Baby on BoardRTÉ One, Thursday, 8.30pm
Episode 4: Sleep & Nutrition
Development from 8 - 9 months:
See 8-9 month Development details...
Posture:
- Sits alone for 10 mins on the floor
- Can lean forward to pick up a toy without losing balance
- Attempts to crawl - sometimes succeeds
- Pulls to stand holding onto a stool for a few moments but cannot lower himself
Vision:
- Very attentive to people and objects
- Stretches out to grasp a small toy when offered - passes wooden block from hand to hand turning it over
- Grasps string between finger and thumb to pull toy towards him
- Can release toy by dropping it
- Looks in the correct direction for fallen toys
Hearing and speech:
- Very attentive to everyday sounds and voice
- Shouts to attract attention - listens - then shouts again
- Babbles - dad dad mam mam - very tuneful
Social and play
- Understand no no bye bye
- Plays handclapping
- Holds out a toy to give to adult but cannot yet give it into adults palm
- Finds toy partially hidden under cushion
In development terms - a good toy is one that is challenging to the mind and skills of a child and appropriate to the age.
- Small amount of toys chosen for their interest value rather than cost. All a child is interested in is what can I do with it and what can it do for me.
- Empty boxes give hours of fun
- Learning parts of body - eyes, ear, nose and chin i.e. Mammy will wash your hands.
- Point things in picture books
- Grading kitchen pots, sorting shapes and matching shoes.
Series 1: Programme Archive