Ready, Set, Squeeze!

© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.

Holding objects in your baby's hands and helping him squeeze them is good practice for his future gripping of crayons, markers, and pencils. Your baby can also have a lot of fun squeezing different shapes and textures while he learns how to control the muscles in his hands and fingers.

Pay close attention to your baby when you give him objects to practice squeezing.

• Offer him play dough or a beanbag to squeeze (be sure the beanbag cannot open and your baby cannot swallow the beans).
• Give him a sponge or washcloth in the bathtub. Show him how to get it wet and then squeeze out the water and let him try it on his own. 
• Let your child play with things that will squish through his fingers when he squeezes. For example, watch him play with shaving cream or whipped cream on his high chair tray as you wait for dinner to cook.