Full disclosure: I actually got out the camera to photograph big brother, who was seated at the table fitting the pieces into the puzzle. My focus was off and how lucky for me, because without that mistake, I’m not sure I would have seen what we’re seeing and talking about here which is:
Reaching is a baby’s work.
When a baby is working, we don’t need to: think of a way to make it exciting, talk too much, or solve the problem.
Instead we can: observe, (maybe, slowly) make one small change (flip a piece, scoot it an inch), wait, gently name one of the pieces, and then file the moment away so we can adjust the environment to support repetition or to scaffold for more growth.
It’s both easier and harder to support your baby in this way.
Easier, because we don’t have to DO quite as much. We can trust babies and let their instincts take the lead. We can just enjoy the experience of watching and being with them, and their pride in their own accomplishments.
Harder, though, because observing and responding authentically can require a greater mental load than a rote “good job!” or just grabbing the puzzle piece. Sitting on our own hands can be a challenge.
When you see ads on instagram telling you explicitly or implicitly that you need to and/or how to: make your baby smarter, entertain your baby, occupy her time, buy this exact toy or product, follow this system, or create this experience…
…the lens is that everyday objects plus a few carefully-chosen toys are plenty and then some, babies are smart on their own, they have endless capacity to entertain themselves, and they fill their days with the very things they need to do to reach milestones and fulfill their potential. The reframe is that milestones (fitting the pieces into the puzzle) are made up of all the tiny moments leading up to them, like this one.
So by all means, read and enjoy these ideas (some of them might come from me!), think about which ones appeal to you and might appeal to your baby, and if they seem to align with your parenting, give one a try. Part of preparing the environment is offering interesting things to explore, see, and do.
But all of this overlays the base of respect for the child as capable, motivated, curious: respecting that reaching is, in fact, a baby’s real work.