FM.B.15 REACHES AND ATTAINS OBJECTS LYING

Here the skill learned in FM.B.14 is extended to the point where the child can reach out and successfully grasp an object.

How to Assess

Materials: A rattle or other toy that your child can hold.

Method: Place your child on his back and hold the object about 15 cm above his face. Ensure that he looks at the object. Give 3 tries.

Score plus if your child reaches for the object and grasps it in 1 of the 3 tries. He may need to sweep his hand around to catch the object – this is fine at this stage.

How to Teach

Supporting his elbow, move your child’s arm until his hand is only 1 cm away from the object. Can he move his hand the rest of the way by himself? If he can, let him complete the last 2 cm by himself. Increase the distance until you find the point where he begins to have difficulty. Then plan a series of in-between objectives, like these:

  1. Moves hand through 3 cm to attain an object.
  2. Moves hand through 5 cm to attain an object.
  3. Moves hand through 10 cm to attain an object.
  4. Reaches and attains an object without help.

You may need more steps or fewer steps depending on the progress your child makes.

Always make sure your child is looking at the object first. If his attention wanders, stop and regain his attention before trying another object. Give a clear direction: ‘Take.’ Let him play with the object once he has grasped it.

Even if he is only moving through the last centimetre himself, guide his arm carefully and slowly up to that point so that he gets the feel of reaching through a longer distance.

It is important to practise this skill with both hands.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

While you are talking and cuddling, encourage your child to reach up and touch your face. Hair,beards and beads are favourite things for grasping! At feed-times, encourage him to grasp and hold his bottle.

Up to this point, your child may have enjoyed swiping at objects dangling in front of him. As he begins to want to grasp them, he may be frustrated by the way they swing wildly out of his reach when he hits them. This activity will again be valuable once he has learned to grasp, but for now, more securely fixed objects, such as shapes strung on elastic designed to fit across prams, will make things easier for him.

You will have spent so much time putting things into his hands up till now that it may be hard to remember to let him reach himself. Keep your objective firmly in mind, until it becomes a habit.

Remembering and Extending

Once your child has achieved this skill, it will be so useful to him that you won’t need to plan special practice Look for signs that he is reaching spontaneously. Gradually increase the range of things you offer him.