Congratulations, your baby is 4 months old. This month is such an exciting time because the amazement and wonder of the world around your baby begins to unfold.

Baby now begins to realize that he is more than a mere extension of his caregiver and that he is actually a separate person. This process will naturally lead him to begin noticing his world. Other people and objects become part of his focus as he begins to explore how they relate to each other as well as to him.

You probably have noticed that he reaches for objects, and although he may miss his target, he continues to explore and try. He has now realized what his hands are for but hasn't quite yet mastered how to get them to hit the target accurately every time. It may even appear that he believes his palm is the part that does the grasping as he stretches out his fingers and aims with his palm toward the object of his attention.

This is where finger play activities become important. By incorporating exercises that stimulate fine motor control, you can help him to master control over his fingers individually and help him understand the special connection between how long they are, how far he can reach with them and when to close them in order to grasp the object.

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