Describe what your baby is seeing when he/she notices something new or different in environment.
Active inquiry and learning are children's natural inclination. Learning begins prenatally, and children are not only “ready to learn” but already actively learning from when they are born. From birth, babies' minds are active and inquisitive, and early thinking is insightful and complex. Adults can foster cognitive growth by supporting children's active engagement with new experiences and providing developmentally appropriate stimulation of new learning through responsive, secure, and sustained caregiving relationships. Allen L.R., Kelly B.B., editors. (2015). Committee on the Science of Children Birth to Age 8: Deepening and Broadening the Foundation for Success. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation. Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council; Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); Jul 23. 4. Shonkoff, J., & Phillips, D., (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development, Board on Children, Youth, and Families. National Research Council. (Level III) Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Providing sufficient opportunities for babies to explore and discover has a long-term impact on their current and later cognitive development. A longitudinal study of 130 babies of 5 to 19 months old found that those who develop more efficient ways to explore objects were more likely to display higher cognitive development and intelligence at three years old.
Playing with containers, toys and stacking materials gives children the chance to discover how things work and to practise new skills repeatedly. Exploring with toys that give kids a chance to figure something out on their own, or with a little coaching, builds their logical thinking skills and helps them become persistent problem-solvers. They also help children develop spatial relations skills (understanding how things fit together), hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills (using the small muscles in their hands and fingers).