What Should You Know about Eye-Hand Coordination of Your Baby?
While a baby is learning to walk, she also develops a variety of movements
that require coordination between the eyes and hands. As babies gradually
focus on objects, they begin to follow them from one side to the other and up
and down. Babies also hold their hands in front of their faces, and enjoy
looking at them, and eventually can move their hands to their mouths
whenever they want.
The automatic grasp reflex gradually diminishes, and the baby learns how to
reach out and consciously grasp things that she sees. Being very yang, babies
usually pull things toward themselves and put them into their mouths. This
normally occurs between three and six months, although it may occur sooner.
By the sixth month, most babies have enough coordination to be able to pass
objects from hand to hand and to rake small things in with their fingers. They
also develop the ability to bang objects that they are holding, and to grab
things with both hands.
An important milestone is reached when a baby begins to grasp things by
managing the complementary/antagonistic relationship be¬tween the thumb
and index finger. Soon the baby develops the ability to pick up small objects,
and then progresses from the simple grasping or moving of objects to the use
of objects-such as a spoon or a cup-to accomplish a task. Early in the second
year, children learn how to hold a cup with two hands and to use a spoon,
although they frequently spill food. They also learn how to let go of and drop
things and eventually to throw objects-such as cups, bowls, or toys-across
short distances. Children often make a game out of these newly acquired skills.
During the second year, a baby learns to place blocks on top of each other
and to drink from a cup. Soon the child will learn to use a variety of objects
such as crayons and pencils. Before the end of the second year, the baby may
enjoy playing with simple toys and, by the age of two, is usually able to open
doors and to make simple marks on a piece of paper with a crayon or pencil.