Have you noticed that most “baby play” involves two hands?

Through the ages conventional wisdom figured out the importance of this kind of play without the aid of PET scans and other fancy devices. Now, “Science” verifies what our forefathers (and mothers) have always known.   
 

Babies need to play with two hands, as this helps with their bilateral development. Parents usually wait anxiously for their baby’s first steps. But when their baby’s hands come together purposely, long before walking or even sitting occurs, parents should celebrate this moment too!  When babies figure out how to bring the hands together, they learn that there are two sides to the body and both sides are connected.  Once this discovery is made holding toys with two hands soon follows. 

Photo credit - Your Child's Motor Development Story

This brings the toys directly in front of  the baby’s face, which makes it easier to look at. When babies start looking carefully at toys in their immediate visual field, they begin to develop visual attention, which is critical for learning.

 
When your baby uses both hands while playing, both sides of the body send messages up to the brain, which help with neurological organization.  The more nerves send messages up the spinal cord and the signals cross from one side of the body to the other, “Inter-­Hemispheric Communication” occurs. Suffice it to say, this helps make the brain more flexible, ready for learning and interacting effectively in the world.
 

Here are some simple two handed/bilateral activities you can play with your baby:

• Hand clapping Patty cake
• “How Big is….?”
• Holding toys that require both hands (large balls, stuffed animals).

• Gently rubbing both your baby’s hands over textured surfaces and shaped objects
• Encourage splashing with both hands during bath time.
• Banging on toy drums (or upturned pots) with both hands.

 
As your baby grows and movements become more sophisticated, other hand play games can be taught.  You can modify them for the younger child.  Play these games whenever you can! Fill up those empty moments at the bus stop, check out line, elevators, before and after stories, at a restaurant…you get the idea. Try these:

• Wheels on the bus
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Round and Round the Garden

Ask the children’s librarian at your local public library for books that teach more hand play games and songs, or check out these books below:

What is your favorite hand play or song for babies?

Next: Tummy time activities for babies

By Jill Mays, author of Your Child's Motor Development Story - Understanding and enhancing development from birth to their first sport. Jill has worked with children for more than 30 years. A mother of three children, she has juggled motherhood with her work in a private occupational therapy practice and consulting where she helps parents and educators understand the complex concepts of sensorimotor development.