Movement as Brain Training: Infant
Tools, research, and external resources referenced in this module.12 resources available.
2 tools available
Research shows that physical development enables and drives cognitive development in infancy. Supporting movement supports everything.
The cerebellum, responsible for coordination and motor learning, is one of the fastest-growing brain regions in infancy.
Research shows a dose-response relationship: babies who get more tummy time achieve milestones like rolling and crawling earlier.
Positional plagiocephaly has increased since babies spend more time on their backs. Tummy time during awake periods prevents this while maintaining safe sleep practices.
Research shows baby walkers have no developmental benefit and are associated with thousands of injuries annually. They're banned in Canada.
While crawling provides developmental benefits, some babies go directly to walking. This variation is usually normal.
Research shows that the responsiveness and engagement of play interactions during infancy has lasting effects on cognitive development.
Gaze aversion, arching, or fussing signals overwhelm; eye contact and reaching signals engagement. Responsive caregivers follow these cues.
Time outdoors provides physical and sensory experiences that aren't available indoors, supporting motor skill development.
Overprotection can delay development. Allowing age-appropriate risk while preventing true hazards supports healthy development.
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