Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Health and Physical Development (HPD)

Subdomain: Motor Development

Goal: Children develop the large muscle control and abilities needed to move through and explore their environment.

Skill Progression: Supine/prone

Age: 6-8 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 6-8 Months.

Observe the child on her back and tummy during playtime on the floor.

When the infant is on her tummy, place toys just out of reach in several directions and encourage the infant to move to get them.

When items the infant wants are on the side, within the child’s visual range, she will pivot with arms and legs to reach them.

Encourage early childhood educators and parents to help children learn to move by motivating them to “work” for what they want to retrieve. Help parents understand that children need to use their muscles and move their bodies in different ways to become independent. Suggest parents keep in mind the idea of “just enough challenge”—not too much to make the infant give up and not too little to motivate the child to move.