RESPECTING THE BABY’S FIRST TASKS
At birth, babies have a few basic physical abilities such as sucking and grasping. They can hear and see, but do not yet fully make sense of their sense impressions. Everything is new, much must be learned. And learning takes focus and concentration. Some of the child's first tasks in life are learning to see as we do, finding thumb and fingers, recognizing their own hands and objects, moving arms and hands purposefully and coping with a new way of assimilating food. Their development evolves quickly through the first year or so: learning to lift the head, move the limbs, roll, sit, crawl, maybe even stand and walk, experimenting with sounds and learning to speak. These are tremendous tasks, and they are not things one can teach the child, they learn these things on their own. So how can we best allow for the child to be able to fulfil these tasks in a harmonious, healthy way? What is the best supportive environment?
Perhaps the first helpful thing is to be aware of what the child is doing, what they are learning, by observing them and allowing them the quiet, the physical space and freedom to do their task. Watching a child learn to see, to observe them watching their own hands with fascination, learning to grasp a cloth and pull it with both hands, can fill one with astonishment and wonder at the innate perseverance of the child - and at the amount of time and work required to learn to do the simple things we do thousands of times every day.
For the first months, laying the baby flat on his back allows him to learn to move hands, arms and legs freely and, eventually, find uprightness on his own. His hands are free to find each other, play with things, and the baby is able to try turning and rolling without hindrance.[1] Laying flat also allows the healthy development of the bones by keeping pressure off the base of the spine and hips - which an assisted seated position creates. A basket or carrycot can be a good place at first, and when the baby starts to move and roll, one can lay a thick wool blanket or a sheepskin on the floor, out of drafts, to keep the baby warm.
See-Saw, Margery Daw
by Albert Bierstadt
Panciatichi Holy Family
by Bronzino
Though we often enjoy helping babies sit or learn to walk, and though they often respond with joy at the new task they are accomplishing with our help, it does take away the child's opportunity of learning to learn and persevere, as well as giving a false sense of accomplishment.[2] We often bring babies into positions they would not be able to find by themselves, and help them or rescue them in moments of frustration when they are trying to roll over, sit up, stand or walk. If a child is left to find rolling over, sitting, standing and walking on their own, they may learn more slowly, they may even be furious with frustration in moments, but they learn at their own pace, and their abilities reflect their physical readiness. They are also more likely to be in control of their bodies and so to be more careful and able. So when a baby is frustrated, rather than help them immediately, we can be present with them in what they are trying to do, and yet let them find their way by their own means. Of course each situation must be judged individually, but asking oneself if it is necessary to intervene can be a helpful support to the child in the long run.
Another aspect to keep in mind is our interaction with the baby when we are changing their diaper, dressing them or moving them in any way, is to try to include the child in the process by being present in what we are doing, speaking to them in a simple, quiet way and having patience to allow them to respond as they get older and more able to participate.
ARTICLES
Jane Swain - Pikler’s Trust in the Wise Infant.htm
Davis and Keyser - on Stimulation.htm
Pikler, Emmi - development of movement- stages.htm
[1] Pikler, Emmi and Anna Tardos Laßt Mir Zeit, Richard Pflaum Verlag, München 2001
[2] Pikler, Emmi. Friedliche Babys, zufriedene Mütter. Pädagogische Ratschläge einer Kinderärztin. Herder Verlag, Freiburg, Germany 2000
Conscious Parenting Guide www.consciousparentingguide.com 2009
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Copyright © Julie Le Gal Brodeur 2009 Updated July 28, 2010