Infant Stimulation & Development
According to "The RIE Manual: For Parents and Professionals" by Magda Gerber, many people "try to meet [an infant's] need for cognitive stimulation with objects, teaching materials, and lesson plans." Children are, however, capable of learning on their own when caregivers create the right environment.
Other People Are Reading
-
Simple Toys
-
Place such toys as brightly colored balls, scarves, or stuffed animals near the infant, but not directly in his hands, to allow him to independently select items of interest.
Lots of Space
-
A few toys placed within eye range or reach can capture an infant's attention and entice her to stretch and reach, part of the pre-rolling process. Infants also need space to crawl, to scoot and to learn how to walk.
-
Safety
-
Infants should be able to explore freely and to touch things in their environments. Remove items that would cause adults to tell them "no" too often, as this restricts movement and learning.
Uninterrupted Play
-
Allow children to explore toys of their choosing at their own pace. Showing infants how to play with toys robs them of learning opportunities, making them second-guess themselves and become overly dependent on adults.
Caregiver
-
Provide a stable, primary caregiver who talks to infants about what is going on around them. This allows infants to actively participate in their own lives. When their needs are met, infants learn to trust others and gain confidence to explore their environments.
Outdoor Play
-
Much goes on while infants play outdoors. Gerber reports, "Even the youngest infant becomes fascinated by listening to the birds, watching the movements of flies, butterflies, shadows, and leaves."
-
