Development at 6 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Fine Motor Development
Transfers Object From One Hand to The Other
I am learning to transfer an object from one hand to the other! Offer an object for me to hold in my left hand. Observe if I am able to pass the object into my right hand. If I am successful at that, continue to observe if I am able to pass the object back to my left hand again. I usually develop this skill between 5 and 11 months.
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Steps
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Let your child hold a small toy in his left hand.
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Observe if he is able to transfer the toy from his left hand into his right hand.
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Observe also if he is able to transfer an object from his right hand into his left hand.
Feedback
Your child is developing good coordination between his two hands. Did you know that the reason why he learns to transfer his toy to the other hand is because his brain has not developed the ability to bring his arm across to the other side of his body yet? Do not worry, he will also learn to develop this later! You may look at the suggested activities with this task.
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Provide your child with many opportunities to explore with his hands by giving him toys to play with that can be easily grasped. Ensure that the toys are not so small that he may swallow them. Hand transfer skills will continue to develop as your child learns to explore with his hands.
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As your child holds the toy in his left hand, take hold of his right hand and help him to bring it to the toy. As his right hand grasps the toy, gently encourage his left hand to let go by pulling on it gently or stroking the back of his left hand to encourage hand opening. Decrease your manual help as he is able to perform this task more independently.
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Choose toys that have handles on each side (e.g. rattles or drinking cups) so that it is easy for him to hold on with both hands at the same time.
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Encourage your child to hold on to his toy and play with it at his midline (i.e. in front of his mid-chest). You may also bring both of his hands to hold the bottle when he is being bottle-fed. This helps develop body awareness and the concept of different sides of one's body.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Fine Motor Development
Two Of Three Offered Items
Now that I have learnt how to hold things in my hands, I will be able to grasp a toy in each hand. If I already have my hands full and you offer me another toy to hold, I will drop one toy so I will be able to take the new one from you. You will see me drop one toy to take another when I am between 6 and 8 months old.
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Steps
Feedback 1
If you child is able to drop a toy from one of this hands to reach out and grab the 3rd toy from you, that is wonderful! Besides having good fine motor skills, your child is able to solve the simple problem you have created by dropping one of his toys.
Although now he drops one of the objects while reaching for the third one, he will soon master the ability to hold onto both of the toys while reaching out for the third one you are offering him by 8-10 months. He may also by then purposefully try placing down one of the pieces to reach for the third. Should you need more fun ideas, just look at the suggested activities below.
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Use toys (e.g. bell, rattles) that make a sound when they drop. This helps your child learn that he has to do something like dropping his held toy before he can reach out for the new toy.
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Help your child practice transferring a toy from 1 hand to the other hand. Do this by letting him hold a toy in his preferred hand. Entice him with a new toy on the side of the preferred hand. He will have to transfer the toy held in his hand to the other hand before reaching out for the new toy. Let him bang the toys together with both of his hands.
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Feedback 2
If your little one drops both the toys from his two hands in order to grab the 3rd toy you have offered him, that is great too! Your child has started developing the concept of reaching out for an object he really wants. But he does seem a little hurried to get the third object as he drops everything he has to get it. Do not worry as your little charmer has time to develop the skill of keeping 1 toy in a hand to reach out for a third toy because this skill usually develops between 6 and 8 months old. Continue to play with him using different items.
Let your child play this game using 2 toys first. Present 1 item on his right hand so that he can reach out and grasp it. Then present the 2nd item on his left hand so that he can reach out easily to take it. Once he is able to retain 2 objects successfully and consistently, introduce the 3rd item to him.
Although now he drops all the objects while reaching for the third one, he will soon master the ability to hold onto 1 of the toy in a hand to reach out for the 3rd toy with the other hand. Do take a look at the suggested activities to further develop his skills in this area.
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Sit in front of your child and hold onto one of his hand as you guide his other hand to put one of the toys down on the floor to reach out for the new toy in front of him.
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Use toys (e.g. bell, rattles) that make a sound when they drop. This helps your child learn that he has to do something like dropping his held toy before he can reach out for the new toy.
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Feedback 3
If you child do not drop any toy to reach out for the 3rd toy, it's all right. Don't be worried about it as this skill usually develops between 6 and 8 months old. Different babies develop differently. He may not be interested in the toys you are giving him or he may have difficulty grasping the toys offered.
 Use toys that your child really likes and preferably with long handles for easy grasping to play this game. Start with 1 toy first. Let him respond by reaching out to grasp it. Once he is able to do this, present the 2nd toy on the side of his free hand so that he can reach out to easily take the toy. Once he is able to retain 2 objects successfully and consistently in each hand, only then do you introduce the 3rd object to him. Use a highly desired object as a 3rd item to motivate your child to respond and problem solve.
Use our suggested activities below for more fun ideas in playing and developing this skill with him. He will soon develop this skill in the next few weeks.
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Sit in front of your child and hold onto one of his hand as you guide his other hand to put one of the toys down on the floor to reach out for the new toy in front of him.
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Use toys (e.g. bell, rattles) that make a sound when they drop. This helps your child learn that he has to do something like dropping his held toy before he can reach out for the new toy.
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