Grasping

Grasping is a fine motor movement that develops in babies as early as 3 months old. At this early stage, it is important to encourage development as these skills provide the building blocks for fine motor skills a child will need to develop as they age.
Teaching tips
- Ensure you provide a child with a variety of objects to practice grasping
- Use toys or objects that fit in one hand, but also bigger objects that require two hands
- Incorporate stationary objects, like toys on a mat, as well as moving objects, like dangling scarves
- Expose the child to different textures and shapes
Development
Grasping is a reflex present at birth, but at around 3 months old an infant begins to learn to voluntarily grasp
- A baby will first learn to reach and grasp using two hands
- At around 6 months old, a baby will develop a one handed grasp
- Between 7-9 months old a baby should be able to voluntarily release an object
- As a baby begins to grasp, ensure you are checking their fingers for wrapped hairs or strings that can cause harm