YerielBuilds
Gross motor6–12 moAt home

Just out of reach

Put the toy where they have to work for it.

Prep

2 min

Mess

None

How to play

Lie them down and place the toy a hand's width beyond their fingertips. Let them wriggle, twist and stretch. Give it to them before they get truly upset.

  1. a blanket on the floor with a teddy
    1

    Lay a blanket down with a favourite toy on it.

  2. a hand reaching, a measured gap, and the teddy just beyond it
    2

    Move the toy a hand's width beyond the fingertips.

  3. the hand reaching the teddy
    3

    Let the wriggling and stretching happen, then hand it over.

What you need

A favourite toy and a blanket on the floor.

What it secretly builds

Gross motor

Reaching across their body while lying down is what turns into rolling, and later crawling. The stretch is the whole point — not getting the toy.

Safety first
Read them. A little effort builds strength; too much just builds frustration.
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