A–Z Glossary

Bilateral coordination

The ability to use both sides of the body together in a coordinated way during movement and manipulation tasks.

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Using Both Sides of the Body During Baby Development

Using Both Sides of the Body During Baby Development

What bilateral coordination means Bilateral coordination is the ability to use the two sides of the body together, either in similar ways or in complementary roles. A baby may stabilize a soft block with one hand while exploring it with the other, bring both hands together at the chest, or shift weight between the arms […]

Early Hand-to-Hand Transfer Skills

Early Hand-to-Hand Transfer Skills

What Hand-to-Hand Transfer Means Hand-to-hand transfer is the intentional movement of an object from one hand to the other. A baby may hold a ring in the right hand, bring both hands together near the chest, and then grasp the ring with the left hand. This action is different from simply dropping an object and […]

Reaching, Grasping and Releasing by Age

Reaching, Grasping and Releasing by Age

What These Skills Mean Reaching is the intentional movement of an arm and hand toward a target. Early reaching may be inaccurate or interrupted by immature trunk and shoulder control. Over time, babies learn to visually locate an object, orient the arm toward it, adjust the hand as they approach, and make contact with increasing […]

Banging Objects Together During Exploration

Banging Objects Together During Exploration

Why Banging Is Meaningful Banging objects together during infancy is often a normal expression of sensorimotor exploration. A baby is not only making noise; they are gathering information through vision, touch, proprioception, hearing, and movement. Each strike gives rapid feedback: the object feels hard or soft, the sound is sharp or muted, the surface resists […]

When babies transfer objects from hand to hand

When babies transfer objects from hand to hand

What hand-to-hand transfer means Hand-to-hand transfer occurs when a baby moves an object held in one hand into the other hand. The transfer may happen directly across the midline, or the baby may briefly bring the object to the mouth, chest, or lap before the opposite hand takes hold. Early attempts can look awkward: the […]

Loose parts play: using everyday objects for creative play

Loose parts play: using everyday objects for creative play

What loose parts play means Loose parts play means giving children everyday objects that can be moved, combined, stacked, sorted, carried, torn apart, and rebuilt. The key feature is not what the object is, but what the child can do with it. A cardboard tube may become a telescope, a bridge, a megaphone, or part […]