Kiddipedia
Why do babies love dropping things? The simple answer is: they’re curious and they want to see what will happen. Will the object make a noise when it hits the ground? How far will it bounce? They’re also trying to figure out their own strength and coordination.
The more interesting question is why is it an important thing for babies to do? This sort of exploration is crucial for babies as they learn about their world and develop their skills. We’ll go into more of that below.
At what age do babies drop things the most?
Babies between 6 and 9 months old are typically the most active in dropping objects. They’re at the age where they are becoming more curious and mobile, and they’re working on developing their fine motor skills.
Some babies will drop things more often than others, and some will outgrow the phase sooner than others. However, all babies go through this stage at some point as they explore their world and figure out how everything works.
How is dropping things good for a baby’s development?
There’s no need to worry if your baby is dropping everything in sight. It’s actually a good thing! In addition to it being fun for them, they are developing the concept of object permanence, learning cause and effect, and practicing their fine motor skills.
Developing Object Permanence
Around this time, babies are developing the concept of object permanence, which is the idea that an object still exists even when it’s out of sight. Babies learn this by observing – for example, when they drop a ball, it falls to the ground and then bounces back up. Or when you play peekaboo and they see you disappear and reappear.
Object permanence is important for babies to learn because it lays the foundation for future learning. For example, if a baby knows that a toy still exists even when it’s out of sight, they can understand that people still exist even when they’re not in the room. This is a key building block for developing social and emotional skills.
Learning Cause and Effect
It’s also a good way for babies to learn about cause and effect. When they drop an object, they see that it falls to the ground and makes a noise. They learn that they can make things happen, and that their actions have consequences. This is an important lesson for babies to learn as they grow up. Just make sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t drop anything unsafe!
Developing Fine Motor Skills
Dropping objects is also a great way for babies to develop their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are the small muscle movements that allow us to do things like pick up a small object or write with a pencil. Babies start out with very undeveloped fine motor skills, but they gradually get better with practice.
By picking up an object and then dropping it, babies are using the muscles in their hands and fingers. This helps them to develop the strength, control, and coordination they will eventually need for tasks like writing or using scissors.
Should the Parent Give Back the Dropped Item
There are two schools of thought on whether or not you should pick up the item dropped by your baby, especially if they are doing it again and again. Some people argue that it’s important to do in order to support your child’s development. Others say that you shouldn’t because it teaches them it’s ok to keep dropping things. So, what’s the right answer? As with most things, it depends.
Generally speaking, picking up a dropped item for your baby is a good idea. It shows them that you’re there to support them, it helps them to develop a sense of trust, and you’re helping them build the skills we’ve discussed above.
However, there may be times that a repeatedly dropped item is disruptive, like at church. In that case, you probably want to hold onto the item and maybe give your baby a soft toy that would be ok to be dropped, or distract them with a different toy.
Also, if they’re old enough to understand and follow simple instructions, then it’s probably good to stop picking the item up and start letting your child know the game is over.
How to Redirect the Behaviour
If you’re finding that your baby is dropping things more often than you’d like, there are a few things you can do to redirect their behaviour. Try giving them a toy that’s specifically designed for dropping, such as a softball. You can also give them a set of blocks to stack or play-doh. These activities will give your baby a chance to practice their fine motor skills without making too much of a mess.
You can also try to engage your baby in other activities that don’t involve dropping things. Roll a ball back and forth, blow some bubbles, or play peekaboo. These activities will help to burn off some of their energy and hopefully stop them from dropping things as much.
Whatever you do, try to stay calm and patient. Remember that this is just a phase and it won’t last forever. Soon enough, your baby will outgrow their dropping habit.
Conclusion
Though it may be frustrating for parents, dropping things (over and over again!) is actually an important part of a baby’s development. It helps them to learn about their world and to develop their fine motor skills. So when you’re picking that toy up off the floor after what seems like the 1,000th time, remember that you’re just helping your baby grow into the child you want them to be.
Beth Rivera is a mum of two young children and the owner of Best For Mums (bestformums.co.uk). The website is dedicated to helping parents in the UK and worldwide to get through the day just a bit easier with advice, information and helpful product guides.
