Child Development Expert Featured in HealthCentral

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Beth Elenko, Ph.D., OTR/L, is quoted in HealthCentral’s Your Healthy Baby Guide. Elenko, who is an expert in child development, discusses the importance of playtime for babies, emphasizing the need for parents to get on the floor with their little ones and provide meaningful and stimulating experiences.

Once the baby is old enough to sit supported, she encourages parents to sit on the floor, and place their baby in between their legs, with the baby facing away from them. Next, the parent should model actions for the baby to replicate. “Hold some colorful objects in front of them—like toy blocks or colorful rings from a ring toss—and show your baby how you clap the toys together. Then, wait to see if they can do this too,” says Elenko. She adds that this should be done multiple times stating, “Repetition and practice are very important.”