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From the very beginning, babies are learning through their bodies. Before they can talk, crawl or walk, they explore the world by reaching, grasping, squeezing, pulling and letting go.
These early movements are how fine motor skills begin to form, supporting future skills like feeding themselves, drawing and writing.
For babies aged birth to 15 months, learning is all about what they can see, touch and hear – and feeling safe and connected with the people around them. They are curious, drawn to colour, movement and sound.
To best support your baby at home, sit close, make eye contact and narrate what they are doing. This builds communication, physical development and their sense of agency.
At Goodstart, we know that some of the most powerful learning happens through simple, everyday play activities, such as those listed below.
With a few household items, a calm space and your presence, you can support your baby’s physical and fine motor development while strengthening your bond.
1: Squeezing and transferring
Peg play is a wonderful way to support hand-eye coordination and early problem-solving. It also invites exploration of their hands, as older babies may begin to experiment with squeezing pegs open and closed using their thumb and forefinger.
Activity: Place clean plastic pegs around the rim of a container, invite your baby to pull them off, hold them and place them inside.
As you play, talk about what’s happening and focus on praising their persistence rather than perfection, allowing your baby to explore at their own pace.
2: Pulling and releasing
Pulling and releasing help a baby to figure out their own little limbs and how to use them for a purpose.
Activity: Thread colourful ribbons through a small plastic basket or colander to grasp your baby’s attention and invite them to play.
Before babies can talk, crawl or walk, they explore the world by reaching, grasping, squeezing, pulling and letting go
Support their exploration by saying 'I can see you stretching to reach the ribbon’ and ‘You’re pulling it so hard’, or feel free to think of some of your own! By narrating their play, you bring shared attention to their strength and build emotional connection.
3: Scrunching and grasping
Scrunching and grasping is a simple activity that supports finger strength, coordination and exploration. Your baby may enjoy the sound or focus on the feel and the movement.
Activity: Sit together on a mat, you can model scrunching different types of paper and invite your baby to reach, hold and squeeze as well.
Remember to have fun with the activity and follow your baby’s lead. If they throw or kick the paper ball, that’s part of their learning, too.
Why your role matters
Your baby doesn’t need fancy toys or structured lessons. What they need most is you – present, responsive and curious alongside them. By talking, noticing and celebrating small moments, you are helping your baby feel capable and confident.
These everyday experiences also lay the foundations for learning in early childhood settings, where play-based learning, secure relationships and physical development go hand in hand.
At Goodstart, our educators understand how babies learn and grow through play, relationships and responsive care. We work in partnership with families to support each child’s development in ways that feel natural, nurturing and meaningful.
If you’d like to see how we support babies’ physical development and wellbeing in our centres, we’d love to welcome you.