March 3, 2000 - Friday
This morning as I was giving Harry a 'stimulating interactive environment,' I happened to start moving my fingers in front of his face. Like many things I do to entertain or otherwise occupy Harry – and, I suspect, many of what other parents do with their babies –, this started randomly. However, as soon as Harry showed an interest, it became a studied effort on my part to get Harry intrigued by not only my moving fingers, but his own as well.

Initially he was amused by my haphazard movements, but he seemed to become more focused as I started moving each digit more deliberately and independently. Well, give a parent a pensive look and baby is a genius. Harry had me going. I lifted his hands to meet mine and tried moving our fingers in concert. With my palm facing his tiny palm, I used my index finger to raise his, then my middle finger to do the same with Harry’s.

Harry stayed quite fascinated for several minutes - moments anyway - with an inquisitive look that suggested he was working through some new idea. Of course, there’s little initial evidence to suggest he understood what was happening. But, over-interested as I may be, I’m betting the process, and his processing, was at least a beginning.


Comments, opinions?