What really matters- Navigating Space. In addition to memories and images of sequential models such as the steps to use a fork: first pick up fork, aim fork at food, stab food with prongs, bring food to mouth, mouth food off fork, Whit was establishing robust spatial models as well. She had a model of where things are placed in a room and how she could get there or get it. This is sometimes called “simultaneous ordering” (opposed to sequential ordering) as the world is seen as a whole, each piece being related to the others to create an integrated scene. 

How to put it into practice-

Tuning In- Research clued me into the fact that this can be observed in Whitney through a new skill called “Detour Behavior”. What you can see is Whitney using her ability to mentally project and run “what if” scenarios in her mind in order to best navigate the space she is currently in. Simply put-- detouring to get around things that are in her way.  This can be very frustrating to parents who are trying to babyproof their homes, but signals this important new skill. Sometimes whit could use her judgment about a certain space to to try to detour it. For example in “low coffee table” video to right, Whit judged that some tables like the one in video were too low to even try to get under without bumpy her head.

Bridging- Locomotion brings with it a strong need to develop these spatial models.  Whit needed to learn to negotiate her own body in space, and around other objects in her environment.  This practice in moving about forces her to form a better understanding of how objects fill spaces.  Babies need to actively explore their environments to develop this spatial understanding. 

You can “problematize” the environment by putting obstacles in the way so that your toddler has to navigate around it or take advantage of natural opportunities to emphasize the navigation that you are doing together. For example, if there is a car/bus parked in the crosswalk that you take to run errands, you will have to go around the blocking vehicle.  Instead of mechanically leading your baby by the hand as you make an unexplained detour, talk her through your reasoning.  Explain that you have to go around the bus because it is in the way.

Discovering & developing Whit’s story-

Whit started toddling when she was 10 months, so I noticed what a good navigator she had become. She knew to crouch down and tilt head to get under a table and stay that way until she was out from under the table. She had a very good working model of the table and how to avoid hitting head. Some tables like the low coffee table in video on right she could judge and too low to even try to get under there without bumpy her head.