Neuro-developmental explanations for Baby Activity Cards
Barrel
on tummy on top bwd & fwd
This is a fun activity that I love and it really helps:
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Strengthens my shoulders, neck & arm muscles
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Strengthens the core body muscles of my tummy and back
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Stimulates my visual perception, depth and near-far accommodation
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Stimulates my organs of balance (vestibular system)
inside on back side to side
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Stimulates vestibular system, muscle tone,
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Strengthens muscles on sides of body
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Stimulates tactile senses in the skin and joints
inside on tummy side to side
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Strengthens my upper body
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Helps me develop stable head control
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stimulates my head righting reflex that is so important for vision, balance & coordination
LADDER
Baby climbing vertical up ladder
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improves the muscle strength in my legs
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promotes inhibition of primitive reflexes (TLR, ATNR)
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initiates cross-pattern sequencing
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stimulates visual depth and distance
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promotes my hand - foot coordination
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stimulates the senses of my joints and muscles that helps me learn about my body.
Crawl over rungs of ladder flat on the floor
1
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Encourages co-contraction of the muscles of my head, neck, shoulder, arms and hands.
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Strengthens my muscles
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Stimulates visual depth and helps my eyes to team (work together).
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promotes my understanding of differentiation (i.e different coloured rungs)
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inhibits primitive reflexes and enables my postural reflex to develop
Lie under angled ladder and reach for rungs
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stimulates my hand-eye coordination
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promotes my awareness of space and distance
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encourages me to reach out
LARGE BALL
On back. Hold legs. Move Fwds & bwds
Tipping me into upside down position:
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Encourages my eyes to team together,
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Promotes my visual-spatial awareness
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Stimulates my vestibular system (balance organs) that promote balance, coordination,
muscle tone and response to gravity.
On back. Hold one arm & one leg. Move around in circles

Stimulates the fluid in my inner ear (the vestibular system) to flow over the sensory
receptors in different directions, firstly in one direction as you circle from left to right, and
then in the other as you circle for right to left. This aids in the maturation of my sense of
space and movement - crucial for balance, coordination and posture.
On back. Hold legs. Rock from side to side

Stimulates the fluid in my inner ear (the vestibular system) to flow over the sensory
receptors from side to side. This aids in the maturation of my sense of movement and
position - crucial for balance, coordination and posture.

Stimulates my vision as eyes move with the head and adapt to changing distances and focal
points.
2
On tummy. Hold legs. Rock forward & backward
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Promotes development of my upper body & core strength
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Stimulates my near point-far point vision (especially if you place a toy on the ground for me
to target with my eyes)
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Promotes stimulation of my vestibular system – balance, posture & knowledge of body in
space.
On tummy. Hold legs. Rock from side to side
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The large ball creates more movement instability than the roller, so the tension in many of
my muscles is constantly changing. This strengthens my muscle tone, enhances body
awareness and promotes coordination.
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Promotes my upper body and side muscle strength
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Encourages awareness of the left side and right side of my body
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Stimulates vestibular function – important for my posture & coordination
On tummy. Hold one arm, one leg. Rock forward & backward
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Promotes upper body and side muscle strength
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Encourages awareness of my left and right sides.
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Stimulates vestibular function as fluid in ear moves forward & backward – important for my
posture & coordination
On tummy. Hold one arm, one leg. Move side to side.
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Promotes my upper body and side muscle strength
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Encourages awareness of my left and right sides
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Stimulates vestibular function as fluid in ear washes over sensory endings in side to side
motion – important for my posture & coordination
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Stimulates my visual tracking abilities & helps my eyes learn to work toegther
ROLL - Big Roll
On back. Hold feet. Roll bwds & fwds
3
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Stimulates visual teaming of my eyes (seeing in combination to create one mental picture)
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Promotes awareness of my body - I can feel my feet being held and my body stretching
towards my head
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Encourages automaticity of my postural adjustment - by changing tension of muscles when I
am moved forward and backward
On back. Hold from hands. Roll bwds & fwds
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Promotes my body awareness - I can feel my hands held and my body stretching towards
my feet
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages the muscle strength of my neck and shoulders I lift my head off the roll.
On back. Hold from the hips. Roll bwds & fwds
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Promotes my body awareness – I can feel your hands on my hips
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages muscle strength of my neck and shoulders when I lift my head off the roll.
ON back. Hold behind thighs. Roll bwd & fwd.
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Promotes body awareness – I can feel your hands behind my thighs
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages muscle strength of my neck and shoulders when I lift my head off the roll.
On back. Hold behind upper arms. Roll bwd & fwd
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Promotes body awareness – I feel your hands holding my upper arms
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages muscle strength of my neck and shoulders as I lift my head off the roll.
4
On Back. Hold side hand & foot. Roll bwd & fwd
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Promotes awareness of my body sides – I feel your hands holding my hand & foot
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Promotes automaticity of muscle tension adjustment, on one side and then the other.
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages muscle strength of neck and shoulders when I lift my head off the roll.
On Back. Hold side hip & shoulder. Roll bwd & fwd
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Promotes body awareness – I feel your hands holding my hip & shoulder
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Stimulates visual teaming (eyes seeing in combination to create one mental picture) as I
move from back lying to upside down position
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Encourages muscle strength of my neck and shoulders when I lift my head off the roll.

Promotes automaticity of my muscle tension adjustment.
On front. Hold behind body. Roll bwd & fwd
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Strengthens my shoulder, neck and arm muscles
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Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability
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Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement
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Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point (place a toy on the ground)
On front. Hold behind feet. Roll bwd & fwd
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Strengthens my upper body and core muscles of back & abdomen
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Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability

Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement.

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point (place a toy on the ground)
5
On front. Hold behind hips. Roll bwd & fwd
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Strengthens my upper body and core muscles

Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability

Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point (place a toy on the ground)
On front. Hold hands. Roll bwd & fwd
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Strengthens my shoulder and back muscles
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Increases awareness of my hands
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Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability

Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point (place a toy on the ground)
On front. Hold upper arms. Roll bwd & fwd
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Strengthens my shoulder, back and buttock muscles
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Increases awareness of my upper arms
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Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability

Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point
On front. Hold side hand & foot. Roll bwd & fwd
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Increases awareness of my hand, foot and side of body
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Strengthens muscles on the side of my body
6

Stimulates automatic adjustment of muscle tension, important for my posture

Promotes development of my head righting reflex - important for posture & stability

Promotes development of my equilibrium reflexes – important for smooth, coordinated
movement

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point.
On front. Hold side hip & shoulder. Roll bwd & fwd

Increases awareness of my hips and shoulders

Stimulates automatic adjustment of muscle tension, important for my posture

Promotes development of head righting reflex - important for my posture & stability

Promotes development of equilibrium reflexes – important for my smooth, coordinated
movement

Stimulates visual convergence – my eyes learn to move in coordination from near to far
point.
Standing. Walking forward against the roll.
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Enables me to practice of balance & coordination by providing a situation where I am
temporarily off balance
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Pushing movement is important for developing my muscle strength and control
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I am beginning to learn about moving through space in an upright position
SCOOTER BOARDS
On back. Pull & push from feet
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My balance organs (the vestibular system) are stimulated as my head & body moves through
space. This is essential for development of my balance, and coordination.
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My vision is stimulated as light patterns move & colours flash by
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I am learning about “near” and “far”
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My skin and muscles can feel the movement under my back, head, legs & arms. This helps
me learn about my own body.
7
On back. Take me for a ride around the room
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Moving through space I can see the room as a moving feast rather than as static objects
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My hearing is stimulated as sounds change and the wheels rumble.
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If you move me at different speeds, I am learning about “fast” and “slow”
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Visually I can only see “up”, but the light changes and I can see things “above” me.
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If I am under 10 weeks I cannot yet focus on anything too far away.
On tummy. Push forwards & backwards

Lying on my tummy on a moving board is great for learning how to position my body
appropriately in response to movement.

My neck, shoulder and arm muscles are working much harder to hold me upright.
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My head is learning to stay central as my head righting reflexes develop in response to
gravity
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I am learning “near” and “far” as my eyes see something closer, and then farther away.
On tummy. Side to side. Facing away from pusher.

When you move me slowly from side to side my eyes are given time to learn to adjust to the
changing position my body is in. This strengthens the muscles of my eyes, encourages my
eyes to “team” (work equally) together and to track moving objects.

Changing the side on which you hold my body stimulates automatic adjustment of my
muscles and tells me about the 2 sides of my body.
On tummy. Spin slowly

Spinning slowly is one of the best things you can do to stimulate my vestibular system. These
are my organs of balance - they are poorly developed at birth, but with experience they
mature and help me develop good balance, coordination & posture.

Don’t forget to spin me around to my right, and then to my left. This moves the fluid in both
ears and is important for my body to stabilise its position.
On tummy. Side to side

Learning to adjust my body as it is moved from side to side is an important way for me to
develop small & big muscle adjustment and to learn about the 2 sides of my body.
8

My head is also learning to stay upright and central to the horizon even though the board is
moving. This is important for my vision, posture and balance.
SEESAW
On back in centre of seesaw. Rock up and down.

I can feel the movement of the seesaw as it rocks up and down. This helps me learn about
my own body and what it can feel.

My balance organs are being challenged by another type of movement - a short rock up and
down. This is great for my balance and coordination – not to mention my eyes!

I can see mum or dad - so I know that I am safe! Stay right beside me if I look a little
worried!
On back in centre of seesaw. Rock up and down while reaching for the ball
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This is a great activity for encouraging me to reach out with my arms and hands!
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I am learning about “near” and “far”
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My eyes are focussing on an object (fixating) and then accommodating as it moves closer
and then further away.
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Hand-eye coordination is really important in this task!
On tummy. Rock forwards & bwds

My muscles are learning to adjust to the pressure and downward force as my body weight
moves forward onto my hands as I rock forward.
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Muscles of the neck, shoulder, arms and hands are strengthening.

The head righting reflex is helping my head stay in line with the horizon as my body tips
forward and backward, but my head stays erect and central.
On tummy. Fwds & bwds facing another baby

I am learning automaticity of movement. While I watch the other baby, my body is
maintaining a position of stability even though the board is rocking backward & forward.

Having a visual focus encourages my head to stay central and upright... and it’s great to have
a friend to rock with me!
SLIDE
Feet first. On back. Up & down on blanket
9

If I have not been used to being on my tummy, I need to go down the slide on my back first.
This gives me the feeling of the downward & upward movement.
Feet first. On tummy. Up & down on scooter board

Being on my tummy on the scooter board gives me the feeling of movement up and down
without me having to do too much of the work myself! I do have to keep those muscles of
the head, neck, shoulder and arms working.

My head needs to stay up, and central top the horizon. This can be hard work sometimes!

My balance organs are getting used to moving through space in different ways. This is crucial
for later posture and coordination.
On tummy. Head first. Down slide.

This is hard work for me as I have to keep my head stable, my eyes looking forward, my
shoulders and arms bearing the weight of my upper body while my balance organs tell my
brain where my body is in space! But.. gee it’s fun... let’s do it again!

When I push up with my arms, my feet push down into the slide behind me and if I kick I can
even get myself down the slide by myself! This push-away reflex helps me to get moving on
my tummy!
On tummy. Head first. Wriggle & squirm to toy down slide

As my head, neck, shoulders and arms get stronger and I start to push with my feet, I can
move myself down the slide.

If I am less than 4 months old I still have the “worm squirm reflex” and I may be able to
wriggle my body down without your help!

If I am older than 4 months I may need your help to bend my legs and provide a “wall” with
your hand against my feet, so I can push off.
HAMMOCK SWING
Slow spinning
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aahh..this is the ultimate activity... calming but stimulating at the same time! My brain &
body love the hammock spin. The slow spinning really stimulates my vestibular system and
so I am developing strong neural connections, through my cerebellum (little brain) into my
cortex (thinking brain) that will help with balance, coordination, posture, vision, thinking and
emotional stability.

Don’t forget - spin me gently in both directions. The fluid in my inner ears needs to come
back to an equilibrium so I can comfortably move onto the next activity.

Try not to do 2 vestibular activities in a row.
10
Forwards & backwards playing peekaboos

Now this is fun! I am learning about “present” and “gone”. My brain is busy doing 2 things at
once - responding to the movement by sending messages to my body on how to adjust my
eyes, my muscles, my head AND utilising its’ cognitive (thinking) skills as we play peek-aboo.
Forwards & bkwds touching different body parts

My brain is busy learning how to do move from one activity to another in quick succession it is responding to the swinging movement by sending messages to my body on how to
adjust my eyes, my muscles, my head AND then it has to switch to another part of the brain
that responds to touch. i.e. where am I being touched now?

Learning often occurs more easily when the vestibular (balance organs) are stimulated
because the brain is in a highly responsive mode.

When you touch my body parts I am developing body awareness and learning the names of
different parts of my body.
TRAMPOLINE
On back. Bounce

Another favourite activity for me and my brain! The bouncing up & down movement really
stimulates my vestibular system, the development of automatic postural adjustment & helps
my muscle tone.

Stimulation of the vestibular system also helps mature my eye movements and visual
perception skills.
On back. Bouncing alternatively quickly & slowly

My brain is learning to distinguish between different kinds of movement and how to
respond appropriately - what muscles to tense and relax, what body parts are being
stimulated, what does “fast” and “slow” mean and how does it affect my body?
On tummy bouncing

Now, this is hard work for my head, neck shoulder and arm muscles as I learn to maintain
head stability while bouncing up & down. This helps develop my head righting reflex that I
need for coordination, posture & balance.

If I am under 4 months of age, I will still need to rest my head on the trampoline, but my
brain still loves the bouncing movement as it stimulates my vestibular system, lets me feel
my body in a different way, helps my muscle tone develop & stimulates my eyes.
11
On tummy. Bouncing alternatively quickly & slowly

I am learning to adjust the muscles in my head, neck & shoulder as you bounce me quickly &
slowly. This helps develop automatic postural adjustments & head righting reflexes
necessary for good balance, posture & coordination.

My brain is learning to distinguish between different kinds of movement and how to
respond appropriately - what muscles to tense and relax, what body parts are being
stimulated, what does “fast” and “slow” mean and how does it affect my body?
WEDGE
On tummy. Push away reflex.

Being on a smooth slope makes it easier for me to move forward

As I raise myself onto my arms and look forward, my feet push downward against the mat
and I can get myself down the wedge by myself! This push-away reflex helps me to get
moving on my tummy... then I can explore the world!

If I am older than 4 months I may need your help to bend my legs and provide a “wall” with
your hand against the sole of my feet, so I can push off.
Roll down sideways

My brain loves rolling. The fluid in the balance organs in the inner ear washes over & over
the sensory nerve endings and stimulate my developing brain.

Rolling helps inhibit my primitive reflexes & develop my postural reflexes, especially
segmental rolling and parachute reflexes that are important for smooth movement and
protecting my head if I take a tumble!

The muscles of my eyes are also responding to the movement.

I am learning about my body and how it moves. Don’t forget to roll me from both my back to
my tummy & my tummy to my back!
BLANKET SWING
Side to side

This is one of my favourites... the swinging motion is restful but stimulating at the same
time..my balance organs are getting a good workout while my body rests.

I feel comfortable enclosed in a blanket cocoon. My Moro reflex is nowhere to be seen and I
am learning that resting is important.

The vestibular stimulation is enhancing the growth of neural pathways to the brain that will
help me with balance, coordination, vision, posture, thinking skills & emotional stability.
12
FINGER PUPPETS
On back. Eye tracking

I am learning to use my eyes in a coordinated (smooth & accurate) way when I have
to track (follow) an object.

I am learning to ‘fixate’ my eyes on an object more distant than my hand.

Both of my eyes are learning to see in combination to form one mental picture (this
is called binocular vision).

I will move my eyes & head together until I am 12 months old. After this age I can
begin to move my eyes while my head stays still.
HANGING BALL
Lying on back. Move from side to side

I am learning to ‘fixate’ my eyes on an object more distant than my hand.

Both of my eyes are learning to see in combination to form one mental picture (this
is called binocular vision).

As the ball moves I am learning to use my eyes in a coordinated (smooth & accurate)
way when I have to track (follow) an object.

I will move my eyes & head together until I am 12 months old. After this age I can
begin to move my eyes while my head stays still.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Different sounds & eye tracking

I am learning to recognise different sounds, to see different instruments and to
respond.

I am learning to ‘fixate’ my eyes on an object more distant than my hand.

Both of my eyes are learning to see in combination to form one mental picture (this
is called binocular vision).

As the instrument moves I am learning to use my eyes in a coordinated (smooth &
accurate) way when I have to track (follow) an object.
NOISY ANIMALS
13
Different sounds & eye tracking

I am learning to recognise different sounds, to see different toys and to respond.

I am learning to ‘fixate’ my eyes on an object more distant than my hand.

Both of my eyes are learning to see in combination to form one mental picture (this
is called binocular vision).

As the noisy toy moves I am learning to use my eyes in a coordinated (smooth &
accurate) way when I have to track (follow) an object.
14