Who Am I?

This article presents information on various stages in child development. Fortunately for parents, babies come equipped to respond to pleasant sensory experiences. The sight of a smiling face, the sound of a familiar voice, the sensation of being rocked, and even the scent of a familiar person play a role in soothing your baby. During these intimate, face-to-face interactions, baby is integrating different physical sensations and learning where he ends and other people begin. Few parents fail to be delighted when their infant first "discovers" his own hand. Later, when he can grasp objects, the baby has reached another milestone: Now, he can actively explore things, and this exploration aids him in learning spatial concepts, like which thing is his hand, and which is the rattle. Mobility is high on any baby's to-do list, and he uses all of his senses as he makes those first forays into the world. A child's emerging skills combine muscle strength, coordination, self-confidence, and thinking skills.