Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-eye coordination is critical in self-feeding from six months onwards. Hand-eye coordination involves reaching for objects, bringing them towards the mouth, exploring the size, shape, and weight of the object, and manipulating the object to place it in the mouth which depends on fine and gross motor skills as well as visual skills.

Spatial Awareness

Spatial awareness in infants develops through movement and exploration of the world around them. Tummy time and floor time help develop these skills. Primitive reflexes (grasp), Moro (startle), Babinski, (stepping) form the foundation of motor skills and help the infant survive and explore their environment. These primitive reflexes integrate over time as the infant’s brain matures.

Visual Awareness

Visual awareness adds to spatial awareness. For example, to reach for a toy, the infant must be able to see it. The infant needs to have an understanding of where their body is in space and the ability to coordinate body movements to reach the toy. The infant’s core strength development occurs through tummy time.

As one skill develops, such as reaching and grasping a toy, the infant can extend the skill to moving from side to side when on their back. The next phase is rolling from their tummy to their back, and then back to their tummy. Good muscle tone and coordination of these muscles are required to progress from one skill to the next. Mastering any learnt skills allows for the extension of those skills and the addition of new ones.

Take a moment to notice development and consider how development is changing as new skills are learnt and other skills become more refined.

References

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