by Lois Breneman - 2003
Last year when our daughter and son-in-law were visiting with our 5 1/2 month old grandson, Justin Daniel, I had so much fun as I helped him practice his pincher reflex. You wouldn't think we could have so much fun with just an empty cardboard tube from wrapping paper and a long scarf, but we certainly did!
The black and white scarf was about sixty inches long. Of course, black and white are very intriguing to babies, and he loved it, but bright colors are also fascinating to them! The scarf was stuffed into the tube with the handle of my long lamb's wool duster, so some of the scarf was sticking out at each end. Then the fun began!
I held onto the end of the scarf at my end of the tube, swirling the long dangling scarf at the opposite end back and forth over Justin, with his eyes intently following it. I also draped the scarf behind him, holding it upward as his eyes got bigger and bigger, while he stared at the contrasting black and white. Next we played Peek-a-Boo with it, as it took his breath in his excitement! There was no doubt about his delight in this new game, as he waved his arms, kicked his feet, squealed and laughed out loud, in between his deep concentration.
It was fun to almost see the wheels in his brain turn as I pulled the scarf up through the tube, either fast or slowly, leaving just an inch or two, asking him, "Where did it go?" or "What happened?"
Next came practice for the pincher reflex! I would lower the end for Justin to reach up and get the end of the scarf with his thumb and index finger or middle finger. It took him longer in the beginning, but he seemed so proud to get it in his little hand. As soon as he had a grip, I would pull the tube back, causing the scarf to grow longer and longer at his end. I'd gently pull it from his hand and say, "Thank you!"
And we would begin all over again with the swirling, draping and Peek-a-boo! I'm sure we did this at least seventy times that day, but he never grew tired of it and he perfected his grip. He also learned the sequence, because as soon as I pulled the scarf through and he saw the end sticking out of the tube, he would automatically reach way up with both hands as far as he could to grab the end. He knew it was his turn! He definitely seemed to favor his right hand, so I moved the end of the tube closer to his left hand just to be sure he could pinch with his left hand as well.
The empty cardboard tube alone was fascinating to Justin. As he was lying on his back, I moved it slowly to the left and to the right, then slightly behind Justin's head. His big eyes followed it wherever it went! What fun Justin and his grandma had! And no expensive, fancy toys or batteries were needed!
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