Deep Connection

Your Little Genius in the Making

Did you know that by 7-8 months old, your baby’s brain is forming connections at an astounding rate of 700 new neural connections per second? This remarkable period is a critical time for cognitive development, as your baby starts to explore and understand the world in more complex ways. Let’s dive into the exciting milestones your little one might be achieving during this phase.

Permanence of Objects

Babies start to grasp the idea of object permanence at this age, which is the knowledge that items exist even when they are hidden from view. You may watch your infant reach this milestone, which is a major cognitive leap, as they play games like peekaboo or look for toys under blankets. By the time they are 8 months old, almost 80% of babies exhibit object permanence, per study.

Play games of hide-and-seek with toys or your own face to develop this ability. Tuck a toy behind a cloth and let your child discover it on their own. Their comprehension that objects don’t just vanish from view can be strengthened by these easy exercises.

Cause and Effect

At this age, babies begin to grasp the concept of cause and effect, realising that their activities might result in predictable consequences. Your infant may keep dropping toys to watch you pick them up or pressing buttons on toys to produce noises. Their cognitive growth depends on this experimentation, which teaches them about their surroundings and how to interact with them.

Give them toys that promote this kind of investigation, such as ones with rotating pieces, buttons, or levers. Books that have flaps or pop-ups that interact well are also great for teaching cause and effect. Honour their findings and provide several activities to pique their interest.

Imitation

For newborns, imitation is a potent learning aid. Babies begin to imitate the gestures and noises they hear and observe in adults and older kids around the age of seven or eight months. Both language development and social learning depend on this behaviour. By the time they are eight months old, 90% of newborns are imitating, according to studies.

Make silly expressions, clap your hands, or wave to encourage this. When you sing simple songs, see whether your infant attempts to imitate the words or movements. Enhancing their language development and imitation abilities may also be achieved by reading picture books together and pointing out items.

Problem-Solving Skills

Babies start to learn how to solve simple problems at this time. They begin to experiment to accomplish their objectives, like figuring out how to get to a toy that is just out of reach. Later on, more difficult cognitive activities will be made easier with the help of this critical thinking capacity.

Encourage problem-solving skills by offering manipulative toys and puzzles that are age-appropriate, such as shape sorters or stacking rings. These activities foster cognitive development in your baby by getting them to ponder and explore how things function.

Memory Development

At this age, memory development is also developing quickly. It’s possible for your infant to pick up on routines, noises, and faces. Their sense of security and comprehension of their everyday surroundings are improved by this improved recollection. According to research, newborns can retain basic acts and experiences for up to 24 hours by the time they are 8 months old.

Encourage the formation of memory by adhering to regular schedules. Playing the same games, singing the same songs, and reading the same books over and over again might help them develop their memory. Observe their responses to routine tasks and acknowledge and applaud their increasing awareness and eagerness.

Conclusion

For your baby, the 7-8 month period is a fascinating time of cognitive exploration and development. Remember that every baby develops at their own speed, and remember to celebrate every milestone, no matter how minor. Encouragement is key. Provide a stimulating atmosphere and watch as your child’s intelligence and curiosity grow.

As your child reaches new heights and milestones, embrace the adventure and treasure these priceless moments. The best presents you can give them at this amazing stage of their growth are your love and support.

References-
Zero to Three. (n.d.). Your Baby’s Development Month by Month. Retrieved from https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/your-baby-s-development-month-by-month

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Positive Parenting Tips for Infants. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/infants.html

Ishita Jain

Child Psychologist

Let Us Know Your Views

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *