensations of touch will soon be associated with the comforting sensations of sound.
■ Supply a large, lightweight, brightly colored ball for baby to roll, kick, and toss.
■ Allow your baby to move about without the restraint of a walker or playpen.
■ The See-Inside Roller by Lakeshore (through catalogue only) is an eighteen-inch-long inflatable cylinder with a vinyl window that lets baby peek at the balls that rattle and jingle inside. Your baby can crawl alongside or over the top as the toy rolls along.
■ Touch 'Ems by PlaySkool are soft, colorful rattling toys with six distinctive textures for baby to feel.
■ Sit with your baby in a wading pool. Talk about the fun you're having, the toys you're playing with, and the feel of the water.
■ Provide a set of small sandbox tools—a rake, a ladle, a shovel, and a strainer, for instance—to encourage sand play.
■ Fili a plastic dishpan with one inch of dry cereal, and give your baby cups and spoons to use in this indoor "sandbox."
■ As a change of pace from the stroller, pull your baby around in a fenced wagon.
■ Supply a Bop Bag—an inexpensive inflatable toy with a character's face and a weighted bottom. No matter what your baby does to the inflated bag, it will always return to an upright position.
■ The Rider/Walker by Clover encourages large-muscle movement by serving as either a riding toy or a means of support for new walkers. It is available as a fire truck, a car, or a police cruiser.
■ Strap your baby into a helmet and tyke seat, and take a bicycle ride together. Point out the sights along the way.
■ Talk about your baby's actions and bring his surroundings to his attention. This will reduce his anxiety about attempting large-muscle activities.
As you work and play with your infant, please do not limit yourself to the suggestions above. Toy store inventories change constantly, so it may well be that an item you have decided to purchase now sits alongside a similar toy that's even easier to use or even better suited to your baby. No one knows your child better than you, after all. So, now that you've used the information in this chapter to determine your baby's playing and learning needs, feel free to consider both your own taste and your baby's personality when making toy and technique selections.
Please bear in mind that visible results may be slow when you attempt to encourage an infant's weaker areas. Remember that efforts to round out your child's development contradict his inborn sensory urges. You may not see signs of improvement, or even enjoyment, on your baby's part for weeks. But, gentle perseverance—in small doses—should eventually overcome your infant's resistance.
Remember that your goal is a happy child, not an honors student!
Have fun, and enjoy every endearing moment of infancy as you plav with your baby. J