Let’s start with the basics of why movement matters.
It matters because movement tells a story. By reading or listening to the story your child tells you as she races across the playground or quietly glances your way, you are finding out all sorts of things about her - feelings, relationships, needs, desires, interests – all without necessarily saying a word.
Movement matters because it’s how your baby learns just about everything! Your 2 month old, lying on her belly, lifts her head up and shows you not only how much she has to learn to contend with the force of gravity but also how much she’s interested in the world despite her weak muscles. The focus of her searching eyes gives you information about what sense she is starting to make of intimate connection while the tightening actions in her belly and the vibrational movements of her voice call your attention to her discomfort - a not so subtle message about what her digestive system is learning.
Movement matters because it’s not only a reflection of what your child is learning but also the engine behind her growth. With each day of increasing strength and coordination comes an ever-widening capacity to interact with her world, interactions that bring with them countless possibilities for social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Your 5 month old finally gains a stable enough base of support to be able to reach out into space and actively seek what she desires. Now, instead of discovering shape, texture, and temperature through mouthing objects, she is beginning to recognize those qualities visually. With that visual understanding comes the desire to reach for what she sees and to explore with her hands rather than her mouth exclusively – a big change in how she relates to her world – all made possible by a movement progression that has led to stable sitting and reaching.
Movement matters because it’s an integral part of the process of your child’s brain formation. Neural pathways form in response to her movement, and these pathways turn into whole networks of nerve connections. The more that a pathway is activated, the stronger it becomes. Learning is the process of laying down new pathways by making connections and creating ever-increasing intertwining networks while at the same time weeding out the ones that are no longer in use.
Movement matters because it supports your child’s overall health. Most children show us how much they love to move. Besides the pure pleasure of it, a world that is rich in movement creates the ground for good health and social interaction. An added benefit is that it can release stress as well as help to regulate arousal levels – either calming or energizing depending on what your child needs.
Finally, and importantly, movement matters because it’s one of the most compelling tools you have for opening up the world of relationship to your child.
Notice how your baby’s movements differ depending on her arousal level. As she wakes from a nap, her movements (both body and attention) will reflect her general feeling state. They might be contracted or relaxed, fast or slow, intense or peaceful, smooth and sustained or jerky and abrupt – all of these movement qualities give you information about how she is feeling and what she is ready for. Tuning into these qualities and matching your own energy and movement to meet hers is the very foundation for building connection and attachment with your child.