Alexa’s New Toy by Candice Hoyt February 27, 2009

1. Alexa’s New ToybyCandice HoytFebruary 27, 2009

2. It was my first day working with Alexa, and I didn’t know what we would play together. Alexa’s mom told me about the new toy that Alexa really liked.

3. I see that Alexa likes to take off all the pieces. She can use two hands to push the pieces up and off the spindles.

4. Sometimes she holds it with her finger in the middle. Usually she grasps it in her hand.

5. Alexa likes to chew on the small pieces... and to pick up the base to chew the spindles!

6. Alexa can pick up the base in both hands, lift it high, and bang it down. BANG! BANG! BANG!

7. What It Means Alexa, I was captivated and impressed by the skills and joy you showed when playing with your new toy. You know how to make it do what you want it to.… You have the smarts and the skills to take it apart, suck on it, and make lots of noise. You are right on track, practicing all of these things: pincer grasp, cause and effect and self-soothing your teething pains. I am excited to see what you do next!

8. Opportunities and Possibilities Alexa is practicing key skills for her stage of development, and we can continue to support her building these skills independently and together with us. We can play stacking and falling games with blocks and bigger spindle stacking toys. For now she needs our help piling them up, but we can offer her the opportunity to help, and she will gain this skill over time. We can play noise-making games: beating a drum with a stick or whacking a rattle onto the floor. There are plenty of other cause-and-effect games and toys we can offer. She is doing great self-soothing her teething, and we can continue to allow her to chew and suck on a variety of teething rings, etc, but also other toys she likes to play with. It is especially important that we review the infant safety guidelines and make sure that whatever is in her reach is safe for her to put into her mouth.

9. The Family’s Response Alexa’s dad, Ken, says: Alexa enjoys sounds. Not only does she like percussive banging, but when she puts the blocks to her mouth, she begins to “sing.” Alexa will make a long “Aaaaaaheeeeeeaaaaa…gah” sound, take the block from her mouth, examine it and repeat the process. Alexa’s mom, Jeannie, says: Wow – this is great! It made me laugh and cry a little. It’s quite amazing to “see” your child through someone else’s lens.

10. Alexa was first introduced to this toy at my mom’s house. Initially, I thought she wouldn’t be interested, but she loved taking the blocks off the spindles. Just a few days later, we acquired our very own version of this toy from Alexa’s older cousins. Right away when we got it home, Alexa removed all of the blocks and scattered them around the kitchen floor. Later, she was in her highchair holding on to the base and banging it down. I think she likes the fact that she can make a loud noise by doing this. Lately, Alexa has become a very busy little person. This toy is a great example of that – she interacts with all parts of it and in so many different ways. I love that she puts her finger through the hole in the block. This is something that I would do – it amazes me that at 8 ½ months old, she is already doing things that I would do [as an adult].

11. The part about this that makes me tearful is thinking about what Alexa does when I am away at work. While away from Alexa, I am hungry for information about her – I don’t want to miss out on anything. I’m glad that she plays so happily when I am not with her. And it’s great to see these pictures because it feels like a “window” into the time that I am not with her. But, it also makes me sad because I realize that I miss things when I am way. Conversely, on the days I don’t work, these pictures make me realize that I don’t always pay very close attention to the details of what Alexa is doing. These pictures inspire me to watch her more closely and pay attention. She is amazing and it’s well worth watching carefully and absorbing all of the wonderful things she is doing.