When you observe that your baby is ready for the next challenge, around 8 weeks (every baby is different), you can introduce the last of the traditional visual mobiles. The Montessori Dancers mobile is undoubtedly one of the most attractive one of all. But watch out! From the outside, you only see your baby staring intently at four shiny dancer figures. However, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes as your baby’s eyes follow the motion. Vision is improving, muscles are strengthening, concentration is building. All that from one mobile and more! Read on to find out about all of its benefits.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The Dancers mobile is made of four stylised forms representing human figures. When the mobile is in motion, the figures look like dancers that move delicately through the air. Each ‘person’ is made up of three elements (head, arms and legs) all of these can move independently. The dancers are made from iridescent, holographic paper and as they shine and sparkle, they provide your baby with a dazzling performance of light!
SO WHY IS THE MONTESSORI DANCER MOBILE SO ATTRACTIVE FOR YOUR BABY?
Your baby seems like she can’t get enough of watching the slowly moving colourful shapes. I have seen babies completely stop moving and just stare at the dancing figures with an open mouth, without moving a muscle! If you observe your little one’s eyes, you’ll see that they are tracking the movements of the figures. The colour contrast, the reflection of light and the elegant, graceful movement of the dancers fluttering all conspire in catching and holding your baby’s attention.
WHAT ARE THE SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF THE DANCERS MOBILE?
- It develops their eyesight with age-appropriate stimulus
- It strengthens the muscles in the eyes, neck, arms and even core muscles
- Binocularity – the two eyes working together
- Depth perception – being able to see the object that are hanging in different heights
- Dynamic visual tracking – being able to follow a moving object
- Encourages switching their gaze between objects
- Allows the percieving the details of objects while in motion
- Your baby learns that even though many variations change such as lighting, distance and the angles, the shape, the colour and the size all stay the same
- By offering images that babies find extremely attractive, it encourages focus and concentration, starting the foundation for their cognitive development
TIPS AND TRICKS
With most mobiles, you can give it a few twists to keep their interest. First you might choose to make all the figures the same colour, then when you see that your child is ready, you can offer two or more colours. You can keep them the same colour on one side and another on the other side or alternate the elements, it’s up to you. Also, if you position the mobile just right, the mobile’s shimmering light will reflect on the wall, too, giving some extra magic to it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The whimsically dancing Montessori Dancers is many babies’ favourite mobile. The changing light on the shiny elements and the right amount of challenge all that movement offers to the improving vision makes this mobile irresistible for the little ones. But what’s next, you might wonder? Stick around to read about the Montessori Animal mobiles, starting with the stunning Swallows mobile.
If you’d like to make it yourself, just type ‘Montessori Dancers DIY’ in your search engine. Alternatively, you can buy it from my Shop individually, or as part of the DIY Montessori Mobile Set. And if you’re still wondering about whether you should buy it or DIY it, read through this post.
Click on the links to read more about how the Montessori Visual Mobiles, the Montessori Tactile Mobiles or the Sensory Baby Play help your baby’s development.
How did your baby react to this mobile? Please share your photos on my Instagram site. #montessoriedited, @montessoriedited