Safely Exploring Objects

Materials You Need: Items that your child plays with and explores, and two boxes.

What You Can Do Together: This is an exciting time in your baby’s life! She eagerly, and more skillfully, explores all kinds of objects with her hands. However, your baby also continues to put objects in her mouth. It feels good, and it’s another way to learn about the world. Choking on or swallowing objects is a real risk.

There are things you can do! For example, you might collect items that your baby enjoys exploring—toys and other items around the home—and see which are small enough to be risky if you are not supervising your baby closely. Perhaps you might put those in one box and leave them in a safe place where you can bring them out only when you are nearby. Other objects might be in an “Explore Box,” one that your baby can dump out, investigate, and mouth as much as she wishes. Be sure to use language when watching or playing with your baby during object exploration:  “Look what you found! It’s a spoon. Oh, you are banging it!”

What Your Child is Learning: At this age, the most important way for your child to learn about the world is by exploring objects. What does this feel like? Does this other thing feel the same? What does it feel like in my mouth? Is it hard? Soft? Squishy? What can I do with this one? Bang it? Wave it? By making it safe for your child to explore objects, you are supporting the development of your baby’s senses and strengthening her thinking skills. Your conversation brings extra value as you talk to your baby about what she is doing.