GM.A.23 ON BACK, REACHES OUT WITH STRAIGHT ARMS,HANDS TOGETHER

The baby is now better able to control her reaching out against gravity. She can fully straighten her arms and can reach with her wrist and fingers bent back. She can now reach forward with her arms closer together, due to her increased control over her shoulder girdle.

How to Assess

Method: While your child is lying on her back, encourage her to reach out for a toy or your face. Score plus if your child reaches out with both arms straight, hands and fingers bent back, and arms and therefore hands close together.

How to Teach

Practice is the key to achieving this skill. Stay with your child as much as possible when she is playing on her back and use the techniques described in GM.A.13 to help her if necessary.

Positioning, Carrying and Playing

Babies love games in which Mummy or Daddy takes their hands and blows raspberries on them, or kisses them, or pretends to bite them. Such games are not only great fun – they are also important in teaching new sensations. You can play these games when your baby is lying, sitting on your lap or being carried.

Make sure that your baby’s arms are straight when you bring her hands to your face.