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Teach Your Four Month Old Motor Skills by Dangling Keys

Last Updated: September 26, 2008

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Parenting Tips for Your 4 Month Old Baby

I Can Move to Keep Things in Sight: An Eyes and Body Game

Purpose of the game: To teach your baby to use his body and lift his head and part of his upper body when watching a moving object.

How to play: Put your baby on his stomach and sit facing him. Use a ring of keys or a toy that makes noises. Dangle the noisemaking object in front of your baby’s face and say, “Look at the keys.” Raise the object slowly in the air to encourage him to lift his head and push up with his hands. Say something such as, “Follow the keys” or “Keep your eyes on the keys.” Watch your baby and see if he can lift his chest off the floor.

Another Eyes and Body Game

Move objects slowly behind your baby’s head. See if she will move around to find the object.

Encourage your baby to use both eyes and both sides of her body when she is playing. For example, if you give her a toy for her right hand, try giving it to her in her left hand the next time.

Eyes and Body Game

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Learn more about Your 4 Month Old Baby from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.


Note to Parents: When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.
References: These materials were adapted by authors from Extension Just in Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

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