My First Turns

Materials You Need: None

What You Can Do Together: Little by little, babies get to know their bodies more and begin to coordinate the movements that will allow them to discover their world. This activity will help your little one to get started with this skill, which with practice they will master in no time. To start, you only need to lay your little one on her back on a soft surface, like your bed. Take one of her legs and cross it in front of the other. Do it again with the other leg. Repeat about three times and on the fourth time, take the leg, cross it in front of the other, put your other hand under her back and help her roll over until she is on her tummy. You can recite the following rhyme while doing the exercises:

     Round and round and you'll change!

     What you can see?

     Round, round, you will give,

     You alone will see!

Remember that all movements must be delicate and that your little one must already have enough strength in her neck to avoid hurting her. Lie her on her back and repeat for the other side. Finish the exercise with lots of kisses. Now talk to your little one to get his or her attention. When you do it, you can repeat the rhyme.

What Your Child is Learning: Help your little one begin to have the strength and coordinated movements to turn from back to tummy, which will allow her to start to have the necessary coordination to move in a few months.